In Love Island’s four years on air, we’ve seen hook-ups, Do Bits Society meetings, weird and wonderful challenges, and, of course, plenty of burgeoning romances.
But the show hasn’t been without its controversies, either.
With a new series upon us, here’s a closer look at all incidents we saw unfold on screen that sparked a scandal…
Continuity errors
At various points during the show’s fourth series, viewers picked up on a number of continuity errors, which many believed pointed to the fact scenes were constructed.
One such example saw a glass belonging to Laura Anderson move to different positions during a chat with Jack Fowler, while another saw Georgia Steel’s false nails sudden disappear.
After both of these moments, ITV insisted the incidents were simply down to the way the show was edited, and denied speculation the show was fake.
Staged scenes
Following this, however, producers were caught out having filmed a scene during a double date between Megan Barton Hanson, Wes Nelson, Jack Fowler and Georgia Steel twice.
Whether Georgia and Jack had intentionally kissed had been the subject of intense debate both in the villa and among fans, and bosses seemingly settled things once and for all by using VAR analysis on Aftersun.
However, an eagle-eyed fan spotted that two shots from the dates proved the moment was reshot.
In one clip, Jack and Georgia were seen getting up from their seats as Megan and Wes kissed in the foreground.
The other angle, shot from the opposite direction, showed the sequence of events happening in a different order.
It shows Georgia and Jack stood up and kissing each other goodbye just as Megan and Wes were leaning into one another.
While there was quite clear proof of trickery at play, ITV declined to comment at the time, while 557 viewers contacted Ofcom after the kiss due to the subsequent treatment of Jack’s then-partner, Laura Anderson.
Smoking
The amount the contestants were seen smoking on screen was the subject of over 50% of the Ofcom complaints during the 2017 season, with viewers claiming the show was glamourising the habit.
By way of addressing the controversy, bosses decided to introduce a smoking ban in the villa and main garden for the following series, with contestants only allowed to puff away in a designated area one at a time elsewhere in the grounds.
Swearing
An episode of the second series in 2016 drew particular amount of criticism over the amount of bad language that was broadcast.
The show in question contained nearly 100 profanities, including 77 uses of the F-word and 20 incidences of the word “shit”.
Emotional distress
Love Island bosses faced a huge backlash when they decided to meddle with the steadiest couple in the villa, Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham, in 2018.
After the male contestants were packed off to Casa Amor, they decided to introduce Jack’s ex-girlfriend and send Dani footage of his reaction to her arrival.
With Dani unable to contact Jack to discuss what had happened, she broke down in tears and faced an emotional three-day wait to be reunited with him.
The moment attracted over 2500 Ofcom complaints accusing bosses of emotional distress, but the TV watchdog later cleared the show of any wrongdoing.
Gaslighting
Adam Collard’s treatment of Rosie Williams was thrown into question during the 2018 series, as he was accused by some of gaslighting.
The lothario got on the wrong side of viewers when he ditched Rosie for newcomer Zara McDermott in full view of the other contestants, without warning his then-partner what he planned to do.
When she confronted him, Adam the accused his ex of being “arsey” and overreacting.
Some complained to Ofcom saying he was being emotionally manipulative, while Women’s Aid issued a statement claiming his behaviour represented a red flag that women should be on the look-out for in their own relationships.
After leaving the villa, he apologised for his actions, writing on Instagram: “I never intended to upset anybody along the way at any time, and I hope that I have and can show people that in upcoming weeks.”
Slut-shaming
Zara Holland was controversially stripped of her Miss GB title by pagent bosses, after she and Alex Bowen had sex in the hideaway, who claimed she was not a “positive role model” and “did not uphold the responsibility expected of the title” because of her actions.
After producers made the call to inform her own the news, viewers saw the effect the decision had on an emotional Zara, who then began to regret her night with Alex.
As a backlash against pageant bosses began, even Love Island host Caroline Flack spoke out against their decision, tweeting: “Feel even more sorry for Zara now she’s been de-crowned. She’s a very sweet girl. What even is ‘Miss GB’? Are we living in the dark ages?”
Aggressive behaviour
Arguably Love Island’s most explosive moment ever came back in the second series when new bombshell Malia Arkianarrived in the villa.
Once pleasantries were out of the way, a huge row erupted between Maila and Kady McDermott, after the latter accidentally spilled some of her drink on the former.
Accusing her of doing it deliberately, a heated argument then broke out culminating in Malia “shoving” her fellow contestant.
After only an hour in the villa, Malia was swiftly removed for her aggressive behaviour.
Sexism
An unlikely row broke out in 2018, following a task that saw the male Islanders dress as sexy firefighters in a bid to impress the female contestants.
The London Fire Brigade accused the show of sexism and peddling “offensive clichés”, penning an open letter to producers.
Steve Apter, Deputy Commissioner and the Brigade’s Director of Safety and Assurance, said: “I am extremely disappointed that the producers thought it was acceptable to conform to outdated stereotypes and repeatedly use the word ‘Fireman’.
“Firefighting is a job for both men and women and it’s ridiculous that 35 years after the first female firefighter joined London Fire Brigade, that people still refer to the job as fireman.
“While we understand that the challenges on television programmes like Love Island are just for fun, we want to shake off these outdated stereotypes and language choices so more women consider firefighting as a career.”
