Fans of Love Island watched on Tuesday night, July 12, as Jacques decided to leave Love Island, leaving behind Welsh contestant Paige Thorne, as viewers wondered whether his partner for much of the series would follow him. Paramedic Paige was left in tears after rugby player Jacques O'Neil, who she coupled up with early on in the series, announced he would be leaving the 2022 series. However, she has for now decided to stay in the villa to continue her Love Island experience.
Jacques' emotional goodbye came after the arrival of bombshell Adam Collard, who previously appeared in series four. Adam set his sights on Paige from his first day in the villa and in the most recent episode, Wednesday, July 13, they shared a date.
Read more: Love Island Paige Thorne's friends speak out on Welsh star's decision after Jacques quits
After some backlash following her decision, Paige's team have defended her choice to stay in the villa. Posting on social media, they wrote: "Little note that #bekind applies to Paige too.
"If she decides to leave the villa, that is her own decision, and she has no obligation to follow Jacques - this is her experience just as much as his. There is only 2.5 weeks left of her once in a lifetime experience, let's not see her come out to negativity."
They know her best, so could this mean we'll see Paige in the villa for the foreseeable? We hope so.
Jacques announced to his fellow Islanders that he was leaving the dating show and told Paige he would wait for her on the outside, he said earlier this week: "I feel like lately I just can't be myself. I'm trying my best but I'm not a fake person. I'm not going to start faking things and act like I'm okay, when things inside aren't actually okay.
"So I'm going to be leaving today. I just can't stick around and not be myself. It's not fair to me and it's definitely not fair to Paige. For me and Paige to work I need to be at my best and I need to be who I was when I came in here.
"If that means removing myself from the situation and waiting for Paige when she gets out, that's what I'm going to do."
Following Jacques departure, Adam Collard picked Paige as one of the girls he wanted to take to the hideaway terrace for a date. He joked that by picking Paige third out of all the dates, he was leaving the best till last.
And Paige didn't seem to indicate whether she was consdiering going, telling viewers that the date went well. Speaking in the diary room after she met Adam on the terrace, 24-year-old Welsh paramedic Paige said: "I think the date went well, just chit-chatty, flirty vibes. I'm looking forward to having some more flirty chit chats and seeing where it goes.
"Obviously it doesn't mean it's going to be easy and it doesn't mean I've switched my feelings off like that, but am I looking forward to there potentially being more chats and things with Adam? Yeah, for sure."
Speaking about his date with Paige, Adam said: "I've hit the jackpot with Jacques going. I think whether Jacques was in the villa or not it would still be okay and it would still be a bit of a vibe.
"I think she would still entertain me because of what's happened in the past. I actually get nervous when I speak to her which I've not experienced in a long time. She just seems so down to earth, like normal girl back home, family orientated like me, and it's exactly what I want."
It still remains uncertain as to whether Paige will stay or go, but all the indications look like she's going to make the most of her last few weeks in the Love Island villa.
Love Island returns tonight at 9pm, and if you've missed any of the action, you can catch up on the ITV Hub.
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