Love Island UK star Priya’s ‘job-shaming’ comment about Elicia sparks response National Rail

Love Island star Priya has found herself in deep water this week after her controversial 'job-shaming' comment about fellow Islander Elicia.

Wednesday night's episode (22 July) saw business development manager Priya take a swipe at former bombshell Elicia and her job as a team organiser at the National Rail.

The ITV clip, which has since gone viral for all the wrong reasons, saw Priya sitting with the likes of Mica, Kavan, Jasmine and Aidan as they discussed opinions coming from outside the villa and what Elicia had said on After Sun, which was shown during the Grafties, calling Priya the 'biggest game player' in the villa.

"I don’t care what Elicia says. I don’t care. It’s cringy. Go back to the National Rail," Priya raged. "Elicia, you work for the National Rail, why are you f**king sitting in After Sun?"

Speaking up, Kavan interrupted Priya by informing her: "There’s nothing wrong with working for National Rail, alright?"

Priya then doubled down: "But just go back there and save your breath."

Aidan later pulled Priya for a chat, letting her know her remarks were not on.

"Some of the comments towards Elicia didn't really stand by me," he said.

"You think I was being a bit b*tchy?" Priya interjected before Aidan explained: "I think some of the comments were over the line.

"It was just a few comments in there about her job [...] the insults and the comments are just over the line."

Agreeing with Aidan, Priya admitted: "That's actually not me."

After catching light of Priya's remarks, fans rushed to social media to share their outrage, with National Rail also weighing in on the drama.

"Saying something about someone’s job is weird," slammed one Instagram user.

A second agreed: "Job shaming in this economy is crazy."

"Weirdest shout I’ve heard. Going on about someone’s job," quipped a third as a fourth lamented: "I feel like Priya really showed her true colours this episode."

A fifth praised: "Love that Kav called out Priya and said 'There’s nothing wrong with working for the National Rail'."

"And what does Priya do for a job that’s so special? Love that Kav jumped in and said there’s nothing wrong with working for the rail company," echoed a sixth.

Another confessed: "I never thought I’d agree with Aidan and I especially never thought I’d agree with a defence of Elicia, but here we are."

National Rail themselves even chimed in on the matter, writing: "Wait, is this play about us?"

Elicia, who was recently dumped from the villa, has since addressed the ordeal on Love Island: The Debrief with former Love Island stars, Shakira Khan, Toni Laites, and Yasmin Pettet.

"I'm really surprised by the bitter and jealous comments because her reacting the way she did seems quite bitter about the fact that I called out what everyone else is thinking," Elicia said.

"The thing that we clashed with in the villa is any opinion that anybody had that could affect the way that she was viewed or that she didn't necessarily agree with; that was it.

"Like, she shut it straight down.

"I think that's where, as well, like, the game player card would probably be her."

Toni praised: "People were standing up for you, though; that was really nice to see [when] you're not even there.

"It was Kav and Aidan who actually were like, 'First of all, what is wrong with the railway'."

Elicia added: "That was so nice from Aidan, like I actually will give him that. That's really lovely of him because not once did I feel like, when I was in there, he had my back, as such.

"There were times where I was upset about certain reactions and things that were said, and it was really nice to see that he had my back last night."

Toni noted: "It almost means more with him speaking like that when you're not there."

Elicia rocked up as a bombshell on day 32 of this year's series; she soon found herself at the centre of two triangles, first with Finley and Ellie and then with Aidan and Priya. She was ultimately dumped on day 38 after receiving the fewest public votes for favourite girl.

Some of the most memorable Love Island UK feuds

Kady McDermott and Malia Arkian - season two

While Malia takes the crown for the shortest stint on Love Island, it’s certainly one to remember.

In 2016, she entered the villa on day seven and took Scott Thomas on a date. However, the move didn’t sit well with Kady McDermott, who was coupled up with him.

The pair came to blows when Malia accused Kady of spilling a drink on her, leading to an explosive altercation, which resulted in Malia’s swift removal just hours after she arrived.

Maura Higgins and Tom Walker - season five

Maura had her sights set on bombshell Tom when he rocked up to the villa two weeks into the 2019 series.

However, it was quickly derailed after she selected him to spend a night in the Hideaway, as he blew his chances before they even got there.

Maura overheard Tom telling the boys, ‘it'll be interesting to see if she is all mouth or not’, and the comment went down exactly as you’d expect.

Amid a whole bunch of (understandable) f-bombs, she revoked her invite and the pair never really recovered from it.

Jonny Mitchell and Theo Campbell - season three

Perhaps one of the show’s most iconic clashes, Jonny and Theo butted heads back in 2017 over a love triangle with Tyla Carr.

It came to a head during a tense recoupling when new boy Theo decided to pick Tyla, who was happily coupled up with Jonny.

The shock move resulted in Jonny calling Theo a ‘gigantic b*****d’ before they squared up to each other. Theo hilariously also branded his rival a ‘tuna melt’.

While the two eventually made up, Theo couldn’t help but throw one last dig when Tyla was in tears as Jonny was dumped, saying: “I think if Tyla really liked him she should go as well really.”

Anna Vakili and Jordan Hames - season five

Not long after Jordan asked Anna to be his girlfriend, he confessed to fellow islander Curtis Pritchard that his head had been turned by bombshell India Reynolds.

Anna soon found out and confronted Jordan in an explosive row, shouting: “What kind of guy asks a girl to be their girlfriend and two days later they crack on with another f***ing girl.”

She immediately called time on their relationship and the pair were soon dumped by the public.

Amy Hart and Curtis Pritchard - season five

The pair were initially considered one of the strongest couples of the 2019 series (which seems to have been full of drama); however, that all came crashing down after the infamous Casa Amor.

Even though Curtis came back to the villa alone, he admitted that his head had been turned by Jourdan Riane and couldn’t promise Amy that it wouldn’t happen again.

She called him a ‘compulsive liar’ and was left heartbroken, eventually deciding to leave the villa to protect her mental health.