Love Island host Caroline Flack likes post defending Joe Garratt against 'possessive behaviour' claims

Caroline Flack has liked a post defending Joe Garratt after he was accused of “gaslighting” Lucie Donlan.

The Love Island host showed her appreciation for the lengthy statement posted by Garratt’s friends after he was voted out of the villa on Tuesday.

The post acknowledged some “warranted criticism” but defended the sandwich man from the “unfair and non-representative” portrayal.

“Speaking on behalf of Joe’s best friends, we acknowledge Joe will come out to some warranted criticism,” the post read.

“However, we deem the majority of it to be unfair and non-representative of Joe’s true character. The producers have the ability to show someone in a particular light, choosing just 45 mins of footage from 24 hours to tell a certain narrative.”

They also said that Garratt “genuinely cares” for Lucie as they wished her luck for the rest of the show.

Flack was among more than 100,000 people who have liked the post.

After learning of his eviction in a shock couple-splitting twist, Lucie broke down in tears, berating the other couples for voting on “friendship instead of compatibility”.

I’m gutted,” Lucie said in the Beach Hut after hearing the devastating news. “You could clearly see that me and Joe had feelings for each other.

“I don’t know what I’ll do without Joe. He’s literally been my rock in here.”

Former Love Island star Megan Barton Hanson has been among the stars to criticise Garratt’s behaviour in the villa, which saw Lucie crying after he told her he wasn’t happy with her friendship with Tommy Fury.

Garratt was accused of “manipulating” Lucie in the intense scenes, even prompting criticism from charity Women’s Aid.

Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2