‘WE STILL HAVEN’T GOT OUR PRIZE MONEY’

She was crowned the winner of Love Island Australia nearly two months ago, but surprisingly Tayla Damir has not yet received her portion of the $50,000 prize.

‘We haven’t received our money yet,’ she admits to New Idea. After deciding to split the cash with her then boyfriend and fellow Islander Grant Crapp, there has been talk that Grant, 22, should give Tayla the total sum – after he swiftly dumped her for his ex Lucy Cartwright, whom it’s believed he was dating throughout the entirety of the reality dating show.

‘I personally would never want to take his $25k for myself. If I was to be given it back, it would go to charity. I wouldn’t want him to have that over me,’ the 21-year-old explains. ‘I don’t want his money.’

When questioned over whether Grant deserves the money after leaving her for his secret girlfriend, Tayla would rather let other people decide. ‘It’s up to Channel Nine at the moment, whether he gets it or not. There were contracts in place, you weren’t meant to go on the show if you were in a relationship. But at the end of the day I chose to split it with him. I don’t regret splitting the money at all. I was in love at that moment and I did want to split it with him.’

A spokesperson from Channel Nine confirms Tayla and Grant are yet to be paid, but it’s Love Island Australia’s producers, ITV Australia, that are taking care of the matter, who have said: ‘[Tayla and Grant] only returned their signed documentation last week and payment is now being made to them – by ITV not by Nine. As Tayla announced on the show, the money will be split 50/50 with Grant.’