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'Love Island' receives almost 800 Ofcom complaints as viewers become concerned over Joe Garratt's treatment of Lucie Donlan

Lucie Donlan on Love Island 2019 (ITV)
Lucie Donlan on Love Island 2019 (ITV)

Love Island has received almost 800 complaints to Ofcom in the last four days.

The broadcasting regulator has confirmed that the complaints were in response to two main issues that have occurred on the ITV reality dating show since Friday’s episode.

486 complaints were made over the isolation of Lucie Donlan by other contestants on the show, as well the ‘controlling’ behaviour of her current partner Joe Garratt.

A further 302 complaints were made regarding Maura Higgins' attempts to force a kiss on Tommy Fury, with many claiming that kind of behaviour would have been deemed unacceptable had the roles been reversed.

Maura Higgins and Tommy Fury on Love Island 2019 (ITV)
Maura Higgins and Tommy Fury on Love Island 2019 (ITV)

Read more: Sherif Lanre: Love Island bias against men and people of colour

An Ofcom spokesperson said: "We will assess these complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.”

Donlan has found herself at odds with the other girls in the villa after being accused of isolating herself from the group to spend more time with her coupling Joe Garratt.

Viewers have also recently called for ITV to step in after claiming Garratt has exhibited controlling behaviour towards Donlan and made her cry, as he expressed his doubts over her friendship with Fury.

Love Island contestants Lucie Donlan and Anna Vakili (ITV)
Love Island contestants Lucie Donlan and Anna Vakili (ITV)

Last year’s winner Dani Dyer and host Caroline Flack have even sided with Donlan over Garratt’s comments about Fury, with Flack saying on Love Island’s follow-up show Aftersun: “Is "Is he weird? What is Joe actually angry about?"

Read more: Sherif Lanre explains why he was booted off Love Island and accuses ITV of ‘unconscious racism’

Meanwhile, new islander Higgins soon made her presence felt in the villa with her no-nonsense attitude, but many of those watching at home were left uncomfortable when she tried to kiss Fury – who is currently coupled up with Molly-Mae Hague – forcing him to turn his head away from her.