Former Love Island winner Jess Harding hits out at 'b**chy' 2025 contestant
Jess Harding, who won ITV's Love Island back in 2023, has shared her thoughts on current contestant Antonia 'Toni' Laites - who has been causing drama in the villa
Former Love Island winner Jess Harding has lashed out at one of the current contestants in a scathing social media post. The 2025 season of ITV's long-running reality dating show began earlier this month and 16 contestants are currently housed in the villa.
But tensions have been bubbling between some of the contestants and 24-year-olds Antonia 'Toni' Laites and Emily Moran have clashed while taking part in the show. Viewers were startled to see Toni accuse Emily of sticking her nose in her business during a fiery exchange that aired on Friday night.
Jess, 24 - who won Love Island in 2023 alongside then-boyfriend Sammy Root, 24 - was among those watching at home to take to social media to dissect the unsettling scenes. The reality star shared her shock at Toni's outburst against Emily.
Siding with the British star, Jess accused American bombshell Toni of being "b**chy". In a message shared via Instagram stories, the star wrote: "Ok what the hell, just because someone isn't your cup of tea doesn't mean you can cause a big drama over it?!"
Jess continued: "Toni girl I loved you but I don't like b****y behaviour & pulling crying behaviour." And she added: "Why can't the girls be 1 big group cos these men be acting CRAZY."
On Friday night, fans saw tension escalate between Toni and Emily as the 2025 season endured one of its most dramatic arguments so far. Friction came to a head after the two ladies took a near instant dislike to each other after Emily entered the villa as a bombshell on day five.
Toni's feather's were ruffled when she overheard a conversation between Emily and Irish contestant Conor Phillips, 25. The American bombshell then found a confidant in Shakira Khan, 22, who she shared her frustrations with.
But Emily later accused Toni of talking behind her back, while fellow Islander Megan 'Meg' Moore, 25, warned Emily that Toni had branded her "nosey" and "Little Miss Sunshine."
An almighty row erupted, with Emily despairing that Toni was "just trying to cause a problem," and "she's f****g nuts." All the drama could be helping generate interest in the long-running show, however.
While the 2025 season got off to a low viewership start when it launched on 9 June, the audience then reportedly grew by 1.7 million streams on ITVX after the first episode aired.
Some past contestants have started campaigning for the series to be axed, however, and the show has a long history of being tied to the tragic mental health declines of past contestants. This weekend, Malin Andersson, who starred on the show in 2016, voiced her concerns about the way the series is made.
She told The Mirror: "It should be axed. When I was on it, we were naive, it felt more organic – still scripted but more authentic. Even then, it wasn't pure, it was full of toxicity. Now millions watch it, especially young people, and their idea of love gets completely skewed."
She added: "I felt disposable, like a piece of rubbish tossed aside. In there, you're fighting to be seen, to be a main character, seeking validation. It's not healthy – it creates unrealistic drama and messes up how viewers see love."
Love Island has come under fire in the past for failing to support contestant that take part in the series - however, strict after care rules were introduced in 2019 after the deaths of former contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis.
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