Love Island 2021:Kaz and Tyler address Casa Amor drama in new interview

They placed fourth during the Love Island 2021 final on Monday.

And in their first interview since exiting the villa, Kaz Kamwi and Tyler Cruickshank have addressed the hunk’s straying hands in Casa Amor, with Kaz, 26, admitting the situation was ‘really hard to navigate’.

Tyler, also 26 – who found a connection with Clarisse Julliette and coupled up with her following his stint in the rival villa – admitted: ‘The main thing is when I came back into the main villa, I underestimated my feelings.’

Interview: Kaz Kamwi and Tyler Cruickshank, both 26, have addressed the hunk’s straying hands in Casa Amor, with Kaz admitting the situation was ‘really hard to navigate’

Tyler returned from Casa Amor with Clarisse on his arm, despite being coupled up with Kaz previously. However, Kaz decided to couple up with Matthew McNabb after seeing a photograph of Tyler kissing Clarisse in bed.

When asked why they had both decided to recouple in the wake of the Casa Amor bombshells, Tyler said: ‘I walked down and stood beside Laura [Whitmore] and I saw Kaz with Matt and I didn’t expect to feel that way. I knew I liked Kaz but I didn’t expect to feel that strongly.

‘A lot of people felt that I didn’t navigate it the right way but I found my way back eventually.’

Kaz added: ‘When Tyler walked back I thought, ”This is going to be interesting” and I feel like I did learn a lot in that situation.

Admission: Tyler – who found a connection with Clarisse Julliette (pictured) and coupled up with her following his stint in the rival villa – admitted: ‘I underestimated my feelings’

‘It was really hard to navigate dealing with Tyler, Matt and myself – I didn’t know how to communicate with everybody. But I’ve learnt from that now and I’m glad it’s all sorted!’

Tyler agreed, saying: ‘It worked out in the end!’

Asked how they feel now that their Love Island journey has come to an end, Tyler said: ‘It’s a surreal feeling. That’s all we’ve known for all of these weeks.

‘To not wake up in the morning and see your friends and not waking up to make the coffees – it’s going to be weird! I’ve had the best time and wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m sad it’s come to an end but it’s the beginning of us on the outside.’

Tyler said: ‘I walked down and stood beside Laura [Whitmore] and I saw Kaz with Matt and I didn’t expect to feel that way’

Kaz echoed: ‘I can only describe it as surreal. I went into the villa and it was rocky but neither of us would change our experience, we had the best time.

‘It’s sad it’s come to an end because it’s quite nice to be in the sun in a bikini! I’m not really looking forward to putting an actual jacket on.

‘However, when I do put that jacket on, we’ll be doing fun stuff outside of here so for that reason I’m excited. As much as the Love Island journey is over, our actual journey together just begins.’

Asked to describe her experience in the villa, Kaz gushed: ‘I would describe it as a wholesome experience. I walked in on day one and left on the last day.

‘I’ve grown a lot as a person and I’ve met so many lovely people. I went in there wanting to find a connection with someone and I’ve walked out with a connection with someone even stronger than what I expected it to be so I’d describe it as wholesome. I think I accomplished everything!’

Winners: On Monday night, Millie and Liam were crowned winners of Love Island 2021 during the final

Tyler explained that he was glad he ‘stayed true to himself’, adding: ‘I stayed true to myself and I have no regrets. I feel as a couple we’ve come out the other end from the things that did happen and I think that we were stronger for it.

‘The main thing is that we have no regrets as a couple and I wouldn’t change the journey for anything.’

Kaz, who had been in the villa since the very first episode, was asked to describe how she felt walking through the iconic wooden doors eight weeks ago.

‘When I got out of the jeep I was in front of Libby and I met Libby for the first time and we instantly connected,’ she began.

‘We got along so well and were literally best friends. Neither of us could pop the champagne bottle, there were so many nerves but so much excitement and it went by so fast but felt like it was happening in slow motion at the same time.’

Second place: Chloe and Toby left the villa in second place

Third place: Faye and Teddy placed third 

Tyler, who entered four weeks later as a bombshell, said of his experience walking into the villa: ‘I came in half way through. Everyone had more or less formed their connections with everyone. I came in and everyone was so warm and welcoming.

‘I got on with everyone straight away. I’m the type of person who can get on with people quickly.

‘I dived straight in and got the girl! It took a couple of days for it to sink in like ‘I am actually in this Love Island Villa’. I took it in my stride and here we are – Love Island finalists!’

He also touched upon his instant attraction to Kaz upon entering the villa, saying: ‘Not mentioning the obvious – she’s a stunning girl! What attracted me the most was how warm and bubbly she was. She’s sassy and she’s funny and that’s what was really getting me.

Ending: Asked how they feel now that their Love Island journey has come to an end, Tyler said: ‘It’s a surreal feeling. That’s all we’ve known for all of these weeks’

‘I’m looking for something long-term and I look for longevity, Looks can fade and it’s personality that keeps you around. I wanted someone that I could vibe with and bounce off. It worked out for the best.’

Kaz was quick to confirm she had an instant attraction to Tyler when he walked through the villa doors.

‘I think when he walked in I looked at him and thought, ”Wow, he is fit!”’ she said.

