Like every single season of Love Island, this year’s show is packed full of drama. And, with the season coming, to the tail end, the controversy has begun to ramp up even more.

However, unlike other seasons, this year much of the drama is related to the host, Laura Whitmore, rather than the islanders themselves.

Earlier this month, the female and male islanders were put into separate houses for the hotly anticipated ‘Casa Amor’. ‘Casa Amor’ occurs on every season of the reality show and sees the ‘O.G.’ men thrown into a house full of single females to see if they can be tempted, and vice versa for the original female islanders.

For the most part, the women were well behaved while the men ran amok, with many of them showing no regard for the partners they were coupled up with, and instigating flings with the new women.

While almost every original couple is now back together, the islanders were shown a ‘movie night’ last night, which showed videos to the whole villa of what they got up to in the respective villas.

A video was shown of Ekin-Su – who is largely regarded as the fan favourite in the house and who is coupled up with Davide – in bed with intruder George, and she can be heard telling him “we’re just friends”. The next day she pulls him aside and asks him not to repeat what happened to the other islanders. A video was shown of the interaction, and while Ekin-Su repeated denied that anything happened between her and George, the other male islanders – and the host Laura – repeatedly questioned whether she was telling the truth.

Meanwhile, Ekin-Su’s partner Davide was shown making out with two separate women in his videos. However, this subject was barely broached.

In regards to the incident between George and Ekin-Su, Laura tweeted,“Not everything makes the show as a lot to fit into an hour, but everything always comes out… ;).” On a radio show Laura broached the subject again, saying “I’ve also seen you [Ekin-Su] having a little fiddle as well. I love it, the hypocrisy of it all!” About Ekin-Su. The host has additionally brought the interaction up multiple times while hosting the spin off show After Sun.

However, the friend who is controlling Ekin-Su’s social media accounts while she’s in the villa has strongly denied that anything went down between the couple, and called the attention that been drawn to it “slut shaming”. The handler has publicly said that she’s spoken to George who said it “was blown out of proportion” and admitted nothing happened between the two. The audio can be heard below.

Fans on Reddit have agreed with Ekin Su’s social media handler’s opinion, calling Laura’s fascination with the interaction “gross”.

“The fact that Laura and the official panelists on aftersun are treating it like lolz is…honestly gross? In this day? It is 2022 what is HAPPENING,” Wrote one user.

Another added, “Love Island producers and Laura Whitmore are facilitating the sexual harassment and bullying of Ekin-Su to be direct. I have never seen anything like this in my life it crosses a lot of ethical lines and completely disregards their duty of care. They are doing everything at the expense of Ekin-Su’s well-being it is sad and concerning. I hope Ekin-Su flourishes in spite of all the sexism and misogyny thrown her way.”

A third wrote, “Fuck the producers of Love Island and Laura Whitmore for enabling slutshaming which is a form of sexual harassment and bullying. I hope Ekin-Su sues their ass I have never seen some shit like this. Love Island crosses a lot of ethical boundaries and that’s why cast members are dropping like flies. I hope Ekin-Su leaves because the way this entire season has been at her expense is wild.”

And, the response to the handling of Ekin-Su’s moment with George has received a similar reception on Twitter.

However, it’s not just Laura’s treatment of Ekin-Su that is being criticised by social media users. Islander Luca who is paired up with Gemma Owen on the show has been very territorial about their relationship and has even admitted to being slightly controlling. In last night’s episode, Luca blew up at Gemma because another islander flirted with her, even though she didn’t reciprocate.

During the latest episode of After Sun, Laura laughed off Luca’s treatment of Gemma, saying “it’s just because he’s in love, though”.

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