The atmosphere is charged with tension at the Love Island retreat following the unexpected arrival of Grace Jackson, Joey Essex’s ex. Let’s delve into their backstory and uncover the root causes of their split.
During an episode that spotlighted the beginning of Joey Essex and Samantha Kenny exploring their newfound chemistry, viewers witnessed the startling entrance of Joey’s former partner into the Love Island residence, effectively shaking things up.
While Joey and Samantha’s attraction seemed to be on a slow and steady course, their date went remarkably well, in contrast to Ciaran Davies and Nicole Samuel’s whirlwind romance that led them to become a committed couple almost immediately.
With the addition of three attractive newcomers to the villa, Joey’s reaction was one of sheer shock as he quietly exclaimed, “Oh my God… I used to go out with that girl.”
During her stay on Love Island, Grace explained that she and Joey had a romance last summer (2023), after meeting in Ibiza. She divulged to the other female contestants that their relationship was intense but ended on bad terms – making for quite the uncomfortable scenario.
A source close to the situation told Mail Online: “Unfinished feelings linger between the two, and she’s not afraid to express how she feels while in the villa.”
Recent discussions in the villa have led to some judgments by other contestants that there may be more to Joey and Grace’s story, stirring up conjecture amongst viewers.
Joey, having been the one to end the relationship, offered a heartfelt apology to Grace within the villa for how things ended, admitting that things between them had progressed too quickly.
They both acknowledged that living far apart played a significant role in their breakup, with Grace from Manchester and Joey based in Essex – a geographic challenge that persists even now.
Grace has expressed that her adventurous and travel-heavy lifestyle can be intimidating to potential partners, stating: “I love jetting off on frequent adventures and exotic trips. It can be hard for someone to keep up with my active pace. This way of life enhances my career and fits me perfectly. Choosing to be alone during the peak of my twenties isn’t something I’m interested in.”
However, Joey’s own dynamic lifestyle might not have been the primary barrier, as he has shared his intentions of settling down and starting a family, indicating he might be on the lookout for a life partner who prefers a more settled existence.
When Grace opened up to islander Konnor, who had pulled her aside from Joey, she cited their demanding work commitments as yet another reason why their relationship didn’t persist.
