Former Love Island contestant Sean Stone has vowed to ditch his infamous sweet-themed chat-up lines as he prepares to enter the All Stars villa, after his own mother delivered a brutally honest critique of his 'cringe' habit.
Mum's Savage Verdict on 'Candyman' Tactics
The 26-year-old businessman, who shot to fame on the show's 11th series in 2024, was famously nicknamed the 'Candyman' for his sugary pick-up attempts. However, he has now confessed they were a major turn-off. Speaking ahead of the new series, Sean revealed his mum intervened, telling him: "Sean just dropped the sweet lines because you gave all the girls the ick within the first five minutes."
He admitted the advice hit home. "It was too cringe, to be honest," Sean told the Daily Mail and other media. "So I think this time I really want to just go in and be myself." He added that his candy-based flirting wasn't even his normal style, joking, "On nights out, I don't go up to girls saying 'Alright babes? You look like a fizzy blue raspberry'."
From Villa Romance to Parting Ways
Sean's original 2024 journey saw him initially struggle to find a connection until bombshell Matilda Draper entered the villa. The pair quickly coupled up, their relationship going from strength to strength, and they ultimately finished in third place. Sadly, their romance was short-lived after leaving the show.
Just weeks after returning to the UK, Sean and Matilda announced they had 'parted ways', sharing identical statements on Instagram. Matilda, who is now in a relationship with TOWIE star Roman Hackett, 23, emphasised they remained "good friends". Sean added that they both believed it was "the best step for us moving forward".
A New Approach for All Stars
When asked what Matilda might think of his All Stars return, Sean said he believed she would be supportive. "It's not like we left on bad terms, I still see her as a friend... I think she'll be happy that maybe I could find someone this time around," he stated.
Reflecting on his previous experience, Sean said he felt he put too much pressure on finding love. "I think for me, a massive part of my journey last time, I experienced everything, the ups, the downs... I think this time around, I just want to have fun," he explained. His new strategy is simple: stay true to himself and go with the flow. Although, as the self-proclaimed 'candy man', he hasn't ruled out dropping the occasional sweet line.
Outside the villa, Sean runs a successful sweets company with his family. Love Island: All Stars returns to ITV2 and ITVX on January 12.
