Love Island 2023 star Will Young has been slammed by animal rights’ organisation PETA, in response to a recent video posted on his social media page.
The upcoming contestant, 23, is set to appear on the second winter series of Love Island as it returns on January 16, and has already built up a fanbase following his vlogs about life at his family farm in Buckinghamshire.
Young was seen in a video shared on Tik Tok coming to the rescue of a prolapsed sheep, and in another, helping a sheep give birth, after the lamb had got stuck mid-labour. Young subsequently was seen dancing after the lamb was born.
PETA were left unimpressed by the clips and reshared the vlogging content, as they said: “This farmer is a disgusting creep. He’s dancing over her body as she gives birth.”
Young frequently posts farming content on social media, which he admitted is sometimes gruesome, and previously spoke about receiving death threats for his videos shared.
Speaking on his video in which a sheep gives birth, Young told the Financial Times: “It was just two hooves and a head, pull it out, job done. I’d never have got the camera out for a situation I wasn’t in control of.”
PETA Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen told the Evening Standard: “Women want a man who cares about animals, not someone who exploits them for their fleece, their flesh, or social media clickbait.
“Mr Young might want to consider that the cholesterol in meat and dairy can clog the arteries to all organs, not just the heart – and switch to a vegan diet if he wants to please his partner in the villa or later in his life.”
Evening Standard has contacted Will Young’s representatives for comment.
Young was revealed as one of the new faces in the Love Island 2023 line-up on Monday, ahead of the series start in a few days.
The upcoming winter series takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, and will mark presenter Maya Jama’s first time hosting the show, following Laura Whitmore’s departure last year.
Young shared his hopes of “finding a wife” away from the farm, as he gears up to move into the ITV2 dating show’s extravagant new villa.
The contestant said: “Having grown up on a farm, it’s been quite difficult juggling relationships and work.
“I think I’m at the time of my life where I’m mature enough to go and find a wife.”
Young added: “What attracts me is energy, if the energy is there, she can do whatever she wants.
"As long as she respects what I do and my busy times of the year [as a farmer], then that’s all I need. If she loves it, bonus! But it’s not a big issue for me."
