Joe Garratt says ‘Love Island’ bosses would’ve booted him out of the villa if he really was being "controlling".
The axed Islander was accused of demonstrating "possessive behaviour" towards co-star Lucie Donlan during his time on the ITV2 show, but he insists he would’ve asked the surfer to join him in the outside world if that was the case and admits it has been "heart-breaking" to have been perceived in such a way.
He said: "It hasn’t been easy and to think I have been perceived in that way is heart-breaking and not nice to see.
"But with the way the show is, if I had been that way I would have been kicked out.
"I wasn’t like that at all and I always had had her best intentions at heart.
"If I was controlling I would have asked her to come with me [when I left]."
After leaving the villa, Joe has been in touch with Lucie’s family and insists he will be waiting for her when she leaves the show.
He said: "I have had messages with Lucie’s family back and forth and had a phone call with her parents.
"They are such nice people, you can see where Lucie gets it from.
"I will be waiting for her on the outside."
More than 600 people complained to Ofcom about Joe’s behaviour towards Lucie, during which he appeared to suggest she spend more time with the girls in the villa after spending time with boxer Tommy Fury.
But the 22-year-old catering company owner blames the "intense environment" for having suspicions that Lucie and Tommy were "cracking on", admitting his fellow Islanders got "in [his] head" by constantly asking if he was OK about the pair chatting.
Speaking on spin-off ‘Love Island: Aftersun’, he added: "You forget it is a gameshow.
"We [Lucie] just got on so well and then to see someone cracking on.
"I kind of knew it was coming but when I kind of sussed out that they were just friends, I wasn’t so worried after that.
"I got on so well with Tommy with his cheese, mayo and ketchup sandwiches.
"But in there it is such an intense environment and you have people coming up to you all the time like, ‘Are you OK with this?’
"And then you think you are and then you let people get into your head and everyone has an opinion.
"They do get in your head in the end."
Following an initial 302 viewer complaints to Ofcom about Joe, Adina Claire, co-chief executive of women’s charity Women’s Aid, claimed the ITV2 show contestant was showing "possessive behaviour" towards Lucie.
She said: "Controlling behaviour is never acceptable, and with ‘Love Island’ viewers complaining to Ofcom in record numbers about Joe’s possessive behaviour towards Lucie, more people are becoming aware of this and want to challenge it.
"Abusive relationships often start off with subtle signs of control, so it’s important that it is recognised at an early stage.
"’Love Island’ viewers are now very vocal in calling out unhealthy behaviour between couples on the show, and this is a positive development."
But Joe’s mum Rachel Garratt hit back, saying: "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."
Love Island’s Joe Garratt: Bosses would’ve given me boot if I was controlling
