Love Island fans have hit out at ITV2 bosses for their decision to keep Ollie Williams in the show despite "game-hunting" claims.
The long-awaited remake of the summer reality TV show airs tonight on ITV 2 at 9PM, but it seems the drama has already begun.
Earlier this week aristocrat 23-year-old Ollie from Cornwall sparked fury when Instagram posts advocating his hunting business, Cornish Sporting Agency were exposed.
But Love Island bosses have 'no intention' of axing alleged game hunter Ollie.
The photos of Ollie posing next a warthog, water buffalo and giant eland, were removed before Ollie was announced as a Love Island contestant.
His website offered a variety of personalised hunting trips in Mozambique and South Africa as well as bird-shooting and deer stalking. The site was taken down in 2018.
But despite a considerable amount of people wanting to remove Ollie from the show, a source told MailOnline : "It is highly unlikely Ollie will be booted off the series. He's part of the lineup and already filmed the first episode – bosses see no reason to kick him off."
"Love Island cast Ollie out of thousands of applicants and are sticking to their decision.
"They're hoping this will all blow over once the audience gets to know Ollie after seeing him on screen."
Friends of the soon-to-be reality star have defended his work as a "passionate conservationist," who has a history of working with anti-poaching units, claiming the photos actually show Ollie culling sick animals.
Culling is the selective killing of animals. This process is necessary for maintaining the health of the herd - slaughtering those who are a 'threat' to the pack's survival, this includes those sick animals.
The Mirror was told: "There is a very big and important difference between trophy hunting and the conversation work Ollie has previously been involved in."
"At no point has Ollie organised or booked anybody to go to Africa to shoot game."
Ollie recently denied the accusation on his Twitter and shared that he would be leaving the show. These tweets have since been deleted.
A number of people have been vocal about the issue, one person tweeted: "That Ollie Williams on the new love island series is a trophy hunter and has loads of pics of him next to endangered animals he’s killed, and he’s going on love island ??? boot him off, doesn’t deserve a platform."
Another agreed: "Actually can’t believe that ITV even considered putting someone who does this for ‘fun’ on national television."
Luisa Collins, runner-up of series nine The Apprentice also said:
Which has former Love Island contestants like Kady Mcdermott (season two) and Olivia Attwood (season three) commenting, "Disgusting!!! I completely agree with you! He should not be allowed on such a great TV show and then allowed a platform! He should be removed," and "This is disgusting!!!!!!" respectively.
A petition pleading for the removal of Ollie from the show has also been shared, and currently has over 9,000 signatures.
*Love Island airs tonight at 9pm on ITV2
