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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Kate Lally

Love Island moments that racked up the most Ofcom complaints

Love Island is back with its 2023 winter edition coming to our screens all the way from South Africa.

Just a few episodes in, there has already been plenty of drama. And while fans of the show love the excitement, they're also not afraid to speak out if they find something offensive.

Each series sees Ofcom receive many complaints about reality show, with the TV watchdog inundated with plenty of grumbles at a number of incidents since the show began.

READ MORE: Love Island viewers spot major problem with coupling

As previously reported, TV experts at Uswitch crunched Ofcom’s complaints data to reveal the most outrageous moments from the show back in 2021. Since then, there have also been new additions to the list.

Here, we take a look at the most complained about Love Island scenes in recent years.

Gemma Owen and Davide Sanclimenti's kiss

Davide and Gemma share a kiss on Love Island (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

A kiss between Gemma Owen, 19, and Davide Sanclimenti, 27, sparked almost 200 of complaints earlier this series.

Love Island viewers contacted Ofcom after finding the age gap between the two uncomfortable. Michael Owen's daughter made her feelings for Davide clear, planting a kiss on him during an ice breaker game.

A day later Davide chose to couple up with Gemma, but many Love Island fans claimed them being together "did not sit right" with them. The episode with the kiss racked up 167 Ofcom complaints.

Curtis Pritchard's Casa Amor chaos

Curtis and Amy were not on the same page (ITV)

In terms of number of complaints, it didn't exactly shake the villa. But when Curtis Pritchard rocked Amy Hart back in 2019, 314 people felt the need to speak out.

Amy was planning to tell the air steward she had fallen in love with him after being reunited for the first time since Casa Amor. But he came clean that actually he had set his eyes for Jourdan instead, who actually turned him down.

Their cute relationship turned into a car crash in front of our eyes.

Finn Tapp's 'fake news' headline

Fans didn't like the headline game (ITV)

The headlines game ruffled many feathers in 2020. It was reported in the contest that Finn’s head had been turned in Casa Amor, and it caused concern for poor Paige.

He vowed he stayed faithful to her there, and it upset plenty watching on at home too. Fans argued that it was misleading of the show to use this headline, and 544 complained.

Georgia Steele and Jack Fowler's kiss

The kiss clip was replayed again and again (ITV)

Some 655 complaints were made when Georgia and Jack locked lips after their date in 2018. Laura was fuming, and took her to task.

She screamed: "My best mate has gone behind my back and tried to snog the guy I'm coupled up with." The clip was replayed again and again to find out who was at fault, and that really got us grumbling.

Maura Higgin’s advances towards Tommy Fury

Maura's moves did not impress Tommy - or viewers at home (ITV)

In 2019, Maura's meddling made big headlines. Despite Tommy's girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague being her friend, one night she was all over the boxer.

Some say she was forcing herself on Tommy, and that a line was crossed. Outraged fans took to social media, and many deemed it worthy of taking further. In the end, 709 people complained to Ofcom about Maura's actions.

Joe's behaviour towards Lucie

Joe Garratt and Lucie Donlan (ITV)

Diehard Love Island fans will simply never forget that night in 2019. Joe Garratt was accused of manipulating Lucie Donlan when he was uncomfortable about her “strange” and “disrespectful” friendship with Tommy.

He later said he was "gutted that it has been perceived that way". By the time he left, over 600 Ofcom complaints were lodged.

Dani Dyer sobbing over Casa Amor

Dani Dyer was left sobbing (ITV)

Dani Dyer was brought to tears as she believed Jack Fincham was going to cheat on her with his ex in Casa Amor. Love Island producers thought it would be a great idea to show her a clip of him looking like his head has been turned.

He was totally innocent, but Dani was already in tears and it took her a long time to calm down. An incredible 2,644 fans made their feelings known to Ofcom.

Faye being misled over Teddy’s Casa Amor behaviour

There were explosive scenes in the Love Island villa after the Islanders received a postcard (ITV)

One explosive scene from last year's Love Island was hit with almost 5,000 complaints because of how Faye was misled into thinking Teddy had found someone else in Casa Amor. The main villa received a postcard which featured a picture of Teddy kissing another girl.

Viewers at home knew the picture had been taken during a challenge, but the Islanders, including Faye, did not. After she saw the photo she decided to find someone else and cracked on with Sam.

Faye's sweary rant at Teddy

Faye brutally dumped Teddy after being misled (ITV)

The Love Island moment with the most Ofcom complaints ever came from the same couple. When Teddy returned from Casa Amor, Faye screamed at him.

Ofcom confirmed it had received a staggering 24,763 complaints. Viewers watched as Faye shouted and swore at Teddy after watching a clip where he told Clarisse he was "sexually attracted to her".

He also told her he was "technically single" during a flirty exchange and the pair were then shown kissing during a challenge. But he did not act on his feelings and remained faithful to Faye.

Responding to the backlash on Faye's Instagram story, her family urged viewers to remember they were watching a "highly edited TV show which is created for entertainment".

Love Island continues on ITV2 and ITVX

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