LOVE Island’s Joey Essex and Reuben Collins never saw eye to eye in the villa – but the extent of their feud was laid bare last night.
In one of the most dramatic episodes of the series, axed Islanders returned to have their say on the remaining couples.
It proved to be difficult listening for Joey in particular as he was picked apart by former partner Samantha Kenny and love rival Reuben, who is currently seeing his ex-partner Grace Jackson.
Footballer Reuben eloquently gave his reasons for voting for Joey and Jessy Potts, telling them: “I have decided to choose this couple because I’m not sure on the outside the girl will be able to keep up with the boy’s lifestyle.
“I genuinely feel they have a good connection, like all the couples in here, however, I don’t think it’s as strong because the boy has constantly put the girl in a position of, let’s say, embarrassment, which I personally disagree with.”
Joey wasn’t happy at all with Reuben’s reasoning and replied: “I knew the minute he left the villa he was hating anyway so it was very obvious what he was going to do.”
Reuben insisted they had got on and that he respected Joey as a man but disagreed with how he handles his relationships.
Joey shot back: “One person’s opinion I’ve never cared about in this villa is this man’s. I think he’s jealous, personally, very jealous person. You know what, we move.”
But it was clear from viewer reaction who came off the best in the exchange, and it wasn’t the former Towie man.
One person wrote on X: “Joey saying that Reuben never had respect for him is crazy, the man can lie.”
Another said: “Reuben gets right under Joey’s skin because Reuben is sure of himself and doesn’t rise to Joey’s pettiness. I’m here for it, Reuben definitely isn’t jealous of you Joey, sorry.”
A third exclaimed: “Reuben you handled yourself like a king.”
Despite the backlash, it looks like Joey will get the “last laugh” with a £250,000 club tour.
His team has lined up a string of £6,000-an-hour UK dates where fans can take selfies and party with the star.
The run will make Joey, who is already worth £8million, one of Britain’s wealthiest reality stars.
He and his villa girl Jessy Potts, 25, were voted off by dumped Islanders who had returned in a sneaky twist.
They decided which of the couples should make tonight’s live final.
Samantha Kenny, who Joey dated, then dumped, had the final say and spat: “This person has a lot of opinions on everyone else’s relationship but as soon as it comes to his own he bites the bullet a bit.”
A source said last night: “Well, Joey might not have made the final but he’ll be having the last laugh!
“His team worked overtime while he was in the villa to book him for as many appearances in the coming months as possible.
“He’s well known and doesn’t often do them nowadays but Love Island’s introduced him to a new audience and he’s been snapped up by venues hoping he’ll be a big draw.
“It’s gruelling to be out every night but the financial reward will be huge.”
On leaving last night, Joey said: “It’sniceto walk out with someone who has meant a lot to me.
“I feel like I had an amazing run in there and if you have to leave, you might as well go out with a bang. It’s my birthday tomorrow so feels like I’m going out at a good time.”
Jessy said: “Joey is the most kind-hearted person and I could see past the persona and I like him for who he is which is all that matters to me.”
In an exclusive Sun poll readers rated Joey’s behaviour as fake, two in three saying he knew how to play the game.
Love Island is back on the box with a batch of sexy islanders all looking for love this summer.
The Girls
The Boys
Dumped:
Quit:
