Luca and Dami Hope have both come under fire from Love Island viewers in recent days after they both targeted Tasha during several challenges, bringing her to tears.
Last night’s episode saw the pair apologise to the dancer, but viewers were convinced they’d been given a nudge by producers.
It comes after the 23-year-old fishmonger received criticism after he blew up at partner Gemma Owen and accused her of ‘flirting’ with fellow islander Billy Brown, after watching clips during the bombshell Movie Night episodes.
However, despite Luca’s behaviour being fairly questioned by the majority of viewers, some trolls have been sending his account handler extremely horrid messages in recent days.
Multiple ex-islanders have since put out their support towards Luca, and Tasha’s dad is the latest to urge people to stop the abuse.
On Wednesday, he shared screenshots of messages posted by the people running Luca’s account, who expressed their devastation over the backlash online.
Attached with examples of the abuse, Tasha’s dad wrote in one story: ‘This is VILE. Please STOP IT. NOW!’
On top of another, he wrote: ‘What happened to people?’
Over the weekend, the family and friends looking after accounts of Love Island contestants all put out a joint statement urging viewers to stop directing abuse their way.
Addressing how they were doing, the person behind Luca’s account said on Wednesday: ‘First of all, thanks to the tons of people that asked this. If I’m really being honest, not remotely okay. It’s really, really hard.
How would you feel if you were having people constantly praying for death over the people you love over anything in the world. We feel broken.
They went on to add: ‘I’m not stupid, I understand that people will always have their opinions and nobody can take that away from them, but if you saw HALF the messages we received, I’m sure anyone would feel disgusted.’
Of course, Luca himself cannot see the messages as islanders have no access to the outside world, via their phones and social media, when they are in the villa.
Instead, those looking after his accounts have to deal with any trolling directed towards the contestants.
Luca’s Love Island cast mates who have left the villa have also been in contact with his family to assure that he was a ‘lovely, genuine friend’.
It was revealed that he managed to spark over 3,000 Ofcom complaints for his attitude during the Movie Night segment, which saw him kick off at Gemma.
The Brighton-based contestant said: ‘I don’t even want to talk to her tonight. [She] made me look like an absolute f*****g w****r. I ain’t going f*****g near that bird.’
After the episode, his family apologised for his explosive rant, saying: ‘I want to apologise on behalf of Luca for his insensitive reaction in 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 night, but we do understand he is in an intense environment where his emotions are heightened. Last night was not reflective of the boy we all love at home.’
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2.
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