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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Tina Campbell

Love Island 2022: ‘Race row’ erupts on Twitter as Amber Beckford and Ikenna Ekwonna latest islanders to be dumped

Love Island has found its self embroiled in a ‘race row’ after Amber Beckford and Ikenna Ekwonna were the latest islanders to be dumped

(Picture: ITV)

Love Island is facing a “race row” on social media after Amber Beckford and Ikenna Ekwonna became the latest contestants to be dumped from the villa.

Six islanders found themselves at risk with Beckford and Ekwonna being booted off following a public vote.

Their exit comes just days after Remi Lambert and Afia Tonkmor lost their places on the ITV2 dating show after islanders decided who they wanted to recouple with, meaning four people of colour have been dumped in a row.

This didn’t sit well with some viewers who flocked to social media to have their say on the matter.

The girls including Amber Beckford (middle) waiting to hear their fate during the latest dumping (ITV)

“This vote seems very anti-black,” one said.

“Nah some racist s**t going on in Love Island right now with the votes,” penned a third.

While a fourth fan added: "Is no one questioning why a white person hasn’t left yet? Y’all really see black people as undesirable and it shows absolutely disgusting.”

Ikenna Ekwonna looked crestfallen to be told he was leaving the villa (ITV)

Viewers have complained in the past that many of the black and mixed race men who go on the show tend to go for white girls rather than black or mixed race girls.

That has often led to a disproportionate number of non-white contestants being left out of pairings resulting in them having to leave the villa.

The Standard contacted a representative for Love Island for comment who said: “We would take any suggestion that any editorial decisions are made based on race very seriously indeed and would refute this in the strongest possible terms.

“The opinions the Islanders have, decisions they make and the relationships formed are completely within the control of the Islanders themselves.”

New bombshell Antigoni Buxton is sure to make some waves in the villa (ITV)

Meanwhile, fresh blood was previewed entering the show in the shape of bombshell Antigoni Buxton, daughter of celebrity chef Tonia Buxton.

Her entry means that Gemma Owen no longer has the only claim of a celebrity parent being the daughter of former England footballer Michael Owen.

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