LOVE Island’s Grace Jackson has told how her relationship with Joey Essex turned sour after a series of very heated rows that left her in tears.

In her first interview after her ‘brutal’ dumping from the villa this week, the model, 25, from Manchester, recalled how her rekindled romance with the Towie hunk came crashing down after the arrival of Jessy Potts.

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Love Island’s Grace Jackson has opened up about her time in the villaCredit: ©2023 Andbro.com

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Grace has said that Joey disrespected her on the showCredit: Eroteme

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Grace ended up in tears after Joey moved onCredit: Eroteme
She has now slammed veteran reality star Joey, 33, for ‘disrespecting’ her and continually pushing her in a bid to make her upset and angry on TV.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Grace said: “It got heated from his end.

“It was very unwarranted and not needed.

“The information that he was saying didn’t have any truth behind it.”

Love Island viewers were left horrified as Joey kept picking on Grace at any chance he got.

Hundreds complained to Ofcom after watching him belittle her and claim she still fancied him.

Grace continued: “It did start to go sour between us because of what he was saying in the games and challenges.

“So that’s when it started just to go downhill. I would say he was nit-picking and trying to get a reaction.”

Stunning Grace initially entered the villa as a bombshell and says she was shocked to see Joey there after they enjoyed a holiday romance, which she now says lasted two months once they returned to the UK.

At first the pair picked up where they left off, but everything changed the night Jessy arrived and picked Joey for a date.

“I didn’t think that that would have happened with Jessy,” said Grace. “Even when he was on his date, I was saying to the girls like I’m so confident in him, I have no worry.

“I think I put a lot of trust in him just because of how close we’d gotten again. And a lot of his actions and words made me feel very reassured.

“I didn’t feel like I had anything to worry about.”

But she did have something to worry about because Joey decided he wanted to get to know Jessy, who he is still with now.

Joey and Grace were very close in the villa

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The pair looked like nothing would break themCredit: Rex

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Joey is now coupled up with JessyCredit: Eroteme
Grace recalled:  “It was really upsetting because I didn’t expect it whatsoever. I cried on the show like I got upset about it.

“And as soon as I felt that it was the ultimate disrespect from Joey when he went behind my back and was kissing Jessy – that was when I knew I wanted to take myself out of that situation.”

Grace was praised for her reaction to the situation and moved on with Blade in Casa Amor.

That later fizzled out and she coupled up with Reuben, who she was dumped from the villa with.

The pair are now planning to go on a series of dates and continue what they started.

Love Island series 11 – feuds in the villa

No edition of Love Island is complete without its fair share of drama – and series 11 is no different. Here’s a look at some of the most fiery feuds so far.

Joey Essex & Samantha Kenny: Samantha entered the villa on Day 1 and was initially coupled with Sam Taylor. However, Samantha was ‘stolen’ by Joey, the first bombshell of series 11. She was ‘dumped’ on Day 16 – with the make-up artist saying she had been brutally snubbed by Joey in the villa – although it never made it to air.
Matilda Draper & Jess White: While Matilda arrived as a bombshell on Day 12, Jess was part of the original line-up. The two clashed in Casa Amor, over Jess’ frustration that Matilda was talking to new hunk Hugo Godfroy – who Jess previously snogged.
Harriet Blackmore & Jess White: The two women were caught up in a love triangle for much of their time on the programme. The pair were fighting over Ronnie Vint, 27, from Greenwich, who wound up being dumped alongside Harriett.