Love Island embroiled in ‘toxic femininity’ row after women reduce male contestants to tears

Love Island is embroiled in a ‘toxic femininity’ row after women on the show reduced some of the male contestants to tears.

Viewers of the controversial ITV reality series have been left fearing for the mental health of male stars.

Some fans have accused the girls of hypocrisy for celebrating their ‘sisterhood’ but misbehaving in the same way as the men.

Tanya Manhenga, 22, Olivia Hawkins, 27, and Australian Jessie Wynter, 26, are widely considered the ringleaders in the villa.

Last Thursday saw emotional scenes after the Casa Amor stunt, in which men and women are split up, some being put in another villa and all introduced to new singletons.

Love Island is embroiled in a ‘toxic femininity’ row after women on the show reduced some of the male contestants to tears

Tanya Manhenga, 22, (pictured) Olivia Hawkins, 27, and Australian Jessie Wynter, 26, are widely considered the ringleaders in the villa

Drama: The star had watched Tanya, 23, (pictured with Shaq) cheating on him with Irish bombshell Martin Akinola during one of the clips

Upset: After Tanya ignored Shaq in the kitchen, he left the villa, later crying as he spoke to friend Tom Clare

Tears: Shaq had a heart-to-heart with co-star Tom after the argument, who comforted him as he cried 

Hugs: Tom gave Shaq a hug as he was clearly upset by the events of the Movie Night in the Islander villa 

Anger: Tanya sat with her fellow Islanders and expressed her frustration, revealing that she did not know what to do 

Contestant Shaq Muhammad was left in tears after his on-screen partner Tanya Manhenga went off with another competitor, Martin Akinola. Mr Muhammad was devastated and had to be consoled by contestant Tom Clare.

Ms Manhenga then humiliated Mr Akinola when she led him to believe he stood a chance, only to then publicly profess her love for Mr Muhammad.

Meanwhile, farmer Will Young burst into tears after the women jumped to the defence of Jessie Wynter when he kissed another cast member while in Casa Amor. But none of the women condemned Ms Manhenga.

Anger: Twitter was full of furious commenters after the feud, angry at Tanya’s behaviour and that she made him cry

Olivia Hawkins also rounded on contestant Ron Hall for criticising her, despite footage of her making derogatory remarks about other couples, none of which was challenged by the other women.

In addition, Mr Hall was ridiculed and made to feel he was in the wrong for appearing to encourage his fellow male contestants to give new arrivals in Casa Amor a chance.

Yet the women, led by Ms Wynter, were shown to have done the exact same thing in the villa.

This year’s female line-up has been branded the most ‘manipulative and toxic’ in the history of the show. One male viewer said: ‘I’ve never complained to Ofcom but I have tonight. Emotional abuse and bullying isn’t a joke – Tanya and Olivia need talking to.’

A female viewer wrote on Twitter: ‘I never thought I’d be siding with the men. Some of these women are toxic,’ while another tweeted: ‘Toxic femininity at its finest.’

Another wrote: ‘This women empowerment is too toxic for me. It doesn’t hurt to be self-aware, babe. And a bunch of you need to look in the mirror.’

An ITV spokesman said that contestants are trained in inclusive language and behaviour, creating safe spaces and being a good ally.