Love Island’s Luca Bish jokes about being ‘protective’ of Gemma Owen after complaints on show-Alicia Adejobi-Entertainment – Metro

Gemma and Luca finished runners-up in the Love Island 2022 final (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Love Island star Luca Bish isn’t taking the criticism of his behaviour towards Gemma Owen to heart, as he’s been able to joke about suggestions he was too ‘protective’ of the star. 

The 23-year-old fishmonger couldn’t be more thrilled to finally be out of the Love Island villa after eight weeks of trials and tribulations. 

Luca and Gemma, who is daughter of football legend Michael Owen, missed out on winning this year’s series after finishing in second place behind Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti who scooped the £50,000 prize. 

Despite the show being over for the summer, the islanders are still somewhat living together as they readjust to the real world. 

Before they flew out of Majorca on Tuesday, the final four couples were holed up in a holding villa and hopped on several Instagram lives to greet their followers for the first time.

Luca and fellow finalist Andrew Le Page appeared in a short live together in which real estate agent Andrew said: ‘Where is Gem? Oi, people are requesting Gem. People are requesting Gem, go get her.’ 

After taking over the camera, Luca said in a jokey manner: ‘You want Gem? You want Gem? No chance. I’m so protective. Nah.’ 

The boys then filmed themselves running into Gemma’s room where she was seen laying on a bed before Luca bent down to give her a kiss. The swimwear business owner, 19, seemed to be in chirpy spirits and waved to the camera before shooing the boys out of the room. 

Luca’s joke was in response to the mounting criticism he received throughout the series for being too protective of Gemma. His ‘overprotectiveness’ was addressed on several occasions in the villa, notably when Casa Amor bombshell Billy Brown made an effort to get to know her but Gemma said he wasn’t allowed to hug her in case it upset Luca. 

The couple seem pretty smitten since leaving the villa (Picture: @gem_owen1, Instagram)

Gemma and Luca certainly had their trials and tribulations during the series (Picture: Rex Features)

Towards the end of the series, Luca came under fire when he blew up over Gemma licking Adam Collard during a challenge. 

Luca’s family defended him at the time, with a message posted on his social media account reading: ‘9/10 weeks of not contact with family. It’s a crazy intense environment where emotions are heightened.

‘Learning to have disagreements and resolve them it is part of all successfull relationships. Society preaches men not to bottle things up and to open up???

‘So proud of how vulnerable and in touch with his emotions he’s been. Nothing but real.’ 

His account handler added: ‘First to admit if he’s being a little “f**k. But really don’t feel he’s done anything wrong here at all. 

‘Would do anything to hug him right now.’

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Stacey Solomon emotional after watching ‘magical’ video of first dance from Joe Swash wedding: ‘Hope this makes your heart happy’

MORE : Coleen Rooney’s friend Danielle Lloyd ‘laughed’ at Rebekah Vardy’s interview about trial: ‘It was cringe’

Entertainment – MetroRead More