Love Island sensation and reality TV star Olivia Attwood has moved swiftly to address swirling speculation about her relationship with Premier League footballer Demarai Gray, firmly labelling their bond a 'really close friendship' after the pair were photographed enjoying a night out in the capital.
The images, which surfaced online this week, showed the pair deep in conversation and laughing together during a London dinner date, instantly setting gossip columns alight with rumours of a new romance for the recently engaged Attwood.
Setting the Record Straight
Rather than letting the rumours gather pace, Olivia took to her Instagram Stories to offer a candid explanation to her millions of followers. "Before any stories run… Me and Demarai are really close friends," she stated unequivocally.
She elaborated on the context of their evening, explaining, "We hadn't seen each other in a while so went for dinner and a catch up. That's all folks!" Her direct approach was clearly designed to quash any speculation before it could escalate further.
A Friendship Forged in the Spotlight
Attwood, who found fame on the 2017 series of Love Island, and Gray, the talented 27-year-old winger currently playing for Al-Ettifaq, have been friends for a number of years. Their friendship exists within the small, interconnected world of UK reality TV stars and Premier League athletes, where social circles often overlap.
This isn't the first time Olivia has had to publicly define a relationship. She is famously engaged to former footballer Bradley Dack, and the couple star in their own hit ITVBe reality show, Olivia Meets Her Match.
Business as Usual
Despite the online chatter, it appears to be very much business as usual for the media personality. Her clarification underscores a desire to maintain a clear narrative around her personal life, especially with her upcoming wedding to Dack on the horizon.
By addressing the rumours head-on with her signature blunt honesty, Attwood has successfully controlled the story, reaffirming her commitment to her fiancé while celebrating a genuine friendship in the public eye.