‘But I wanted him to take the lead. When I like someone I can get quite tunnel visioned but he was just lush, friendly and open. I had no complaints! He gave me the vibe that he was there for me.’

The loved-up pair were also asked about the moment Tyler asked Kaz if she wanted to be exclusive.

Feelings: Kaz, who had been in the villa since the very first episode, was asked to describe how she felt walking through the iconic wooden doors eight weeks ago

The hunk took inspiration from Love Actually, writing the question in felt tip on white hand towels and showing them to Kaz one at a time.

He explained he felt it was an important step, saying: ‘With our relationship, we’re never serious, we’re always playing games and always bantering. We never really had a chat about where we were or how we felt.

‘For me, it was a case of doing something special for Kaz and in the style that she could appreciate. I was racking my brains for a long time and we came up with the whole romcom thing.

‘I had limited resources but I did my best with the hand towels and would it be fair to say you appreciated it?’

‘I loved it! It was literally perfect, replied Kaz.

Tyler went on: ‘I wanted to show Kaz how serious I was. We were at a crossroads of what we were doing next. I wanted to give her that clarity that I wanted to be exclusive.

‘We said we were going to give each other 100%. I wanted to be serious at that moment and put my own little spin on it and luckily she said yes!’

Asked how she felt after Tyler asked her to be exclusive, Kaz gushed: ‘I loved it! I felt like we were at that point where a decision needed to be made.

‘We’d been in limbo for so long so it felt like it made sense for us to make a decision about moving forward together.

‘We’d already had the ultimate test and handled it in a way that we’d both learnt from. I was ready for the next step with him. I needed to know that he was ready to put his all into me.’

The pair also expressed their delight at making it all the way to the Love Island final, with Kaz revealing: ‘If someone told me on day one that I’d make the Final, I’d be like ”you’re joking”. Making the actual Final and the realisation of it was really cool and really exciting – you appreciate it.

Attraction: Kaz confirmed she had an instant attraction to Tyler when he walked through the villa doors

‘It made me appreciate our journey even more. I was seeing it from beginning to end.’

Tyler added: ‘I was surprised and I wasn’t expecting it. It was a nice surprise. I didn’t think I was going to make it at all considering the things I’d been through.

‘I managed to get there in the end and it’s such a nice feeling to know the public are backing you. It was the cherry on top because I came in here and found what I was looking for in you [Kaz] and it’s nice to know the public are seeing that and supporting us.’

The pair, who placed fourth, also shared that they were delighted that Millie and Liam had been crowned winners.

‘We love Milliam!’ explained Kaz.

Final: Asked how he feels about making it to the final, Tyler said: ‘I was surprised and I wasn’t expecting it. It was a nice surprise. I didn’t think I was going to make it at all’

‘We were not surprised! We love Milliam, they are one in a Milliam. I was so happy and excited – I couldn’t contain myself, I was hugging Liam so tight! They really deserve it, they have been through so much. They were made for each other,’ Tyler added.

Kaz then joked: ‘When they had the first kiss on the swing – it was the sexiest snog I’d ever seen in my life!

‘They have such strong sexual chemistry, however everything else is so much stronger, you can see it. They were always looking for each other in the villa.’

‘They were inseparable,’ added Tyler, quipping: ‘You honestly had to book an appointment to see Liam! They’re a perfect match for each other and I am so happy they have gone on to win.’

Faye and Teddy ended up placing third, with Toby and Chloe scooping second place.

Kaz also opened up about her best friend Liberty making the decision to leave the villa just days before the final, after realising that something was missing in her and Jake’s relationship.

Next steps: Touching upon making Kaz his girlfriend, Tyler said: ‘It’s definitely on the cards but we want to get it right’

Of their friendship, Kaz said: ‘Liberty and I clicked from the very first day. We walked in together and our friendship blossomed from there. I feel like our friendship formed the minute we held hands and walked in.’

She continued: ‘When she explained to me the situation and how she felt, honestly I had nothing but the utmost respect for her because it takes a lot to admit your feelings and be really set in a decision like that, especially so close to the Final. She is so genuine.

‘It broke my heart knowing she never found that special connection that I think she deserves. I was trying to be strong when she was leaving but when we went to the terrace and I was in tears.

‘Overall, I am proud of her and she stood her ground and followed her gut and trusted her intuition. She is very strong-minded and independent and it seeps through. She is one of the most selfless people I have ever met and she deserves so much love.’

Exclusive: Asked how she felt after Tyler asked her to be exclusive, Kaz gushed: ‘I loved it! I felt like we were at that point where a decision needed to be made

As for what lies ahead in the relationship, the couple were quick to comment that they live in close proximity to one another and that they are looking forward to being in their ‘own little bubble’.

‘We’re really close,’ said Tyler. ‘I’m in South London and you’re in Essex, we’re just down the road.’

He continued: ‘We’re in our own little bubble and we’re on the same page and we know where we are going and it is towards the boyfriend and girlfriend.’

Kaz joked: ‘I like it when he says it out loud!’

Tyler went on: ‘It’s definitely on the cards but we want to get it right. We wanted to come out and do it properly and we’re doing it at our pace.’

What’s next? As for what lies ahead in the relationship, the couple were quick to comment that they live in close proximity to one another (pictured flying back to the UK this week)