‘What the hell?’ says Joey Essex as he confronts Love Island bosses over axe

And Joey has worked on a string of ITV shows since Towie including I’m a Celebrity, Dancing on Ice, Splash! and Educating Joey Essex.”I’m there for a reason. I’m in Love Island to entertain.

Joey Essex was booted from the Love Island villa one day before the final
Joey Essex was booted from the Love Island villa one day before the finalCredit: Dan Charity
The reality TV king said he  felt betrayed by the way he was dumped from Love Island
The reality TV king said he felt betrayed by the way he was dumped from Love IslandCredit: Dan Charity
Joey and Jessy Potts, left, were forced to stand at the firepit and hear other Islanders slamming him
Joey and Jessy Potts, left, were forced to stand at the firepit and hear other Islanders slamming himCredit: Eroteme
Jessy was in floods of tears after they were both dumped one day before the final
Jessy was in floods of tears after they were both dumped one day before the finalCredit: Eroteme
The ex Towie lad was forced to defend himself in front of the villa
The ex Towie lad was forced to defend himself in front of the villaCredit: Eroteme

“I just was there to entertain, find love and have a great time.”Asked if he’d had a word with bosses after filming, Joey went on: “Yeah of course. It’s like, why did you do that? Could have got me out a better way!So when he was dumped with a crowd of Islanders hurling grievances at him in a biblical style punishment, he admitted he felt betrayed.Joey was axed just one day before the final.

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“It’s just that I was dragged into conversations.Reflecting on viewers turning on him over his clash with Mimii, who went on to win Love Island with bombshell Josh, he said: “Don’t get me wrong, you’ve got to take it, whatever you say or do is what you’ve said and done.Ayo and Jess – 10%“You know, if there’s one bit of advice I could give producers is never put a rookie, a young Islander or anyone, in the position that I was in when I got dumped on Love Island, because it could have been a different story.

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Matilda and Sean – 14%Ciaran and Nicole – 35%”Like I said, if I sat in there and just sat by the pool with Jessy and Grace and just sat there eating an ice cream all day, or just stuck with the first person who picked me, they would have gone, ‘Joe, you’re quite boring, ain’t he?’“I mean, do your readers actually think that I would go up to a girl in a challenge and kiss her in front of her boyfriend, whilst the girl that I actually have feelings for is stood next to her?”JOEY Essex had a bone to pick with Love Island bosses after his brutal axing from the ITV2 show.He said he confronted producers over his savage exit where a returning jury of ex-Islanders rounded on him. It was a “what the hell?” moment for the TV king.

‘I’d switch it on and do my scene’ says Joey Essex as he admits he WAS a producer plant

“They know someone like me with a strong mind can take it, that’s why I was put in that position.”His experience means he’s built up a Maximilian-style armour to withstand backlash.“You’ve got to remember, I’m a human. I’ve got feelings. I’ve got heart.Mimii and Josh – 41%He did everything he could to entertain, using his vast reality TV experience to stir drama which saw some viewers brand him “a bully”.”I wasn’t there to ever win. You know, if someone wants to win, they don’t do the journey I did. You go a different way about it.In his first interview since leaving the show Joey, 33, told The Sun he even felt that he was a “producer plant” as the first celebrity bombshell to enter the villa.”But it’s just me and a fellow Islander having a disagreement. That’s all it is.

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“But luckily, I’m very resilient and I’m very strong minded. And I’ve got a brave face.

He said: “If you want to talk about bullying – in that moment, the finger pointing at me, it not being about compatibility at all, it was all personal, all towards Joey, and sit there and take that.Questioned on if he was the producers’ man on the ground, Joey told us: “I was put in a situation where I had to do what I had to do. “You’ve got to remember the fact that I’m 33, and everyone else in there is younger.And the results are in!

“I didn’t really have much time off… I was very, very busy, active.During his stint on the show he raised eyebrows with his antics, with hairy moments like confronting Stormzy’s mate Omar over him snogging Grace, and slamming Mimii for her “secret mission” to win back Ayo.”I’d have entertained no one. The show would have been boring.”He also left Samantha Kenny devastated when he ditched her for Grace Jackson – before his head swivelled for Jessy Potts.

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“That was very savage. And it was very, very difficult to take. It hurt a lot.Love Island’s bosses have been transparent that the show has produced elements since the first series in 2015. 

Joey spilled the tea on life in the villa with The Sun's Felicity Cross
Joey spilled the tea on life in the villa with The Sun’s Felicity Cross
Joey left the villa with Jessy Potts
Joey left the villa with Jessy PottsCredit: Rex

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