Love Island’s Joe Garratt had confessed the accusations of ‘gaslighting’ he received while in the villa were ‘heartbreaking’ to discover once he left the show.
The caterer, who was dumped from the ITV2 dating show on Tuesday, was heavily criticised for his ‘controlling’ behaviour towards surfer Lucie Donlan.
But Joe, 22, whose appearance on Love Island triggered more than 800 Ofcom complaints, has now insisted he always had kept the ‘best intentions at heart’.
Heartbreak: Love Island’s Joe Garratt had confessed accusations of ‘gaslighting’ he received while in the villa were ‘heartbreaking’ to discover after he left the show
Speaking on Love Island: Aftersun on Sunday, he said: ‘It hasn’t been easy. To think I’ve been perceived in that was just heartbreaking. It wasn’t nice to see.
‘But how the show works if I was to be [controlling] I would have been kicked out. I wasn’t like that at all. I always kept the best intentions at heart and I tried to do what I thought was right’.
The caterer also revealed he didn’t ask the blonde beauty, who he initially coupled up with on day one, to leave the villa with him because he wants her to ‘have the best experience’.
Criticised: The caterer, who was dumped from the villa on Tuesday, was heavily criticised for his ‘controlling’ behaviour towards surfer Lucie Donlan on the ITV2 dating show
Criticised: The caterer, who was dumped from the villa on Tuesday, was heavily criticised for his ‘controlling’ behaviour towards surfer Lucie Donlan on the ITV2 dating show
He said: ‘We had such a great time together… I want her to have the best experience.
‘If I was controlling in the slightest I would have asked her to come.’
The reality hunk went on to admit he will wait for Lucie, who remains single in the villa, on the outside.
But despite Joe’s candid confession, it was his nervous habit during the exit interview that caught the attention of viewers.
Intentions: Joe, whose appearance on Love Island triggered more than 800 Ofcom complaints, has now insisted he always had the ‘best intentions at heart’
When speaking to host Caroline Flack, the 22-year-old appeared nervous, repeatedly licking his lips and pausing before answering questions.
One Twitter user said: ‘How many times is Joe saying emmm on that interview with @carolineflack1’.
Another added: ‘If Joe was as dedicated to Lucie as he is to saying “urm” reckon he’d of won Love Island’.
And a third said: ‘Can Joe say “ehm” and lick his lips anymore in this interview’.
But others defended the Love Island alum, commenting that he was clearly extremely nervous throughout the chat.
Nervous: Despite Joe’s candid confession, it was his nervous habit during the interview that caught the attention of viewers
One user said: ‘Can people stop commenting about the fact that Joe keeps saying “uhm” and stuff like the guy is obviously so so so nervous? Can you literally not tell? #Loveisland’
A second added: ‘Just watching @carolineflack1 on After sun. You are so right saying that to Joe. He’s a little sweetheart #LoveIsland’.
Also appearing on the show was Elma Pazar, who was axed from the villa alongside Joe on Tuesday.
The eyelash technician, who had been coupled up with Anton, confessed she had begun to develop feelings for the gym owner because he ‘surprised her’.
She said: ‘Anton shocked me that’s why I liked him.
‘It was going in the romantic way, in the the last two days we got so much closer. He’s too nice sometimes girls don’t like that. He hasn’t had his chance in there’.
One Twitter user said: ‘How many times is Joe saying emmm on that interview with @carolineflack1’
Defence: Others defended the Love Island alum, commenting that he was clearly extremely nervous throughout the chat
The beauty also confessed to Caroline that had she been in the villa from day one, she would have stepped forward for Joe.
She said: ‘I would have stepped forward for Joe. He’s a lovely boy, I really love Joe, really love Joe’.
It comes after Joe’s mother Rachel Garratt defended the Love Island star amid criticism of his treatment of love match Lucie Donlan.
Speaking hours before his dramatic dumping from the island earlier this week, Rachel told MailOnline: ‘I know my son and he’s not like how he’s being portrayed.
