The family of Love Island star Luca Bish have apologised to fans over his treatment of Gemma Owen following an explosive argument.
During the continuation of movie night on Sunday, Luca lost his temper and lashed out after seeing footage of Gemma 'flirting' with fellow Islander Billy Brown. After the episode aired, unhappy viewers took to social media to call for Michael Owen's daughter to dump Luca after the fight.
Luca was shown a video of Gemma and Billy chatting, where he placed his arm around her before she told him to get off. Clearly worried about how Luca would react, especially as he was watching them from the bean bags like a hawk, Gemma told him friends couldn't hug, writes the Mirror.
Despite laughing over the other moments, which involved most of the boys cheating on their partners in Casa Amor, Luca was left enraged by what he saw and let rip at Gemma. He was accused of overreacting by fans on Twitter as they slammed the Islander for his behaviour, with some accusing him of displaying "a lot of red flags".
Taking to his Instagram Stories today, his family wrote that they apologised for his "insensitive behaviour" and that when he watches it back he will be "deeply embarrassed".
However, the account - run by his sister - also warned that he is in an "intense environment where his emotions are heightened". She revealed that they had been receiving horrible death threats and that - as a result - they have been forced to turn the comments off on his social media.
They wrote: "I want to apologise on behalf of Luca for his insensitive reaction on last night's episode. I know that when he watches it back, he will be embarrassed and deeply apologetic.
"We as his family don't condone his behaviour last might, but we do understand he is in an intense environment where his actions are heightened. Last night was not reflective of the boy we all know and love at home.
"Please be aware death threats and nasty comments totally overstep the mark and something we has a family should not have to ensure, for this reason we have turned off the comments and messages. For all those who have sent messages checking in on us, we would like to thank you very much and we see you."
Speaking to Dami Hope during the challenge last night, Luca said of the clip involving Gemma: "Trust me when I say if she wants to f**king play it down to me, I will f**king explode."
As Luca said Gemma was "full of s**t," she told him he was "overreacting". Later, as he caught up with Gemma, he asked her at the fire pit: "How would you feel if that was me with a girl there, and I was entertaining it?"
Gemma barked back: "Doing what? Entertaining it by what? Saying that you were just friends so I'm not even gonna hug you, just because were friends?" Luca continued: "But it wasn't just that one beanbag incident," before he claimed he had good reason to believe there was flirting between the pair, to which Gemma told him: "Oh get over yourself."
Love Island airs tonight at 9pm on ITV2
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our weekly Showbiz newsletter here .
READ NEXT:
- Alice Evans shares texts that estranged husband Ioan Gruffudd sent to their child
- Prince Harry stunned after Queen 'airbrushed' him and Meghan from royal history
- This Morning viewers furious at dangerous guest for dishing out heatwave advice
- Leigh Griffith's girlfriend reveals she is cancer free after second skin cancer battle
- Inside JLO and Ben Affleck's Vegas wedding as singer shares pictures from ceremony
