Inside Love Island’s biggest ‘gaslighting’ scandals from star slammed by abuse charity to fans calling Ofcom
IN the world of reality television, few shows captivate audiences quite like Love Island.
Over the years, however, cast members have found themselves at the center of gaslighting accusations – a manipulative behavior where someone makes another question their reality.
Such scandals have not only ignited fierce debates among fans, but have also drawn criticism from abuse charities and prompted complaints to Ofcom.
This article explores some of the show’s most infamous gaslighting episodes, highlighting their impact on contestants and viewers at home.
Adam Collard and Rosie Williams
Bosses at a women’s charity voiced concerns over Adam’s behaviour towards Rosie in a 2018 episode of Love Island.
He was slammed by viewers for his treatment of his partner and, soon, executives at Women’s Aid urged fans to recognise the signs of emotional abuse.
The pair had an explosive confrontation in the show after Adam began wooing new girl Zara McDermott, even though he was coupled up with Rosie.
Fans slammed the personal trainer for smirking throughout the argument and leaving her in tears.
Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, said: “There are clear warning signs in Adam’s behaviour.”
Charity bosses added in a statement: “In a relationship, a partner questioning your memory of events, trivialising your thoughts or feelings, and turning things around to blame you can be part of pattern of gaslighting and emotional abuse.
“Last night, Rosie called out Adam’s unacceptable behaviour on the show.
“We ask viewers to join her in recognising unhealthy behaviour in relationships and speaking out against all forms of domestic abuse – emotional as well as physical.”
The drama came after new girl Zara took Adam on a date, and he later decided he preferred her to Rosie following their alone time together.
It led to clashes between Rosie and Adam, and she was left close to hysterics after the last row.
A host of celebrities led the charge last night as viewers blasted the Geordie casanova on Twitter for his antics.
Fellow contestant Dani Dyer also slammed Adam, branding him a “doughnut”.
Samie Elishi and Ron Hall
Love Island viewers accused Samie of gaslighting Ron last year.
Fans vowed to call Ofcom as Ron was targeted by the Islanders amid claims he had a game plan.
Ron decided to pull Samie for a chat after she told all the others that he was game playing, but she refused to back down.
Taking to Twitter to discuss the uncomfortable viewing, one person wrote: “I’m sorry but it was sammi who started the rumour and planted a seed in others head. I like the girl but she’s gaslighting.”
A second said: “She is gaslighting & manipulating Ron over & over again.”
While a third added: “I’ll even vote ron and Lana because I can’t support bullying, Samie to Ofcom.”
The row first kicked off after Ron said: “When I was a viewer… I thought, the ones who have their drama nice and early and then get comfy and treat it like a holiday, they’re the ones who are probably like, they just cruise.”
His comment made Samie speculate whether Ron had let slip his game plan.
She told Tom and some of the Islanders: “I was like, did he just reveal his game plan?”
Tonight Ron told her: “I’m not going to lie, I’m quite livid, I’m just not going to have it…I’m not having a whole gaff think that after one challenge I’m playing a game.”
The row first kicked off after Ron said: “When I was a viewer… I thought, the ones who have their drama nice and early and then get comfy and treat it like a holiday, they’re the ones who are probably like, they just cruise.”
His comment made Samie speculate whether Ron had let slip his game plan.
She told Tom and some of the Islanders: “I was like, did he just reveal his game plan?”
Ron later told her: “I’m not going to lie, I’m quite livid, I’m just not going to have it… I’m not having a whole gaff think that after one challenge I’m playing a game.”
The row first kicked off after Ron said: “When I was a viewer… I thought, the ones who have their drama nice and early and then get comfy and treat it like a holiday, they’re the ones who are probably like, they just cruise.”
His comment made Samie speculate whether Ron had let slip his game plan.
She told Tom and some of the Islanders: “I was like, did he just reveal his game plan?”
Tonight Ron told her: “I’m not going to lie, I’m quite livid, I’m just not going to have it…I’m not having a whole gaff think that after one challenge I’m playing a game.”
Georgia Steel and Callum Jones
Love Island fans blasted Georgia for “gaslighting” Callum and begged bosses to axe her from All Stars immediately.
The 26-year-old told Sophie Piper earlier this year that she couldn’t see herself sleeping with Callum, but then had a smooch in bed with him.
Sophie told her partner Josh Ritchie, who relayed the information to Chris Taylor, who then told Callum.
Georgia S then tried to talk her way out of it after Callum pulled her up on it.
Callum said to Georgia: “I’ve been told that you’ve been saying there’s no sexual chemistry and you couldn’t see yourself sleeping with me.”
Georgia replied: “I’m glad it’s come out because it’s been weighing on my mind to be honest. I messed up.
“I had a chat with Sophie and she was like ‘how do you feel about Cal?’
“And I was like yeah I like Cal but I can’t imagine having sex with Callum yet because I don’t see that yet and she was like ‘that’s your answer’.”
