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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Tutton

Love Island's Gemma Owen defended by Holly Willoughby after launch show backlash

Holly Willoughby has offered her support to Love Island 2022 star Gemma Owen, after she faced backlash during the launch episode on Monday night.

The daughter of former pro footballer Michael Owen certainly made a splash, as she was accused of being rude by viewers.

Gemma made it clear she wasn't interested in the boy she'd been paired up with by the public, and soon directed her attentions towards bombshell Davide Sanclimenti.

But as Gemma was shown mocking Luca Bish's surname, and kissing Davide in the challenge instead of her partner Liam Llewellyn, some fans claimed she had a bad attitude, and felt she was "rude".

Holly Willoughby has offered her support to Love Island 2022 star Gemma Owen (ITV)

While it's only been one day and of course the show is edited, it didn't stop fans being unimpressed by their first impressions of Gemma.

Speaking on This Morning on Tuesday, Holly shared her support and hit back at the backlash, suggesting viewers may have got Gemma wrong.

Speaking to former Islanders Amber Gill and Amy Hart, the host revealed her thoughts on Gemma's antics in the first show of the series.

Gemma Owen, divided Love Island 2022 viewers (ITV)

Holly said: "She did get a lot of attention on social media last night, I think probably because she's got a famous dad and people always like to have an opinion.

"I quite liked her, I quite like that she stood back. I thought she was quite dry and I liked that about her."

Amy also had her say, and seemed to back Gemma too saying the contestant wasn't settling for second best.

Amy also had her say, and seemed to back Gemma too (ITV)

She told Holly and her co-shost Phillip Schofield: "She's not playing it safe.... she's saying I'm actually here to find someone and I'm not gonna settle for second best."

The next episode will see Davide forced to choose between the girls, leaving a boy single.

Many viewers are guessing he will pick Gemma and leave Liam at risk of being dropped from the show, while some fans believe Gemma, aged 19, is too young to be on the series.

This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV Hub.

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