The path to true love hasn’t exactly been smooth for the 23-year-old bartender who was evicted from the villa in the June 21 episode of Love Island. Could the Cassidy-Tayla-Grant love triangle finally be over?
WHO caught up with the show’s lovelorn reality star to see how she was faring after an evening of tears, confrontations, and truth bombs.
WHO: It’s been all of about 12 hours and you’re still in Majorca, how are you feeling now that you’ve left the villa?
It’s been madness. It was only last night that I got dumped from the island, so it’s a whirlwind of emotions, I’m feeling all of them – it’s been crazy. It’s like a rollercoaster right now.
WHO: Did your eviction come as a surprise to you?
I was surprised but I wasn’t. Part of me was definitely ready to go but obviously I was very sad that my name got read out and it killed me that Erin had to read that message. Being up against Mac … we both deserved to be there but she genuinely wants to find love and she deserves just as much of an opportunity as I had.
WHO: When your name got called out and you were leaving – what was it like with Erin crying and Tayla standing there doing nothing?
Yesterday was a very good indication… I already knew who my closest friends were and those who supported me in the villa. But it just showed me that I didn’t waste any time on people that I didn’t need to. It really did kill me that it had to be Erin to read out the message, but it didn’t surprise me that Tayla didn’t step forward – obviously there was no love lost there but we were just two girls trying to live in a villa and I think we did well considering. There were a lot of emotions running through there but all I was focused on was making sure Erin was OK.
WHO: When Tayla made that ‘Bye Felicia’ comment as you were leaving, how did that feel?
I didn’t hear it! It must’ve been said fairly quietly because I didn’t hear her say that but as I said throughout the show – what people do, says more about them than me. It’s a reflection of their attitude not mine. That will just reflect poorly on her, but that’s just water off a duck’s back for me.
WHO: The Truth Bike returned yesterday – how did it feel being back in the hot seat?
Oh good grief, I feel like poor Mac was just collateral damage with that Truth Bike. It was a good opportunity to get everything out there and to set the record straight, put a few people in their places and show them that I am who I am. I feel like a few people enjoyed trying to walk all over me – and take advantage of my kindness. They took my kindness for weakness, so it was good that I finally got to stand up for myself.
WHO: Is it nerve-wracking doing that?
It wasn’t scary because I knew all the questions that were going to come my way. I stand by every decision I’ve ever made. I said from the beginning, I like confrontation, because whenever I’m involved, I choose to be involved and I argue based on facts. Yesterday, I sat on that bike confidently, I backed every decision I ever made and I did it with conviction. To be honest, I sort of cruised off the bike and wanted to just move on. At first I was like, ‘Bloody hell that truth bike was back for vengeance’, but it wasn’t too bad, it was OK.
WHO: Do you feel like some of the questions thrown at you were unnecessary or were people in their right to ask what they did?
There were a few stupid questions asked. I feel like a few people asked dumb questions to have their three seconds of fame but it also gave me a good opportunity to shut those people up as well. My opinion is – if you ask a dumb question, you’ll get a dumb reply. There were some valid questions and once again, it was more a reflection on them than me. Tayla refused to have a mutual conversation with me and it took for her to have her little posse around her to have the courage to ask me the questions she was dying to ask. I was just glad and grateful I got to get it out there before I left. That would’ve been one thing I would’ve regretted – if I hadn’t had the opportunity to talk to Tayla.
WHO: Do you feel like you were picked on at all?
I wouldn’t say picked on, but people definitely took advantage of me up on that truth bike.
WHO: Is this the end of the Cassidy-Grant-Tayla saga?
I’m definitely putting it to bed – I had my final piece and I’m definitely done with it, but I don’t think it’s the end of it for those two.
WHO: Do you think their relationship will last, or will it crumble?
Truthfully I don’t think it will last. They’re both very young, and they are both still very immature and putting it in a black and white perspective, I do not think it will last. The Love Island villa is a beautiful bubble and it is very confronting to come out of it. I wish them all the best, I would hope that if I got screwed over, it was not for nothing, I hope it lasts, but no, I don’t think they will.
