Love Island viewers have just uncovered Ope Sowande's family history, leading to apologies for earlier criticism. The current series of Love Island has thrust West End performer Ope Sowande back into the limelight.
The 27-year-old entertainer made his villa debut last Monday (June 1st), joining eleven other eager singletons. It didn't take long before he faced criticism over how he pronounces his name. He bears a typical Nigerian name, originating from the Yoruba people. It's conventionally pronounced as 'Aw-peh' rather than 'O-pee' as the Islander declared.
Viewers instantly challenged the reality personality for apparently anglicising his name, presuming he had deliberately mispronounced it. Nevertheless, audiences have now learnt that Ope lacks the traditional Nigerian heritage they anticipated.
Who is Love Island contestant Ope's mum?
An endearing clip of the reality personality performing for his mother has recently emerged, and fans swiftly spotted that his mum is a white woman, reports OK!. Ope was in fact adopted by mum Pauline and dad Barry when he was merely three months old. While limited details are known about his parents, the dancer previously revealed that his mum ran a nursery during his childhood.
The Lincolnshire native has also openly stated that his parents are "the best people in the world". Pauline was instrumental in igniting Ope's passion for the performing arts. Speaking on the In Plain Clothes Podcast in March, he disclosed that his mum signed him up to a dance school to keep him busy at weekends. Performing would subsequently become his profession.
The ITV star lavished praise on his mum in a heartfelt Instagram post from 2019, where he is seen serenading her in the touching video. The caption reads: "This woman is honestly a true inspiration, I can't thank her enough for everything she has done for me. The constant support, dedication and love she has given me through my whole life is truly unforgettable. She is my hero. I love you mum."
The social media post recently resurfaced, leading fans to apologise for assuming Ope was intentionally mispronouncing his name. Many are now persuaded that his multicultural background influenced how he pronounces his name. One TikTok user commented: "Yooooo now this... puts things into context," while another added: "I take it all back, sorry Ope." A final viewer chimed in with: "Oh it makes sense now."
Love Island continues on ITV2 and ITVX tonight at 9pm.
