Maura Higgins from Love Island Shares Her Traumatic Taxi Experience: “I Was Just Thinking the Worst”

Former Love Island contestant Maura Higgins recently opened up about a harrowing experience she faced six years ago involving a taxi driver. Originally hailing from Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland, Maura gained widespread recognition as a participant on the fifth season of Love Island in 2019.

During an episode of the We Need To Talk podcast aired on October 29, 2024, Maura recounted a distressing incident from a night out with friends. After an evening of fun, she opted to sit in the front seat of a taxi, while her friends occupied the back seat. As they made their way home, Maura inadvertently dozed off, only to wake up to a shocking violation.

“I did not say anything because I thought if I say something he could genuinely knock me out. I was just thinking the worst,”described Maura.

Her instincts were immediately on high alert as she feared the situation could escalate. Expressing her vulnerability, Maura shared:

“The whole way back I was thinking he was going to pull over. I remember getting out at my house and I could not get the key in the door. I was shaking that much,” revealed Maura.

Lingering Regret: Not Reporting the Incident

Despite reaching the safety of her home, the emotional aftermath left Maura in turmoil. The fear that the driver was aware of her address kept her from reporting the incident, a decision she now acknowledges as a profound regret. Years later, she reflected on the potential danger her silence posed to other women:

“I should have because, you know, he could do that again. I do regret not reporting him; he could do that to so many more women. But I was scared,” stated Maura.

Love Island and a Personal Relationship Struggle

When podcast host Paul Carrick Brunson inquired about her current dating life, Maura candidly stated that she was single. Reflecting on her past relationship, she revealed that she was involved with someone who had betrayed her trust multiple times. While hosting the Aftersun talk show for Season 6 of Love Island USA, she faced the dilemma of returning to the series while still navigating a rocky relationship.

Despite the Love Island producers encouraging her to participate in the show while dating her ex, Maura decided to decline the opportunity. She was deeply invested in her relationship and expressed a desire to protect it, although this led her to anxiously check her partner’s phone, a decision she now feels vindicated about:

“I found more stuff than I ever thought to see,” Maura admitted, discovering her ex was romantically involved with multiple women.

Rather than confronting him directly, Maura chose to confide in a friend back in Ireland, who suggested that she address the issue head-on. Maura felt that approaching her ex would have been “too easy.” Living together in Los Angeles, she decided to stay at his place for a few more days to further assess the situation.

Eventually, after a significant revelation while preparing for her appearance on Love Island, Maura made the decision to call the producers and commit to her return to the show. She even continued to communicate with her ex during the production of promotional materials, despite recognizing that such behavior seemed irrational in retrospect. Ultimately, under the guidance of the show’s producers, Maura decided to break up with her cheating partner.

Maura Higgins’ experiences not only underline the challenges faced in navigating personal relationships in the public eye but also shed light on broader issues of safety and personal agency that resonate with many.

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