Love Island’s Harry Cooksley has dropped a bombshell, revealing he has zero plans to slap an “exclusive” label on his relationship with Shakira Khan, even after their rollercoaster romance gripped viewers during the latest season. The heartthrob, who became a fan-favorite for his charm and drama, spilled the tea on Joe Baggs’ Not My Bagg podcast, doubling down on his refusal to commit to exclusivity and throwing subtle shade at other islanders for embracing the term.
Harry and Shakira’s journey in the villa was anything but smooth. Initially, Harry was smitten with Helena Ford, but a dramatic shift saw him set his sights on the stunning Burnley native, Shakira. Their connection solidified just two weeks before the finale, yet they stood out as the only couple who didn’t go “exclusive” before the final curtain fell. While other islanders rushed to lock in their status, Harry’s hesitation raised eyebrows—and now he’s explaining why.
“I’m not here for ‘Oh, we’re exclusive’ or making a big deal out of it,” Harry declared on the podcast. “That’s just a villa thing, honestly. For us, it’s about boyfriend and girlfriend, not some halfway label. We’re not there yet, but when it happens, it’ll be real. I don’t need to say ‘exclusive’ to prove I only have eyes for her.” Harry insisted that since reconnecting with Shakira in the villa, his focus has been solely on her, both inside the Mallorca compound and now in the outside world. “I’ve got no interest in anyone else,” he added, seemingly putting to rest any doubts about his loyalty.
But Harry didn’t stop there. He took a cheeky swipe at the show’s “exclusive” trend, which islanders use to signal they’re done exploring other connections but aren’t quite ready for official coupledom. Host Joe Baggs admitted he found it “confusing” that some couples went exclusive mere days before the finale, long after bombshells stopped shaking up the villa. Harry smirked, “I think we could’ve easily done that too, but like I said, that exclusive thing is more for the show, right? Bombshells come in, and it’s all ‘Oh, I’m exclusive!’” He even poked fun at his own reputation, joking, “Didn’t really apply to me so much… the exclusive tag.”
Harry’s playful jab comes as no surprise to fans who watched his headline-making antics on the show. The self-proclaimed “Love Island Lothario” stirred the pot by flirting with multiple bombshells, including during the infamous Casa Amor twist. His indecision led to heartbreak for Helena Ford when he ultimately chose Shakira, creating an awkward love triangle that became a focal point of the season. Adding fuel to the fire, an ex branded Harry a “serial sh****r” during his villa stint, alleging he was juggling 12 different girls before entering the show. Despite the controversy, Harry and Shakira defied the odds, finishing as runners-up behind winners Toni Laites and Cacherel Mercer.