Love Island star Gemma Owen has denied claims she knew co-star Billy Brown before entering the ITV2 villa as rumours have continued to swirl since the dating show ended.
The 19-year-old came runner-up in the ITV2 show alongside partner Luca Bish, but the pair hit the rocks in the final weeks of the series, in part due to her supposed flirtation with Billy.
Gemma and Billy's flirty banter caused a major row with Luca after footage was shown to the group during the infamous Movie Night. The pair were seen chatting to one another in the kitchen while Luca watched from a bean bag and Billy even asked Gemma for a hug.
The dressage rider has now set the record straight on the claims from fellow contestant Jack Keating that she and Billy “vibed big time” during their time in Casa Amor.
She told Cosmopolitan: “There was a rumour about me and Billy knowing each other before the show, or there was something more [between us] on the show that people didn't get to see.
“I'd like to set straight that that is not true. I made it very clear to Billy that it was just a friendship thing and that my eyes were only for Luca.”
Jack lifted the lid on what else allegedly happened at the second Spanish villa. "From what I saw in our villa in Casa Amor, I know Billy and Gemma got on really well," he said speaking to the Daily Star.
"I know that he came back into the main villa, with Movie Night, and things got very awkward between the three of them. But those two definitely vibed big time."
Ronan Keating's son continued: "I wouldn't say it was legit-legit but there was definitely some more going on, definitely, it's kinda hard to say.
"I mean, yeah, there was definitely more flirting going on and some of the lads were like 'woah' at points, but it wasn't too serious where you could actually see them cracking on but there were definitely some moments where you were like Billy and Gemma, you never know, you never know."
However, it clearly wasn't meant to be as Gemma and fishmonger Luca patched things up and made it to the 2022 final, losing out on the £50,000 prize to Davide Sanclimenti and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu.
They're now happily in a relationship on the outside world and have recently enjoyed a sunny getaway to Portugal with Gemma's parents, Michael and Louise.
