LOVE Island All Star Jake Cornish has hit back at accusations he gaslit ex-girlfriend Liberty Poole.
The reality star was branded a “narcissist” after his whirlwind villa romance with Liberty ended in tears back in 2021.
The former couple haven’t spoken since but will soon be reunited when the All Stars series gets underway on Monday night.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Jake said: “Before I came out of Love Island, I had never even heard of gaslighting.
“Gaslighting, narcissist, all these things were thrown at me and I had never heard of it in my life.
“So yeah you take capability and you learn from them. Like I said, I’m two years on now, I’ve opened up businesses. I live a nice lifestyle. I do my own thing. I’ve got good people around me. So obviously there were things on there that I probably shouldn’t have said, but not everyone’s perfect. Everyone has done something wrong in their life.
“I just think the public to see more of the real me. Not just see the lad who was the villain on the show. Lots of people see me in the street and say, mate, they did you dirty on the show, you were quality. People said they done me dirty, but if they want to do me dirty this time and make me the villain of the show, that’s absolutely fine. There is nothing I can do about that. I have no control of it. It’s out of my hands.”
In the aftermath of his first stint on the show, Jake was unhappy with the way he had been portrayed.
But rather than hold a grudge, he’s determined to use his second chance to change public perception.
“I mean, no, I wasn’t happy with the editing then but if I’m gonna live in the past I’m never able to move forward,” he said.
“So, don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t obviously happy how it turned out in the end but it’s an opportunity to make new memories at the end of the day. Like who wouldn’t want to come to South Africa in the most depressing month of the year in 25° heat with some cool other people and you can have wicked memories.”
While he’s hoping to repair his reputation, Jake isn’t expecting to rekindle his romance with Liberty.
He said: “I think that ship has sailed. I just hope she is well. I hope her family and friends are fit and well.
“I hope she has done well. I don’t really know what she has done. I don’t speak to the girl. It was just a relationship that didn’t work out, it is what it is. I don’t think of her any differently to my other exes, it’s just our relationship was on telly.”
Outlining what he wants in a partner three years on, Jake told us: “I think just someone understanding maturity. I think maturity now, cause like I said, I’m at the age where I’m 26. I’ve gone into my late 20s and opened three, four, five businesses and some have failed and some have done really well.
“I’m not going out every weekend like some people my age, I have got that out of my system so I want someone on the same page.”
If he pulls it off and finds true love, Jake might just lay claim to the ultimate Love Island redemption arc.
