‘Love Island is not racist’ claims 2019 winner Amber Gill after receiving ‘hate and death threats’ while on show-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Amber won the series in 2019 (Picture: ITV/Instagram @amberrosegill)

Love Island winner Amber Gill has insisted the ITV reality dating programme ‘is not racist’, despite backlash from viewers and ex-contestants about a lack of diversity on the show.

Amber stole the nation’s hearts back in 2019, when she and Greg O’Shea won the series after a turbulent ride which involved explosive arguments between Amber and Michael Griffiths, and Casa Amor heartbreak after he chose to recouple with Joanna Chimonides.

However, despite winning the public vote at the end, it wasn’t all positivity, as the soon-to-be published author received ‘hate and death threats’ in her social media inbox while she was on the show, some inciting racial hatred, according to her friend running her accounts while Amber was in the villa.

This year, viewers have already accused the show of ‘segregating’ couples as the first four Black contestants were coupled up, while ex-Islanders Sharon Gaffka and Rachel Finni have spoken out about a lack of diversity.

However, Amber doesn’t think Love Island has a racism problem.

The 24-year-old admitted: ‘It’s hard to say racism is the cause of what’s happening.

Amber claims she was always on our screens because of her ‘big old mouth’ (Picture: Getty)

‘You get dealt the cards you get dealt with. Sometimes I had a really bad time on the show,’ she continued to i.

‘But I was always shown on screen when they edited it because I’ve got a big old mouth.

‘If you don’t have a big personality or you are not outspoken, then you get faded into the background.

‘Maybe some people aren’t as comfortable speaking their mind.’

Amber and Greg O’Shea were crowned series five winners (Picture: Matt Frost/ITV/Shutterstock)

‘It’s hard to say racism is the cause of what’s happening.’ (Picture: ITV)

Amber was previously caught up in her own racism scandal, after she was forced to explain that she is ‘not racist’ after stating that she doesn’t ‘like black guys.’

The then-21 year old featured in a quickly-deleted Instagram story which resurfaced from December 2018, shortly before her time in the villa.

A clip from 2018 sparked Amber’s own racism scandal after she said she doesn’t ‘like black guys’ (Picture: Getty)

During the night, Amber shared a post of herself being approached by a black man, with the words: ‘First of all I don’t like black guys X’.

She added: ‘Look at my face u know I’m about to boot off. [sic]’

She quoted the man to allegedly have said: ‘I seen you staring at me all night.’

The Love Islander had reshared the post from another user, who commented on the video with the text: ‘Amber SICK of her life with another lad talking s**te x.’

At the time, Amber’s reps told Metro.co.uk that the footage was ‘taken out of context’ and that she is ‘not racist’ because her own dad is from Trinidad and Tobago.

She ex-islander later explained that she is ‘not racist’ (Picture: ITV/REX)

The spokesperson told us: ‘We deleted the post as it was being taken out of context in regards to what actually happened.

‘The guy was pestering Amber all evening, and she said he was old enough to be her Dad, so was referring to “I don’t date black guys” because he reminded her of her own father.

‘The next part of the story stated this, but as the whole thing was being taken out of context we simply deleted.

‘Obviously, she’s not racist – her own father is from Trinidad/Tobego. She just didn’t want to date someone that looked the double of her Dad [sic].’

Amber is now keeping Love Island fans entertained with her commentary on Twitter (Picture: ITV)

Since then, Amber has been keeping Love Island fans entertained with her commentary on Twitter, and in a new interview with Metro.co.uk, Amber had discussed her role commenting on Twitter about the show, joking that she gets ‘bullied by my followers’ if she skips an episode.

She also said that she was able to tune in and enjoy the programme, even though she’s experienced it herself from the other side.

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‘I just enjoy it. I sort of know what’s going on. And I think that’s how I can make sure that my commentary on it doesn’t overstep the line with anything,’ she explained.

‘I keep it really light-hearted, but I just enjoy it for what it is – and I’m a viewer just like everyone else.’

Love Island returns tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITV Hub.

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