Speaking outside her home in Orpington, Kent, she added: ‘Both myself and his sister are his best friends. He doesn’t emotionally control anyone.
‘What has been said in the newspapers … is just sheer rubbish, that is not my boy.
‘The photograph used in some of the articles, which shows Lucie crying, is from an argument with one of the other girls. It was nothing to do with Joe but he was pictured next to it [the image of Lucie in tears].
‘My best friend’: The mother of Love Island star Joe Garratt defended her son today and said he is a ‘normal, loving 22-year-old lad’ (pictured with her son)
‘I see him every day of the week and there’s no way he would make a girl cry. He’s a normal, loving 22-year-old lad.
‘He’s got hundreds of friends, he goes to the gym every day. They all love him. He goes and plays rugby at the local club, they all love him.
‘No friend he’s got, boy or girl, nor any of his ex-girlfriends have got a bad word to say about him. It’s a real shame this has happened.’
Mrs Garratt was also critical of the Women’s Aid charity who issued a statement yesterday about ‘Joe’s possessive behaviour’.
She added: ‘They never contacted us. This charity, which is so interested in women’s protection, have made two women very upset and uncomfortable. His sister is devastated by all this and so am I.’
Struggling: Amid criticism over her son’s treatment of love match Lucie, Rachel Garratt told MailOnline: ‘I know my son and he’s not like how he’s being portrayed
Joe was dumped from the Love Island villa during Tuesday night’s episode after almost 800 Ofcom complaints about his ‘controlling’ behaviour.
The sandwich delivery man was the subject of hundreds of complaints when his partner Lucie, 21, broke down in tears after he suggested she spend more time with the girls, rather than the boys.
Cornish model Lucie sobbed after Joe told her to stay away from other men in a recent episode of the ITV2 show, prompting Women’s Aid to speak out about his ‘abusive’ actions that viewers called ‘predatory’.
Joe had to pack his bags and leave Love Island – mere hours after he apologised to Lucie for his jealousy issues, which stemmed from her close relationship with Tommy Fury.
Criticism: ‘Both myself and his sister are his best friends. He doesn’t emotionally control anyone’ Joe’s mum has told MailOnline amid his emotional rollercoaster of romance
Joe declared his feelings for Lucie, a day after he said about her friendship with Tommy: ‘I’m not happy with it. It’s strange. I think it’s time for you to get close with the girls.’
During his grovelling apology, he told her: ‘I kind of let other people’s’ opinions with the whole you and Tommy thing get to me.
‘I know I never should have and I completely regret ever doubting you. I trust you, I trust him and I trust us.
He added: ‘I know you get on with guys and I’m completely fine with that. I never thought at this stage I would have feelings for a girl as I do with you.
‘I have definitely fallen for you.’ Lucie replied: I feel the same.’
Family man: Sandwich maker Joe is pictured with his parents As his mum insists ‘no friend he’s got, boy or girl, nor any of his ex-girlfriends have got a bad word to say about him’
Evicted: Joe was dumped from the Love Island villa on Tuesday night… hours after he apologised to Lucie for being jealous over her friendship with Tommy Fury
Joe has been accused of ‘gaslighting’ the 21-year-old because he has flirted with the other female contestants to make her jealous and has gone to great lengths to put off rivals including Tommy.
More than 300 complaints have been made to TV watchdog Ofcom over the incident with Britain’s broadcasting watchdog revealing that there have been 1,215 complaints about the show.
ITV revealed on Tuesday that Lucie has been supported by the show’s staff away from the cameras – but despite her daughter appearing heartbroken on-screen, her mother Cellie Donlan told MailOnline she is content to stay.
She said: ‘Lucie should stay on the show. We’ve got no worries over her what so ever, she’s very happy. The support given to her and us as a family by ITV has been amazing.’
Trust issues: He told her: ‘I kind of let other peoples’ opinions get to me. ‘I know I never should have and I completely regret ever doubting you. I trust you, I trust him and I trust us’
