Love Island fans accuse Joey Essex of manipulating Grace

What did you miss?

Love Island viewers have claimed Joey Essex is manipulating Grace Jackson after he went on a date with another islander.

New stunning contestant Jessy Potts, 25, from Leicester, entered the villa and decided to take the TOWIE star on a date. Jackson, 25, was left upset and angry when Potts returned from the date and told the girls she didn’t know what Essex’s situation was.

Essex then talked to Jackson and told her that her situation had not changed, but he wanted to get to know Potts better.

What, how and why?

Essex, 33, returned from the date with Leicester-based brand partnerships partner Potts and told Ronnie Vint and Sean Stone: “There’s definitely chemistry there. In a different way. There’s confusion in my head.”

I learned more on this date than I have in the entire time I’ve been here with Grace. The sexual chemistry between me and Grace is up there. But this is a different chemistry. I feel like something is missing with Grace.”

He also said: “We have never completely closed ourselves off, no words have ever been spoken. She is free to meet other people and I want to be able to do that too.”

The next morning on ITV2’s dating show, Essex avoided Jackson, the owner of a social media marketing agency, before eventually inviting her for a private chat.

He told her, “You know, my feelings toward you haven’t changed at all. I know the situation is probably not what we expected, but I feel like I owe it to myself and I owe it to you. I’m sorry if that happened. But nothing happened.”

He continued: “I don’t know if it’s a friendship thing or anything. She’s a really nice girl, I can’t deny that. But I still have feelings for you. My feelings towards you haven’t changed at all. You still mean something to me. I still want to get to know you better, we haven’t really gotten close yet. I can’t sit here and say we’re completely, completely closed off.”

Jackson countered, “I don’t want to be in a love triangle. I’m not going to sit around and let you explore this while you bust my ass saying how special we are and how much you like me. You have this opportunity in your hands right now, but you still want to explore things with other people? I don’t know what to say to you right now. I’m so disappointed in you, Joey.”

What did the audience say?

The audience had the impression that Essex had led Jackson astray.

One wrote on social media platform X: “Joey is manipulating the situation after bombarding Grace with declarations of love for a week. This guy is the worst #loveIsland.” Another said: “Maybe Joey is a psychopath. He doesn’t seem to have much empathy. #loveIsland” And another shared: “Joey is manipulating the situation just like Samantha. Grace shouldn’t even be upset if you lose her like you get her #loveisland” And a viewer claimed: “Joey is very cold and calculating #loveIsland”

Others said Jackson should have expected such treatment after she and Essex did the same thing to former islander Samantha Kenny.

One tweeted: “Grace had no mercy when Joey dumped Samantha for her. She smiled and smirked smugly. Karma is vile! #LoveIsland” Another commented: “Grace it’s time to get revenge for what you did to Samantha, it keeps happening #loveIsland” And yet another posted: “Grace saw what he did to Samantha. She obviously thinks she’s so special this couldn’t happen to her #loveisland”

Love Island airs weekdays at 9pm on ITV2.

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