The chances that your partner will steal the $50,000 and leave you standing alone in the Love Island Villa are slim, but never zero. Has anyone ever stolen the money after winning Love Island? Not in the show's global history. But should they have? Honestly, maybe.
Only one couple from the former two seasons of Love Island Australia are still together. It's not like that romantic success rate is anything to brag about - and we sure wonder sometimes if Tayla Damir wishes she'd been able to steal the money from Grant Crapp, who was famously revealed to have a girlfriend outside the Villa after their win.
The reason no one has ever stolen is probably because, deep down in their soul, they know they will be vilified. Even if they're not certain about their partner, or think a nice $50k in the bank would be worth the break-up, the hate and anger that would be directed towards them online would be intense.
Being a reality TV villain is taxing on people's mental health, with stars like Abbie Chatfield and Martha Kalifatidis speaking out about the vile abuse they've received in the past.
But, if you could all just chill for a second, we could watch someone steal the money and just enjoy it for what it is: Supreme reality TV. A new Golden Age of Television, if you will.
So here's what we’re thinking: If everyone can just agree not to act absolutely feral and attack someone online for choosing to steal, then we could really have some fun with it. Imagine watching that episode? If you think you wouldn’t enjoy the absolute chaos of it all then you’re probably lying.
We don't suspect any of tonight's Love Island Australia finalists will be choosing steal, but we can hope for the future. For a world where someone bold and unhinged enough joins the cast and makes a play for the cash.
In the meantime, here’s a small list of people we would like to see enter the Love Island Villa, couple-up quick and convince the nation they’re in love, only to steal after winning in the Grand Finale. It's called manifesting.
Greta Thunberg
Hear us out. Environmentalist and Gen Z icon Greta Thunberg is 18, about the age of the younger Love Island contestants. If she entered the villa she would for SURE win by random star power alone and could steal the $50,000 for a good cause. Just saying.
Flex Mami
She made her reality TV debut on Big Brother Australia and has been doing a stellar job of recapping the show on Love Island Afterparty with Abbie Chatfield. She’s also known for her impeccable Instagram and TikTok where she encourages fans to think critically about everything.
If anyone could pull off the steal and get away with it, we think it would be Flex. She just might have the charisma, sly chuckle – and the right balance between snazzy cult leader and internet bestie – to run away with the $50k and convince everyone it was the right decision.
Ellie Gonsalves
There’s nothing reality TV fiends love more than a second chance story. Look at the entire recycled contestant approach of The Bachelor and Bachelorette? Or Elizabeth Sobinoff on MAFS? We want to see our jilted stars win out in the end. Enter Ellie Gonsalves, who just lost out to Luke Toki on Big Brother VIP.
This one would need to be a little elaborate, since Ellie is actually engaged to her long-time love. But since she's an actress we're thinking wigs, coloured contacts, trickery and a new accent could just do it. And then she could donate the $50,000 to her charity from BBBVIP - Wildlife Warriors. Proving herself to be an expert at game play, we think she could pull it off.
The Love Island Australia finale airs Wednesday, 9:30pm, on the Nine Network and 9Now.
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