{"id":509485,"date":"2026-06-20T11:08:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T11:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/509485\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T11:08:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T11:08:18","slug":"sweet-reason-love-islands-ope-pronounces-his-name-uniquely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/509485\/","title":{"rendered":"Sweet reason Love Island’s Ope pronounces his name uniquely"},"content":{"rendered":"

Love Island’s Ope Sowande has shared the sweet reason behind the non-traditional pronunciation of his name.<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old dancer and Victoria Onanusi, from Kildare, were dumped from the island last week after their fellow contestants ranked them the weakest couple.<\/p>\n

The pair had been an item up for just three days, with Ope originally coupled up with Angelista Gunda.<\/p>\n

\"Ope,Ope, Love Island. Pic: ITV<\/p>\n

Appearing on ITV The Run Down this week, Ope was questioned on the pronunciation of his name, admitting it’s ‘not the traditional way.’<\/p>\n

The Love Island star has Nigerian heritage, but was born in the United Kingdom and raised from three months old by his foster parents Pauline and Barry. <\/p>\n

A clip shared to TikTok<\/a> sees presenter Daniel Ajose question Ope’s name, which is usually pronounced Opay, but he pronounces Op-y.<\/p>\n

\"\"Angelista and Ope. Pic: ITV<\/p>\n

‘When I was three months old, I was fostered by an amazing family — Pauline and Barry, shout out at one time,’ Ope explained.<\/p>\n

He continued: ‘They’re the best people in the world. They’re both white, and that’s just how they say it.<\/p>\n

‘They called me Op-y from birth and they raised me, and they’re my parents so I feel like I want to honour that and respect that by pronouncing my name that way.’<\/p>\n

@itvtherundown<\/a> Love Island’s Ope ‘clears up’ how to pronounce his name after all the discourse online \ud83d\udc40 Ope and Victoria were dumped after being voted the least connected couple by their fellow Islanders. Dumped Islanders set the record straight \ud83c\udf99\ufe0f Catch every clip of Love Island: Right of Reply on The Rundown. #LoveIsland<\/a> #LoveIslandUK<\/a> #LoveIsland2026<\/a> #OpeLoveIsland<\/a> #RightOfReply<\/a> \u266c original sound – The Rundown<\/a> <\/p>\n

Ope confirmed he was ‘aware’ the pronunciation wasn’t the traditional way, but noted ‘if you’re raised by two of the best people on the planet, I think anyone would do the same.’ <\/p>\n

It comes not long after Love Island narrator Iain Sterling expressed his love for Galway islander Sean “Fitzy” Fitzgerald.<\/p>\n

Fitzy has been in the villa since the series got underway, and has been coupled up with detective Lola since the get-go.<\/p>\n

\"EditorialLola Deal and Se\u00e1n Fitzgerald (Fitzy) on Love Island. Pic: ITV<\/p>\n

Having his say on Fitzy and Lola in a new video, comic and narrator Iain noted Fitzy should be ‘studied in a lab<\/a>.’<\/p>\n

‘Any future men going on Love Island, a pamphlet needs to be made,’ he explained, ‘He’s found a lady, he’s settled down, he works with children… There are not enough male primary school teachers; he is one.’<\/p>\n

Iain went on to detail that Fitzy was good at sport due to his GAA background. ‘Sean, what can I say, exemplary,’ Iain went on to laud, ‘ Irish, fit, teacher, Yes, please, well done’<\/p>\n