The family of Luca Bish have begged online trolls to stop flooding the Love Island star’s social media pages with abuse and reported “death threats”.
After Sunday’s episode aired on ITV, they wrote: “Please, please, please stop messaging abuse. Luca can’t even see it… the people that love him most can.
“I’ve just been sick from crying so much at the death threats (an hour on from that last story). How can people be so inhumane.’
The person running Luca’s account whilst he is in the villa, added: “The hardest night of my entire life. This is happening every second.
“Just so beyond grateful Luca isn’t here to read these. Heartbroken.”
On Sunday’s episode, the 23-year-old fishmonger ranted: “I can’t be with someone like that” after watching clips of partner Gemma Owen flirting with Billy Brown on movie night.
The segment allows the islanders to see clips of antics which have happened when the couples have been tempted by newcomers.
During Friday’s episode, Luca watched a clip of Gemma insinuating her head could be turned by another boy and flirting with new boy Billy in the kitchen.
Sunday’s episode saw her feature in a separate “flirty” conversation with Billy in the clip titled Good Bill Hunting.
After watching the clip, Luca said: “I’m telling you now, I don’t even want to speak to her.
“I’m f***ing fuming. I am not going f***ing near that bird mate. Bring me a f***ing bird in, watch me then flirt.
“Trust me when I say, if she wants to play it down to me I will f***ing explode. I can’t be with someone like that, sorry.”
Pointing to his snake tattoo, Luca added: “See this tattoo on my chest, that’s what she is.”
In the beach hut, Gemma said: “I don’t really know where he is coming from. I think everything that I did was fine, I stand by, I don’t think it was that deep at all and everyone just needs to get on with it.”
After sharing a frosty silence in the corridor after movie night, Luca told Gemma “I’m not happy” and “you were entertaining it” which Gemma vehemently denied.
Luca called Billy over to the fire pit to join them and asked: “Did you feel like she was flirting with you?” with Billy replying: “Yeah, it was just flirty banter.”
Gemma said: “Did we have a flirty chat? Yes.”
Luca replied: “But just a minute ago you said you didn’t have a flirty chat, you literally said I wasn’t flirting.”
As the conversation continued, Gemma said: “I don’t think any lines have been crossed.”
A statement posted by all the contestants in solidarity against online trolls read: “Love Island is an interactive TV show where opinions, discussion and debate are welcome in equal measure to displays of support, love and kindness.
“Although we have never met, we stand together today, united against the hate messages and insults that some viewers seem to think are acceptable to throw at our friends, sons, daughters and family members.”
“Your hate has no place on our pages or in society in general.
“This post is being shared across contestants’ social media pages at the same time and Love Island fan pages as a sign of unity and denouncement of hate.”
