Love Island has been hit with a number of Ofcom complaints for the bullying and discriminatory behaviour towards contestant Zara Lackenby-Brown on the show.
The broadcaster watchdog released their latest reports on complaints from viewers at home and the ITV2 reality show received nearly 200 complaints for recent scenes.
Ofcom has confirmed they received 197 complaints from ITV2 viewers at home after Islanders turned on Zara in recent scenes in the South African villa.
The complaints related to scenes towards the end of Friday evening’s episode, when the Islanders played a game of dares as night fell in South Africa.
Each Islander had to pop a balloon in the sexiest way possible in order to unlock their dare.
In an eye-popping dare, Love Island Australia bombshell Aaron was asked to reveal which Islander he thought was most likely to talk behind his back – and slightly inexplicably picked Zara, which left viewers at home baffled.
Tom Clare was then dared to name the three Islanders that would make up his perfect partner and he picked Olivia for her face, Zara – who he was coupled up with at the time – for her body and Lana for her personality, which left Zara visibly upset.
Then, to cap it all off, when choosing the most and least compatible couple in the villa, Lana went for Zara and Tom for the latter.
The various attacks on Zara in the dares left many Love Island viewers at home sympathising with the model as they felt her fellow Islanders were ‘ganging up on her’.
Taking to Twitter, one fan wrote: “This villa is actually bullying Zara?? It’s so uncomfortable to watch.”
A second penned: “I acc feel so bad for Zara she seems so uncomfortable in this challenge it’s literally aimed at her.”
“Why is Zara getting dragged from all angles??” a third demanded as another wrote: “I know Zara's eyes are OPENING WIDE.”
Following the scenes on Friday evening, Zara and Tom agreed to put the brakes on their connection in the villa and the semi-pro football player has subsequently moved on to Ellie Spence.
Love Island airs every night at 9pm on ITV2 and ITV Hub.