Addressing their steamy night in the Hideaway, Georgia continued: “In the Hideaway, yeah we were cuddling and kissing but I don’t know, I didn’t feel that sexual chemistry.
“Tom coming in threw me off because I have that with Tom and it was very flirty, which I didn’t necessarily have with you at that time but it’s nothing to do with me having that with Tom and not you.
“I fancy you a lot. I think you’re gorgeous.
“I think at that time, I was still getting to know you.”
Callum responded: “Don’t feel bad, it’s old news.”
But ITV2 viewers thought Georgia got off lightly and slammed her for manipulating Callum.
One wrote: “I do like Georgia S but she is totally gaslighting Mollie and Callum. Georgia flirted with Tom 200 per cent and would’ve ditched Callum in a instant, if Tom had encouraged her!”
A second posted: “I need Georgia to teach me her ways cause this is INSANE.”
A third commented: “Georgia S is an actual narcissist who’s so jealous of an emotionally intelligent and beautiful girl, inside out, like Molly, that she’s fuming and can only go LOW by insulting, projecting her own rudeness, gaslighting and by victimising herself. I’d have thrown hands.”
“Georgia Steel, gave the public a master class on Manipulation and Gaslighting! Now bring on movie night… to prove what she actually was saying,” a fourth said.
Another added: “Nah Georgia is trash! I can’t wait for movie night. The gaslighting from Georgia is WILD!!!!”
Chris Taylor and Arabella Chi
Love Island fans slammed Chris after he got into a blazing row with Arabella during the same All Stars series.
The pair seemed to be going from strength to strength until Sophie Piper entered the villa as a bombshell.
Sophie picked Chris to go on a date with her – and they really hit it off.
However, viewers soon saw Chris tell Arabella that he’s had a crush of Sophie for ages, and wanted to get to know her.
The following morning, Arabella was left gutted when Chris grabbed Sophie for a chat and held her hand in front of her.
Chris kicked off in a sweary rant over her comments about the situation, so Arabella later pulled him for a chat later on in the garden.
Arabella started the conversation with: “I feel like your feelings towards me, and the stuff we spoke about on our date, is not perhaps how I thought you felt if I’m honest with you.”
She added: “The reason I chose you was because I thought I could be with you on the outside. I do have feelings. That’s why I’m hurting.”
Chris replied: “I had a conversation with Sophie this morning and then everyone has been telling me you’re absolutely fuming at me for holding her hand…”
Arabella was upset because he said he wouldn’t do anything in front of her, to which he apologised for that and said he didn’t want to be in her eye line.
Chris said: “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings,” as Arabella wiped away her tears.
Arabella said: “I feel the fact that I have opened up to you and you’ve literally thrown that back in my face.”
Chris clapped back: “I haven’t called you disingenuous though babe.”
“Yeah because I have not been! Two guys have walked in here and I haven’t looked twice,” she said back.
Chris sternly said back: “Because you don’t fancy them.”
He added: “You can’t give me one reason and change them now.”
As Arabella tried to explain herself, Chris jumped in and said: “Because it’s not suiting you and the situation is not working for you.”
The model asked: “Why are you being patronising?”
Arabella later discussed what happened with the girls on the terrace.
The model started crying as she explained: ” I just feel like this always happens to me.
“I had the sh**est luck last year and I’ve come in here and I finally meet someone and I coupled up with Chris because I saw something with him.
“I could have coupled up with anyone else!”
Many took to X to share their thoughts on what had happened – and didn’t like Chris’ attitude.
One said: “I don’t particularly like arabella, but that tone Chris had was all too familiar to me. I loved him before this, but something about him now gives me potential gaslighter vibes.”
“Chris is giving gaslighter,” a second chimed in.
A third wrote: “woooow I didn’t know Chris had this attitude in him, scaryyy.”
A fourth tweeted: “Who does Chris think he is.”
Others rushed to defend him.
One wrote: “Chris had every right to get to know Sophie but it’s clear that his desire to spend time with Arabella was not the same as before or even equal to his desire to get to know Sophie.”
“I don’t think Arabella can be mad at Chris for being honest that he wants to get to know Sophie. Cause he told her right away and it’s not like they’re closed off,” another said.
Curtis Pritchard and Amy Hart
Love Island fans accused Amy of “gaslighting” Curtis on the show too.
The air hostess was called out for psychologically manipulating Curtis in the villa, as viewers believed she was constantly blaming him and putting him down.
Taking to Twitter, one fan branded her “toxic”.
They shared: “Can no one in the villa see that Amy is gaslighting Curtis?
“Every time her insecurities get in the way, she always puts the blame on Curtis. she never seems to be in the wrong. It’s toxic.
“I hope Curtis finds someone in casa amor but I know he’s way too committed.”
Another viewer shared: “I think Amy needs to look up definition of ‘gaslighting.'”