WHO: Poor little Erin, she was so sad when you left. Did that make you even more upset?
Oh my God, it was so hard to walk out and leave her there. That is one of the hardest goodbyes I’ll ever have to do. The stupidest thing I could’ve done was look back when I was walking out of the villa because she wouldn’t leave the door. It was horrendous. I just had to remind myself, it’s only two short weeks and I know Eden will take very good care of her in there.
WHO: Is she one of a few people you’re looking forward to seeing again when everything’s said and done?
Yes! I can’t wait to see Erin back in Melbourne, to catch up with Eden, can’t wait to see Josh, can’t wait to see Françoise, Mac I can’t wait to see… yeah there’s definitely a lot of people that I’ve made amazing connections with that I can’t wait to catch up with.
RELATED: Cassidy proved she’s a “crazy ex-girlfriend!”
WHO: Prior to entering the villa, you said your love life had been a bit “bleak.” How are you feeling about it now and going forward?
I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself in the villa and I’ve had a lot of highs and a lot of lows in the villa. One thing I’ve learnt is to not give anyone more than one chance, and one chance only. That’s something Erin drilled into me. I’ve learned to follow my gut and that I shouldn’t ignore warning signs. I went into the villa very naïve. I’d been very fortunate that I’d never experienced a bad relationship, so I didn’t know when to look for the negatives in a relationship or the insecurities that I was feeling with Grant. I’d sort of ignored those because I’d never felt them before. I now have so much more patience and tolerance than I ever thought I could have. I have learnt to appreciate the role I play in a relationship and so I’m very grateful for my security in myself and my maturity. They’re two things I think I was taking for granted in myself.
WHO: If you’d been given the opportunity to stay in the villa for longer, do you think you would’ve found love?
At that current point, there was definitely no one in there for me. I wasn’t sure who was going to be sent in next or who would be my type, but if I’d been given the opportunity to stay, I definitely would’ve taken it. I walked out of there not in a relationship and that’s what I was there for.
WHO: When you chose Grant before Tayla had the chance to – you were painted as a bit of a villain, do you feel that was unfair? Or was it a strategic move?
It definitely wasn’t a strategic move or playing the game. Picking a guy who’s essentially in love with another girl in the villa puts my place in the villa on the line but I picked Grant for a lot of reasons. It wasn’t out of spite. I just wanted to teach Tayla and Grant a lesson – just to show them… they just got away scott-free, and I think they were getting bored and a little too comfortable so I just needed to show them they still have a lot to work on with their relationship. To be honest, I just didn’t want to pick Jax and I was always going to couple up on a friendship basis, so why not couple up with Grant and just show him that I am still a genuine girl and I’m not playing a game?
WHO: If Tayla or Grant had been voted out last night, how would you have approached it if the roles were reversed?
I would’ve respected them and let them make the decisions. It would’ve been their moment and their emotions would’ve been going through a whirlwind. I would’ve stepped back and observed and I probably would’ve left them to it because I know they wouldn’t have wanted my support in that moment.
WHO: You made a point of being honest and speaking out throughout the show – how do you feel that worked out for you?
It’s been very positive for me because I think people could see when I was falling through the cracks when I wasn’t being open and honest. It killed me to not be genuine. When I wasn’t doing what I came there to do, I was never happy. I feel like I was very unique in the villa. I wore my heart on my sleeve, I was open and honest, and sometimes that caught people off guard, but I think it makes it easier for me to say I loved every moment. I stayed true to myself, I was genuine, I was honest, and I did everything I wanted to do at that time.
WHO: In light of everything that’s happened, do you have any regrets or things you wish you could’ve done differently?
No, I don’t have a single regret. I’ve loved every moment – good and bad in the villa. It’s all been an incredible experience and I can happily walk out and say have no regrets. It’s been amazing.
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