'Love Island’s' Samie Elishi's fans accuse her of ‘scam' as she asks them to be patient with new travel business

‘Love Island' star Samie Elishi has been accused by her fans of "scamming' them after launching her new business venture on Instagram - but she’s insisted it’s not true.

The reality TV star, aged 24, announced her new side hustle Get Away with Samie, which involves helping people earn while they travel, earlier this week. Elishi set up a new Instagram profile called 'Get away with Samie' and the bio states: "For those who love to travel." She has been asking her followers to 'DM' (direct message) her if they want more details.

Announcing the venture on Tuesday (May 7), she wrote: “I have been dying to let you all in on what we’ve been up to behind the scenes recently! & I’m soo excited to let you all know how you can be involved too! . . . Showing you all how you can be earning from the best industry in the world through bookings you’re all making anyway!

“I sat back and watched my friends do this for way too long! I’m not going to wait as long to tell you all, because I just wish I started sooner! If you’re looking to make money while you travel . . . or around your job, your kids, from home then this is for you. Follow @getawaywithsamie & DM my new page for info. You’re going to love this!” She posted the information alongside a photo of herself and new went Towie star boyfriend Harry Lee.

But, it has been a few days since Elishi has put the request out to her fans - and now some have fumed online that she hasn’t replied to them after they have messaged her as she requested.

One angry follower wrote on the Reddit: "Last time I’ll give Samie’s scam any air . . . She’s not even replying to DMs anymore." A second echoed: "She's not replied to me either."A third said they were unsure how the venture would work: "Can someone explain what this actually is. I’m so confused on how she would even make money even if she recruits people."

Someone else said: "This is a perfect example of how LI (’Love Island’) does not guarantee a career, especially in an industry that is already saturated. You should always have a second plan in case you don't succeed.

"One thing I've noticed is that since S8 (season 8) the brands have been more and more reluctant to work with islanders and I get the impression that only one or two islanders per season get contracts (those who've made the final) whereas before, even if you didn't make the final, you could get one."

But Elishi took to her Instagram Stories earlier today (Thursday May 9) to explain that she was in the process of responding to everyone who had messaged her and asked for patience from her fans. Posting a video, she spoke directly to the camera and said: “Hi guys, I just wanted to come on here really quick to just let you know that all of the messages are going to be replied to in due course. I’ve just had so so many, we’re going through them in the morning, in the night, during the day, so don’t stress, I am trying to get through all of the messages. It just might take a little bit longer than expected.”

Elishi appeared on the second winter series of ‘Love Island’ in 2023. They made it to the end of the show together and came in third place, behind winning couple Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan, who are now engaged. Elishi and Clare split up months after leaving the villa, however. He returned to the show during the ‘All Stars’ spin-off series earlier this year and is now in a relationship with Molly Smith.