Just minutes into the opening episode of Love Island 10, the show’s first pairings have left viewers disappointed.
It went back to Mallorca and the property to begin another summer of sunbathing singletons.
In a much-touted surprise, the couples were chosen by public voting from among the initial ten contestants, breaking into five duos (as happened last season).
Before the first show on Monday, viewers could vote on which competitors they wanted to see matched up first via the Love Island app.
The vote matched Molly and Mitchel, Ruchee Gurung, Mehdi Edno, Jess Harding, George Fensom, Catherine Agbaje, and André Furtado from Molly Marsh, Tyrique Hyde, Ella Thomas, Mitchel Taylor, Ruchee and Mehdi, Ella and Tyrique, Jess and George… and Catherine and André.
However, many were uneasy about seeing the two Black competitors in a pair again.
‘Every single year it’s the two token Black islanders that get coupled up,’ argued one person while another chimed in: ‘THEY PUT THE BLACK GIRL WITH THE BLACK GUY?! SHOCK!!!!’
‘Who in the public keeps putting the only 2 black ppl [sic] together own up,’ complained another.
‘Did voters think it was a game of “match the skin colours”?’ asked one fan while another chastised the British voting public for ‘literally just play match the skin colour every time’.
Last year, Love Island included an initial public vote that enraged fans as the four Black candidates were all grouped together, labelling it “segregation.”
Every single year it’s the two token black islanders that get coupled up #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/GCxorS60uD
— Daniel (@d_loughins) June 5, 2023
JUST BECAUSE SHE IS BLACK DOESNT MEAN SHE NEEDS TO BE WITH A BLACK MAN ! Stopppp #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/NGZ1qPUDLe
— CHELS🎀💞 (@Chelsldn01) June 5, 2023
SAY NO TO BLACK LOVE GOD I AM TIRED #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/Wn8Q2h0506
— 🥱 (@lolasticse) June 5, 2023
The black people have been paired together – WHATTTTTT???? #loveisland pic.twitter.com/Fq7II6eHJK
— AJB🫶🏾 (@Anutweeted) June 5, 2023
Did voters think it was a game of "match the skin colours" 😭 #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/G25l2EpNnQ
— BigOpinions (@BigOpinions2) June 5, 2023
The British public literally just play match the skin colour everytime they choose the couples #loveisland pic.twitter.com/YZuXNrGf8y
— ❦ Kaiteta ❀ (@Tiatia2000) June 5, 2023
Indiyah Polack, a hotel waiter, was partnered with pharmaceutical salesperson Ikenna Ekwonna, while nanny Amber Beckford was placed with scientist Dami Hope.
Indiyah and Dami finished third in the series and are still going strong a year later, having recently moved in together.
Estate agent Catherine and business agent André, on the other hand, said they were pleased with the outcome, smiling as they stood next to one other.
Their initial discussion proved that they had each had their sights set on the other.
Molly, a musical theatre artist, and Mitchel, a gas engineer, were both delighted with themselves, despite the fact that they lived only 20 minutes apart in real life, in Doncaster and Sheffield, respectively.
Aesthetics practitioner Jess and beautician Ruchee, on the other hand, expressed dissatisfaction with their other halves, business development executive George and communications manager Mehdi.
Love Island continues on ITV2 and ITVX tomorrow night at 9pm.
