Love Island favourites Dami Hope and Indiyah Polack are receiving some major backlash online via (X) after collaborating with GymShark for this year’s Notting Hill Carnival. Dami and Indiyah chose to focus on their Nigerian and Jamaican heritage respectively. However, many argued that Nigeria has nothing to do with Carnival’s origin and other Caribbean nations should have been included and not just Jamaica.

One person wrote on X: "I love Dami and Indiyah but the tops aren’t that cute. Should’ve made tees that have different separate countries bc why would I wear a Jamaican x Nigeria top when I have no connection to Jamaica. I get the purpose of unity but realistically who’s gonna wear it." Political commentator Lin Mei also chimed in writing: "I love to see all people enjoy carnival but please remember carnival culture is very important to the small Caribbean islands as well as its history in Britain from a traditional, cultural & economical standpoint. It was a TRINIDADIAN woman who paved the way for Notting Hill." A third person also took objection with the GymShark collaboration commenting angrily: "Nigeria has nothing to do with carnival tho plus I thought the whole point of gymshark was gym clothes?? What’s a polar bear doing in Arlington Texas?"

But some defended Dami and Indiyah - with one tweeting: "This is why they say the UK is bad vibes. You ain’t gotta like the Dami Indiyah gymshark ting. But I find because some of you don’t like them whether it’s individually or as a couple you will always have something negative to say. It’s so draining to see." A second added: "you lost are just all dunces, and hate on Dami and Indiyah for literally anything… are they the creators of Carnival?? it’s literally just a shirt that said jamaica and nigeria… i don’t get the wahala." Meanwhile a third person commented: "The hate that Dami and indiyah get is so forcedddd, go clock in or something."

Meanwhile, Indiyah took to Snapchat to defend the collaboration, writing over a selfie of herself giving the side eye, she wrote: "Of course carnival doesn't originate in Jamaica - however we live in the UK...where Notting Hill Carnival has now become next level multi-cultural because London literally is." She continued, "Carnival in the Caribbean is nothing like the ones in the UK, however our community actually isn't doing anything to change that...from time sounds are playing afrobeats and R&B its clearly starting to have a different meaning." She concluded, "It's acc becoming the place where people from all islands and countries go to enjoy themselves...and quite frankly there's nothing wrong with that..it's like asking for authentic curry goat in Wimbledon. It's not gonna happen unless the community make it happen." Dami and Indiyah finished in third place in the 2022 season of Love Island, with Ekin and Davide Sanclimenti being crowned the winners.