ITV Love Island's Maya Jama 'blamed herself' over ex-boyfriend's tragic death
18.01.2024 - 18:48
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Maya Jama reportedly "blames herself" for the death of her late boyfriend Rico Gordon, who was tragically shot dead at the age of only 21 when he went to visit the ITV Love Island presenter in Bristol.
The now 29-year-old TV host was only 16 at the time of the horrifying incident, with Rico's mum saying the pair were “deeply in love” with one another. Maya today has found love and is currently dating rapper and songwriter Stormzy.
Rico died on 3 July, 2011. Following the devastating incident, Rico's mum Anna, 55, has been watching Maya's rise to fame, and insists that she hasn't changed at all according to reports in OK! Magazine.
Anna told The Sun that the pair were "deeply in love" as she described them both as a "beautiful couple", who were "always laughing and joking around".
She added that Rico fully supported Maya in her career, with his plans to become a PE teacher when he was alive. "He would have backed her all the way," she said.
Anna said: “There is a big church that you can see from the balcony of my house and Maya told me they were planning on getting married there. They hadn’t set a date or anything, as they were so young but they had visited the church and both agreed it was the perfect place for their wedding.”
It heartbreakingly worked out that the next time Maya went to the same church it wasn't for their wedding but Rico's funeral.
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Anna added: “Maya blamed herself after what happened, but then everyone blamed themselves. She tried to convince Rico to stay in London that day.
"Rico didn’t know Bristol well and there are some dodgy parts so Maya thought it would be better if he stayed in London.”