A third added: “Is it just me who feels like Amy was gaslighting Curtis? The geeza did nothing wrong he genuinely thought it was her, then he was practically begging for forgiveness whilst she stuck her nose up at him? God help him on the outside.”
While a fourth said: “Look at Amy gaslighting Curtis the way she gave Joe such a hard time for.”
Earlier in the series, Amy was left seething after the kissing challenge.
Every male Islander was blindfolded and had to guess which female Islander kissed them, before scoring their smooch.
Curtis marked Amy a low seven out of 10, and thought his kiss with Arabella was actually Amy, which he gave full marks too.
Moaning at Curtis later, she added: “I scratched your neck like I always do, so you knew it was me. And then you gave me a seven and rated everyone else really high.”
Despite apologising her, it wasn’t until they were treated to a date she came around.
On a separate occasion Amy said she was fed up with Curtis’ philosophical conversation.
But viewers thought Curtis was over Amy, as their recent conversation about life together outside the villa was met with an unethusiastic reply.
Jake Cornish and Liberty Poole
Jake was accused by show fans of gaslighting Liberty with a “love-bomb” in 2021.
Cracks had been beginning to appear in their relationship after Liberty began to express doubts about Jake’s feelings towards her.
The romance between the pair – who had been coupled up since day one – appeared to cool following the Mad Movies challenge, when she was shown a clip of Jake telling the other boys he “doesn’t want to rip her clothes off”.
However, Friday’s episode saw Jake tell Liberty: “I love you.”
He made the statement after it was revealed they had been voted as having the most one-sided relationship in the villa by the public.
And fans took to Twitter and insisted his declaration of love wasn’t genuine.
One said: “I feel for Liberty because she cannot see that Jake is legit playing the game. One minute he said he didn’t want to say I love you but at the end of the convo he said it, it’s almost gaslighting”
Another wrote: “He’s blasting you words and no actions, then gaslighting you as if your past feelings and trauma are the reasonings for you feeling like this, when it’s HIM giving you all the reasons to feel like this”
Another said: “On #LoveIsland I’ve noticed that Jake’s ‘nice guy’ mask is slipping. Liberty is the most wholesome, beautiful, honest, and loyal person.
“Jake is gaslighting her, showing aggression, feeding her insecurities and trying to control her.”
Earlier in the programme, Liberty told Jake: “I haven’t really spoken to you today. What’s going on?
“I do feel like since the whole rip-the-clothes-off comment, I’ve been noticing a lot of similar things that have accumulated.
“We haven’t been spending a lot of time together recently.”
Jake told her: “I don’t know what more I can say. You are my girlfriend. You are part of me.”
Speaking in the Beach Hut, Liberty added: “He hasn’t given me a reason not to trust him so why am I letting trust issues from the past affect that?”
However, the episode ended by teasing an upcoming clip of the girls questioning whether Jake is genuinely interested in Liberty.
The relationship between Liam Reardon and Millie Court appeared to be growing during Friday’s episode.
Liam told Millie: “I already feel like I’ve fallen.”
She replied: “You feel like you’ve fallen? I feel like that as well.
“I look at you and feel a certain way. I want to say certain things.”
Liam said: “It’s on the tip of my tongue but I feel like I shouldn’t say certain things yet.”
Love Island winners - where they are now
Every year Love Island opens its doors to more sexy Islanders who are hoping for a holiday romance that could turn into more.
Here we take you though all of the Love Island winners so far and what their relationship statuses are now:
2024 – The first ever All stars spin off show was won by Molly Smith and Tom Clare. STATUS: Still together.
2023 – Jess Harding and Sammy Root took home the 50K, and won the summer 2023 Love Island. STATUS: Broken up.
2023 – The first series of 2023 saw Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan crowned Love Island winners in South Africa. STATUS: Still together.
2022 – Davide Sanclimenti and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu’s time in the villa was anything but a smooth ride, but they managed to win the public’s hearts – and the ITV2 reality show. STATUS: Broken up.
2021 – Liam Reardon and Millie Court were announced winners of Love Island 2021. STATUS: Still together.
2020 – The first ever winter Love Island saw Paige Turley and Finn Tapp crowned winners after falling in love on the show. STATUS: Broken up.
2019 – Series 5 saw Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague runners up to winners Greg O’Shea and Amber Gill, who met in the last few days of the series. STATUS: Broken up.
2018 – It wasn’t surprising fan favourites Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer won the show, as they were strong throughout. But sadly things didn’t last. STATUS: Broken up.
2017 – Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies had lots of ups and downs in the villa but went on to win the show. STATUS: Broken up.
2016 – Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde were together from the start of the series, and since they won show have two kids and are married. STATUS: Still together.
2015 – Despite poor Jess Hayes being Max Morley’s second choice on the show, they did win – but they didn’t last as a couple. STATUS: Broken up.