Love Island fans slam Joey Essex for behaviour towards Samantha

Joey Essex's arrival into this year's Love Island villa was certainly a shock to fans, but it's safe to say the former TOWIE man has absolutely delivered with the drama so far.

Despite immediately coupling up with make-up artist Samantha, with things between the pair seemingly going well, the arrival of Joey's former flame Grace Jackson has seriously turned his head.

After an overnight stay at Casa Amor, Joey and Grace returned to the main villa on last night's show and couldn't keep their hands off each other, with the pair being called out by their fellow Islanders for snogging in the presence of Samantha.

After reflecting on how Grace’s arrival has impacted her connection with Joey, Samantha was pulled by Joey, with the 33-year-old saying: “I saw you upset earlier."

Samantha replied: “Well yeah, I feel embarrassed if I’m being completely honest…I just feel like I was a bit of a placeholder until someone else came in.”

Attempting to reassure Samantha, Joey said: “I didn’t want this to be the outcome.”

Samantha later broke down to the girls, saying: "It's just so embarrassing. He doesn't give a flying f*** how I feel", with the 26-year-old later admitting she feels like quitting the villa.

After seeing Joey's behaviour, many fans have slammed the reality star for the treatment of Samantha, with some even suggesting their reunion has been set up.

One wrote: 'okay first, let’s vote to kick joey and grace out. they’re exes, and they are just wasting space in the villa for people who want to find love. grace found joey, and joey found grace so boot them out and let them crack on outside, why bother still keeping them in the villa?'. (sic)

Another wrote: 'I’ll never understand how people can be so happy with themselves knowing how much hurt they’ve caused another person 😞 Sam deserves so much better'. (sic)

A third wrote: 'Absolutely out of order them 2 deserve each other ZERO RESPECT', with another writing: 'Cruel 💔poor Samantha no wonder she wants out and feels so embarrassed 🙈 these two need to go'. (sic)

Another said: 'Such a set up! Obviously they were still together and offered this gig and pretended to separate. Joey ‘with’ Sam and never laid a hand on her over two weeks so he could stay true to Grace. Joeys had his day and this isn’t love island. Hope they get voted off'. (sic)

Check out all of this year's Love Island cast:

Love Island continues every night at 9pm on ITV2/STV2.

Now read:

Everything you need to know about Love Island

Joey Essex's pal Arg addresses Love Island bombshell rumours

How to follow the Love Island 2024 cast on Instagram

How to listen to MFR:

For great music and incredible competitions tune into MFR on FM and DAB across the North of Scotland, online, on our app, or say ‘Play MFR’ on your Smart Speaker. We play you the biggest hits from the world’s hottest artists. You’ll find new favourites every day and hear the songs you've missed from the last few years.

• love island
• joey essex