THE family of a Love Island contestant say they have received death threats following last night’s episode.
Luca Bish, a 23-year-old fishmonger from Rottingdean, is currently partnered with Gemma Owen on the television dating show.
Following a tumultuous episode on Sunday night his family say they have received death threats on his social media accounts.
The episode saw Luca and Gemma arguing after watching clips of each other during "Movie Night".
After seeing Gemma with another man, Luca said: “I can’t be with someone like that.”
The segment allows contestants to see clips of antics which have happened when new people enter the show.
During Friday’s episode, Luca watched a clip of Gemma suggesting that her head could be turned by someone else and "flirting" with newcomer Billy Brown in the kitchen.
Sunday’s episode saw her feature in a separate conversation with Billy in the clip titled Good Bill Hunting.
After watching the video, Luca said: “I’m telling you now, I don’t even want to speak to her.
“I’m f***ing fuming. I am not going f***ing near that bird mate. Bring me a f***ing bird in, watch me then flirt.
“Trust me when I say, if she wants to play it down to me I will f***ing explode. I can’t be with someone like that, sorry.”
Pointing to his snake tattoo, Luca added: “See this tattoo on my chest, that’s what she is.”
In the beach hut, Gemma said: “I don’t really know where he is coming from. I think everything that I did was fine, I stand by, I don’t think it was that deep at all and everyone just needs to get on with it.”
After sharing a frosty silence in the corridor after movie night, Luca told Gemma “I’m not happy” and “you were entertaining it” which Gemma vehemently denied.
Luca called Billy over to the fire pit to join them and asked: “Did you feel like she was flirting with you?” with Billy replying: “Yeah, it was just flirty banter.”
Gemma said: “Did we have a flirty chat? Yes.”
Luca replied: “But just a minute ago you said you didn’t have a flirty chat, you literally said I wasn’t flirting.”
As the conversation continued, Gemma said: “I don’t think any lines have been crossed.”
Shortly before the episode aired, Luca's family posted a story encouraging the public to be kind to contestants.
Luca's social media is being managed by his sister Claudia, who also lives in Rottingdean, while he is in the show.
She later revealed on his Instagram page that she had been receiving death threats through direct messages.
They wrote: “Please, please, please stop messaging abuse. Luca can’t even see it… the people that love him most can.
“I’ve just been sick from crying so much at the death threats (an hour on from that last story). How can people be so inhumane.”
It's a genre 💅 #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/RmRHBjy5Bk
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) July 17, 2022
Twitter users took to the platform throughout the episode to post commentary, as is usually the case throughout the series.
One said: “I’m actually trying to add up what Gemma has done wrong.”
I’m acc trying to add up what Gemma has done wrong #LoveIsland2022 #loveisland pic.twitter.com/gAlHTqWpWr
— Shauna Rennison (@ShaunaRennison3) July 17, 2022
While another also commented, referencing Gemma’s footballer father Michael Owen : “Luca getting so so angry when he has been sh** stirring, egging on the boys in Casa.
“It's actually scary because Gemma has done nothing and he's massively overreacting.
“M Owen needs to swoop in and protect his daughter from this man.”
Luca getting so so angry when he has been shit stirring, egging on the boys in Casa 😨 It's actually scary bc Gemma has done nothing and he's massively overreacting. M Owen needs to swoop in and protect his daughter from this man🤔 #loveisland #LoveIsland2022 pic.twitter.com/lMCAMKJbIY
— 💫Jess 🌺💫 (@JessNandos) July 17, 2022
One woman said: “Luca is a walking red flag… if Gemma stays with him beyond the villa she's going to be so closed off and controlled its a recipe for emotional jail #narcissist”
Luca is a walking red flag… if gemma stays with him beyond the villa shes going to be so closed off and controlled its a recipe for emotional jail #narcissist #loveisland
— ☁️ShanCam☁️ (@shan_cameron) July 18, 2022
Good Morning Britain presenter Ed Balls was less than impressed with Luca’s response to Gemma and Billy’s “flirting”.
The former politician discussed the latest episode of Love Island as he fronted Monday’s GMB alongside Ranvir Singh, and he didn’t hold back his reaction.
“I thought in the first week or so, Gemma, Michael Owen’s daughter, had a bad start, but actually, I think she has really done well,” Ed said.
“Luca, last night, it was disastrous. What was he doing?
“They’re on a show called Love Island, right? They’re supposed to flirt with each other.
“Luca and Gemma have been getting on really well, they were separated in different villas.
“Gemma, as far as I can see, had a pretty mild conversation with Billy, and Luca last night was ‘I’ve been betrayed, no bird treats me like that’. It was awful.”
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2.
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