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LOVE ISLAND 'ABUSE' CRISIS
Horrified Love Island fans demand ITV bosses step in over Joe Garratt’s ‘abusive’ behaviour towards tearful Lucie Donlan
LOVE Island was yesterday plunged into a new crisis as a charity complained of Joe Garratt’s “abusive” behaviour towards tearful Lucie Donlan.
Lucie, 21, broke down after Joe told her to stay away from the other boys.
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Adina Claire of Women’s Aid said: “Abusive relationships often start off with subtle signs of control.”
Horrified fans also called on ITV to step in to help tormented Lucie.
Lucie has repeatedly burst into tears on the show, most recently after Joe moaned that she was spending too much time with boxer Tommy Fury.
Her misery and the failure of producers to come to her aid triggered a flood of Twitter protests and more than 300 complaints of TV watchdog Ofcom.
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Joe Garrett discusses tactical voting while the Love Islanders decide him and Lucie Donlan are not compatible
Anger at 'predatory' Maura
TV watchdog Ofcom has received 486 complaints about Love Island star Maura Higgins’ “predatory advances” towards Tommy Fury.
She leapt on the 20-year-old boxer as he lay on a sofa and tried to get him to kiss her.
But Tommy said “No” and turned his head away from Maura, 28, who was trying to entice him away from his partner Molly-Mae Hague.
On Friday Maura also attempted to seduce Tommy by asking him if he wanted to “get frisky” under the covers with her.
One viewer tweeted: “Maura is like a bloody predator.
“Forcing herself on Tommy like that is wrong.”
Others insisted that Maura’s behaviour was “unacceptable”.
Ex-Love Island contestant Malin Andersson tweeted: “Can the producers make sure Lucie is OK please?”
One viewer laid into Joe, saying: “He is so controlling.
"Lucie, get out girl.”
Another added: “Seeing actual signs of emotional abuse on Love Island is excruciating.”
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A third said: “Its actually becoming uncomfortable to watch how everyone is treating Lucie.
"I’d genuinely worry for her mental health.”
Adina Claire of domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid, said: “Controlling behaviour is never acceptable.
“With Love Island viewers complaining about Joe’s possessive behaviour towards Lucie, more people are becoming aware of this and want to challenge it.
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Alcohol alert
YOUNG fans of Love Island may be more likely to get hooked on alcohol, a study suggests.
Researchers found the reality TV show features more alcohol than other prime time programmes.
And they warn seeing sexy contestants like Amy Hart (pictured) knocking back drinks encourages viewers to consume more.
Nottingham University analysed 112 episodes of 2018 reality TV including Love Island, Geordie Shore, Celebrity Big Brother, Made in Chelsea and Towie.
All 112 episodes contained alcohol and will have been seen by a large number of under-16s.
Love Island had more one-minute sections with alcohol content than any other show.
"Abusive relationships often start off with subtle signs of control.”
The fans’ anger came as Dr Antonis Kousoulis, Director of the Mental Health Foundation, said he had reported the show to MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee.
He said: “Reality TV production companies have a duty of care to contestants to protect their mental health.”
The committee is investigating suicides of reality TV contestants, including Love Island’s Mike Thalassitis, 26.
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MOST READ IN LOVE ISLAND
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ITV Chief Executive Carolyn McCall will be questioned by the committee on Tuesday over the broadcaster’s pledge before the start of the current series to improve welfare support for contestants.
A source close to Joe denied he was pressurising Lucie, adding: “You can see he only wants the best for her.”
An ITV spokeswoman said: “We take the emotional wellbeing of all the Islanders extremely seriously.”
Love Island recap - Catch up on all the action from episode 13 of the 2019 series
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