Love Island viewers shocked after watching 'violent' moment in controversial game

There are certain Love Island challenges that are absolutely guaranteed to bring the drama.

Though they're no longer part of the show, the 'Lie Detector Test' and 'Twitter Challenge' always caused the biggest stirs among the reality show's contestants, and earlier this season, the 'Heart Rate Challenge' saw some couples pushed to breaking point.

And last night (15 July), Love Island producers certainly provided the jaw-dropping goods we've all been hoping for, when they bought back the long-awaited 'Snog, Marry, Pie' game.

For those unfamiliar with the game, contestants are given the opportunity to lock lips with one fellow islander, 'propose' to another, and smash a colossal whipped cream pie in the face of the third, before revealing the reason for each choice.

While some islanders take the easy way out by snogging their partner, marrying a close friend and (quite literally) 'pieing' a former fling, one of this year's stars took no prisoners when making her third choice.

So much so, that ITV2 viewers watching from home were left shocked by the scenes playing out, branding the move as 'violent'.

Fan-favourite Nicole Samuel might have played the part of 'Mrs Nice Guy' throughout the duration of the series - having sailed through the show since day one alongside now-boyfriend Ciaran Davies.

But during last night's challenge, we saw an entirely different side to Nicole, when she launched a pie into the face of Joey Essex.

Joey Essex firstly came under fire for locking lips with Nicole Samuel. (ITV)

In the minutes prior, the ex-TOWIE star surprised viewers himself by planting a soppy smooch on Nicole's lips - opposed to kissing partner Jessy Potts, whom he later 'proposed' to - claiming he did so out of respect.

Her newly-official beau Ciaran was visibly upset by Joey's lip-locking antics - later confronting him - but before he had a chance to react, Nicole threw the creamy concoction at Joey.

The pie hit his face with such force, that the cakey base appeared to go flying, and left Joey exclaiming: "Mate! It's gone in my nose!"

Giving her explanation, Nicole laughed: "I chose to pie this boy because, not only did he go in on my girls [ex Grace Jackson and partner Jessy] yesterday and I weren't having it.

"But he also rated me a s**t kisser the other day [as part of the 'Kiss Rating' challenge], and the kiss you've just done was still, for me a minus one, so, sorry love!"

Nicole launched a pie into Joey's face. (ITV)

And apparently, viewers still can't get their heads around the carnage that played out before them on Monday night.

"Nicole that was violent omg?" one noted on social media.

Another went on: "Nicole slapped that pie on Joey & he deserved it."

And a third added: Get him again for me Nicole!"