Maya Jama sends $1million engagement ring back to ex-fiance after being hit by legal demand
MAYA Jama looked a million dollars on the Brits red carpet last night — having parted ways with the $1million engagement ring given to her by her ex-fiance.
The Love Island host, in a black strapless midi dress for the star-studded London ceremony, agreed to return the diamond dazzler after being hit by a legal demand from NBA star Ben Simmons last month.
But The Sun on Sunday can reveal the ring is currently sitting in a safety deposit box waiting on Ben’s legal team to retrieve it.
Maya, 28, who was all smiles as she arrived at the Brits, arranged for the ring to be safely secured immediately after receiving the legal demand letter on January 20.
Her lawyers contacted Ben’s team with a proposal on how Maya could return it — but more than three weeks later they have had no response.
A source said: “Maya received the letter demanding she return the engagement ring.
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"It was the first time Ben had asked for the ring back.
“The following Monday Maya’s lawyers replied to Ben’s team with proposals to return the ring.
“But despite getting holding correspondence, they’ve still not responded properly and it has been weeks.
“Maya had the ring delivered to a safety deposit box so it was safe and so Ben could arrange for it to be collected. The ball is now in his court.”
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Maya and 6ft 10in Aussie-born Ben, 26, began dating around May 2021 before making it official two months later.
They were photographed kissing at the Wimbledon tennis championships in July.
But the long-distance relationship hit the rocks last August when Maya decided to focus on her career in the UK.
The pair went their separate ways in December.
Maya confirmed the break-up when speaking to The Times last month, saying: “I’m really, really single right now.
"Newly single. It’s only been a month . . . but it’s nice.”
She had been promoting the new series of Love Island, saying she had been practising her arrival at the villa as host.
The Sun on Sunday broke the story about the ring row in January and sources said Maya was “surprised” to receive the demand letter.
They said: “For the avoidance of any doubt, she has never refused to return it.”
Last night, a source close to Ben told The Sun on Sunday: “Ben hasn’t had anything to do with the logistics of the ring being returned. He has moved on from this.
“Ben’s team has been working on it and it hasn’t been an easy process because it’s in England.
“There are a lot of challenging steps to getting it back, but they hope to wrap it up soon.”
His representatives declined to comment.
Last week Ben was seen stepping out with Godzilla vs. Kong actress Eiza Gonzalez, 33, in New York on a dinner date.
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A source said: “The pair have been quietly getting to know each other for a while now.
“Ben wanted to draw a line under his relationship with Maya, hence the ring demand.”
