In a heart-wrenching scene that has set tongues wagging, The Only Way Is Essex kicked off its new series with an explosive overseas showdown, bringing exes Sammy Root and Elma Pazar face-to-face for the first time since their shocking split. The raw emotion and unresolved tension between the former couple spilled over, leaving fans glued to their screens as Sammy, 24, laid his heart bare and confronted Elma, 33, over the abrupt end to their romance.
The highly anticipated episode captured a tearful Sammy struggling to make sense of their breakup, which he claims was delivered through vague text messages. As the Essex lad poured his soul out, the cameras caught every gut-punching moment of their emotional exchange. “I don’t think you realized how much I did, and still do, like you,” Sammy confessed, his voice trembling with sincerity. “I would have done anything. One of my favorite things is taking the person I love out for a fun date night—that’s what I live for.”
5 Sammy Root broke down in tears as he opened up to Elma PazarCredit: ITV
5 He was left sobbing as he struggled to cope in the aftermath
Elma, visibly moved, dabbed at her tear-streaked face with a napkin, her composure crumbling under the weight of the conversation. But Sammy wasn’t holding back. Addressing the confusion that plagued him post-breakup, he called out the ambiguity of her messages. “You didn’t ever say it was done in the text, so I didn’t know what was going on,” he said, his frustration palpable. Elma, attempting to explain, referenced a message where she called their split “a shame.” Sammy, however, wasn’t convinced. “You said ‘it was a shame,’ so in my head, I’m like, does that mean it’s done?” he pressed, his voice cracking as he relived the moment.
The conversation took a darker turn as whispers of “gold digger” accusations surfaced, adding fuel to the already fiery exchange. Sammy, clearly hurt, demanded clarity, hinting at unresolved feelings and unanswered questions about Elma’s intentions. “They were coming from you, and you know what you felt, but I’m reading those messages thinking, ‘What’s going on?’” he said, his confusion morphing into raw pain. The tension peaked when Sammy, overwhelmed, turned away from the cameras, admitting, “I need a minute,” before breaking down in floods of tears. “Anyone who knows me knows I’m not an emotional person,” he said through sobs. “When I get like this, I don’t know what to f***ing do.”
5 He poured his heart out to ElmaCredit: ITV
5 Elma was left overwhelmed during the chatCredit: ITV
5 The pair reached the final of Love Island: All Stars earlier this year
Elma, for her part, remained quieter than expected, her silence speaking volumes as Sammy grappled with the fallout. She admitted she didn’t want him out of her life entirely, but Sammy, still reeling, made it clear he needed space to process the heartbreak. “I don’t know how to cope,” he confessed, his vulnerability striking a chord with viewers.
The episode didn’t just showcase heartbreak—it hinted at deeper drama. Unseen footage teased a heated clash between TOWIE stars, with tempers flaring and cast members being pulled apart in a separate explosive showdown. As Sammy fights to reclaim his peace and Elma faces scrutiny over her intentions, fans are left wondering: will these two ever find closure, or is this just the beginning of more drama to come?