Featured Image Credit: ITV
Topics: Joey Essex, Celebrity, TV And Film, Love Island
Rhianna Benson
Apparently, there's nothing that Love Island fanatics enjoy more than conjuring up conspiracy theories about the intentions of this year's villa inmates.
And this week, it's Joey Essex's turn to be the target of viewers watching from home.
Ever since he entered the on-screen love-shack as the 2024's series' debut bombshell, Joey has left a dramatic path of destruction wherever he goes.
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In the very first episode of Love Island, Joey shocked viewers by coupling up with scouse MUA Samantha Kenny, leaving her partner Sam Taylor to be dumped within minutes of the season kicking off.
Just over two weeks later, he ditched Samantha for his own former flame Grace Jackson, who he then sensationally rejected after a week in order to move onto new girl Jessy Potts.
Since then, Samantha has been dumped, and exes Grace and Joey have remained at logger-heads, with Joey consistently accusing her of still harbouring feelings for him.
It isn't just his own love life that Joey has caused a stir in.
The former TOWIE star constantly finds himself slap bang in the middle of other couples' drama, and just last night, he landed himself in hot water with close friend Ciaran Davies after kissing his girlfriend Nicole during the 'Snog, Marry, Pie' challenge.
The Welsh frontrunner then confronted the former I'm A Celeb star, telling him: "Joey, just let me f*****g speak. I just think it's weird that you've gone and kissed by Mrs, that's it."
During Sunday night's instalment, he was also accused by the entire villa of being the biggest gossip.
And in the weeks prior, he seemingly added further fuel to the already red hot fire when it came to Harriett Blackmore and Jess White's love triangle with Ronnie Vint.
As a result - following his bizarre lip-locking antics with Nicole on Monday night (15 July) - a small batch of fans have accused Joey of being a 'plant' instilled by producers to make the series more interesting.
Taking to social media, one viewer explained their bizarre theory: "Why did Joey kiss Nicole?? Joey always moves MAD lol. He has clearly reclaimed his role as a part time producer of this show."
Another claimed: "Swear the producers must've had a word with Joey because what is this weird behaviour over the last 2 days. Kissing your mate's girlfriend? Are u ok."
"Joey has put his producer hat back on. His actions are purely for drama, zero logic," a third said.
While someone else commented: "The producers deffo gave Joey an incentive to spice things up in the villa."
Tyla has contacted ITV for comment.