Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

Love Island hit with 3.5k Ofcom complaints as viewers rage over boys' toxic behaviour

Love Island has been hit with 3.5K Ofcom complaints after baffled viewers accused the show of endorsing bullying tactics and nasty behaviour towards certain members of the cast.

Over the past two weeks, since the explosive drama of Casa Amor died down, Luca Bish and Dami Hope have been the topic of conversation among many viewers who have accused the boys of using bullying tactics towards Tasha Ghouri.

Luca also came under fire for his 'controlling' behaviour towards Gemma Owen after Movie Night.

And After Tasha decided to couple-up with Casa Amor heartthrob Billy Brown, the boys seemingly turned on the model, 23, after she chose Billy over Andrew.

Although Tasha and Andrew were able to mend their fragile relationship, as the pair are now boyfriend and girlfriend, it appears that Luca and Dami cannot move past her previous actions - and viewers have found themselves feeling 'uncomfortable' watching them 'continuously taunt' Tasha.

Following the uncomfortable scenes, many viewers felt compelled to complain to Ofcom over the boys' behaviour towards the girls in the villa.

Tasha has been having a tough time in the villa (ITV)

On July 17, Love Island received a total of 2481 complaints related to alleged misogynistic behaviour by some of the male contestants.

The same night, as Aftersun aired, the ITV2 programme received 427 complaints - the majority of which related to comments made about Ekin-Su, and the treatment of Jacques during his interview.

Then, on July 18 July, Love Island received a whopping 413 complaints from furious viewers related to alleged bullying and misogynistic behaviour from some of the male contestants.

It also received 167 complaints relating to footage of Ekin-Su and George during Casa Amor.

The majority of the 129 complaints Ofcom received the week prior to that were related to Adam entering the villa, and Jacques’ wellbeing in the lead up to and during his departure from the villa.

Tasha couldn't hold back the tears after the brutal challenge (mirror.co.uk)

It all came to a head on Tuesday night's instalment of the ITV2 show when Tasha was pied by both Luca and Dami.

Tasha couldn't hold back the tears as she cried on Andrew's shoulder, asking him why the boys 'hated her' so much.

The blonde beauty admitted that she couldn't understand why they went in so hard on her during the Snog, Marry, Pie challenge - and that their reasons for doing it were far worse than the action itself as Dami insisted that she 'always gets away with things'.

Both Dami and Luca pied Tasha (ITV)

Tasha looked visibly upset as she received the final pie, with Andrew and Paige agreeing afterwards that both boys went too far.

Sitting with Paige and Andrew, Tasha explained it wasn't the pies that bothered her as she was expecting them.

"It's the reasons after they gave, that was nasty," she said.

Tasha became visibly upset after the Snog, Marry, Pie challenge (ITV)

"When they are going deep in and personal attack on me, it's a completely story," she said, comparing the situation to when she pied Luca.

Following the savage challenge, many viewers took to Twitter to accuse Dami and Luca of bullying Tasha.

"What Luca and Dami are doing to Tasha is straight up bullying! -constantly pick on and at her -sniggering with each other about her -making her feel worthles," one fumed.

Viewers are convinced that producers encouraged Luca to say sorry (mirror.co.uk)

Another wrote: "I feel like Luca and Dami are using Andrew’s feelings as an excuse to bully Tasha. They are constantly taunting the girl."

"I know Tasha ain’t our favourite but Dami and Luca are bullying her. GET THEM OFFF," someone else fumed.

After Luca saw Tasha crying by the firepit, he made his way over to her to apologise - but viewers are now convinced that producers egged him to say sorry amid the growing concern for his behaviour.

Dami also apologised to Tasha (mirror.co.uk)

Both Luca and Dami did eventually apologise, with both vowing they would leave her and Andrew alone, as Luca said he never wants to make a girl cry.

ITV have strict procedures in place to protect the mental health and wellbeing of all the Islanders whilst in the show, before they sign up and long after they have left the villa.

The Mirror has reached out to an ITV spokesperson for comment on this story.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.