Fans were not thrilled with Sammy Root storming off following an incident with Jess Harding after she called him out for leading Leah Taylor on in Sunday’s episode of Love Island.
During the hour-long episode, the project manager, 22, realised he truly wanted to make things work with Jess, also 22, and instead of respectfully disappointing Leah, he opted to let her know in a violent recoupling.
Sammy labelled Leah as a ‘test’ in front of the rest of the group while professing his interest in the aesthetics practitioner, leaving her in floods of tears.
Leah, 27, afterwards approached him for a conversation, attempting to convey how his actions had made her feel… but he didn’t appear to comprehend what he’d done wrong.
At the same moment, Ella Thomas, 23, pulled Jess aside to explain what had happened between Sammy and Leah.
At the end of the episode, Jess confronted her new partner, expressing her belief that he had lied to her and minimised his flirtations with Leah.
‘You’re flirting with her and leading her on,’ she fumed, prompting Sammy to reply: ‘What am I meant to do when I’m getting to know her?
‘Everyone’s making me out to look like a d*ckhead when I’ve given the girl a chance when I thought there was potential there.
‘I gave her 100%, which I thought was the fairest thing to do.
‘I gave you 100% and at the end of the day, I want you more and she’s upset about that. She’s upset that I called her a test, and I’ve apologised for my actions. What else can I do?’
But Jess was still upset and went on: ‘I feel like you haven’t been completely honest with me.’
Growing increasingly frustrated, Sammy hit back: ‘Stop saying I haven’t been honest because I’ve been straight down the middle with the pair of you.
‘Tell me how I haven’t been honest with you? I just don’t get what you’re annoyed about.’
Sammy on the complete defence there, madness for him to storm off like that #LoveIsland
— Roisin (@RoRoSuperRo) June 18, 2023
Sammy talking to Jess and Leah any how? Who does he think he is 😭?? #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/uAj7SZHN7m
— 💫 (@FxntyJoon) June 18, 2023
HOW IS SAMMY THE ONE STORMING OFF???? Jess RUN away from him #LoveIsland
— liv 🌷 | 🇸🇪🇳🇱🇱🇹 (@liv_liv_liv__) June 18, 2023
Storming off??? What? Whow. Can’t believe I gotta watch Sammy on this island #LoveIsland
— 🗡️my ninjas (@StarDStar_) June 18, 2023
Is Sammy ok??? Jess needs to run fast! #loveisland pic.twitter.com/RkmE22taIG
— erm (@leaveitfortm) June 18, 2023
‘I just don’t like it,’ Jess replied, prompting an irate Sammy to walk away.
Fans of Love Island were enraged at how the argument progressed and were less than happy when Sammy stormed off.
Taking to Twitter, one slammed: ‘HOW IS SAMMY THE ONE STORMING OFF???? Jess RUN away from him.’
‘Sammy on the complete defence there, madness for him to storm off like that,’ another critiqued, while a third added: ‘Sammy getting defensive, cutting off jess, and not seeing how Leah was hurt by him calling her a test…. there are red flags everywhere get my girl out of there.’
Love Island continues on Monday at 9pm on ITV2.
