Love Island fans have turned on islander Sam after what many are calling a “disgusting” and “dehumanising” remark following a kiss with new bombshell Victoria.

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The controversy erupted during Tuesday night’s episode when Sam and Victoria shared a kiss on the terrace. Upon returning to the boys, Sam received high-fives before bluntly stating, “I wish it was Namibia.” He later confessed the kiss to Namibia herself, reiterating that he would have preferred the moment to be with her.

The following day, Sam took Namibia to the hideaway, where he planted another kiss on her.

Viewers were left horrified by the sequence of events, flooding Reddit with strong reactions that criticised Sam’s handling of the two new bombshells, Victoria and Namibia, who entered the villa earlier this week.

 
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One fan wrote: “I don’t care what anyone says his comment after kissing her was disgusting and dehumanising. I personally think that he’s waiting for blonde to come in and is using both of them as a place holder.”

Another added: “I actually think the way he’s moving is very icky!! He knows they’re their ticket into the villa and it seems like he’s doing his very best to come across like he has game.”

Further comments described the behaviour as objectifying. “Sam is treating these girls like objects and it’s a bit icky to be honest,” one viewer posted, while another said they had received “the extreme ick after this episode.”

Even long-time supporters expressed disappointment. “I’m shook… I was a huge supporter and now I’m just….” one wrote.

 
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Former Love Island star Scott Van Der Sluis also weighed in on the unfolding drama. Sharing his thoughts on X, he remarked: “The ‘nice guy’ who suddenly gets a bit of attention and starts trying to impress the boys storyline is so boring.”

Sam’s journey in the villa had been challenging prior to the bombshells’ arrival. He struggled to form a romantic connection and entered a friendship couple with Robyn during the first recoupling after she was overlooked by Sean, who chose Lola instead. With little romantic progress after a week, the boys rallied behind Sam when Victoria and Namibia entered the villa, viewing them as potential opportunities.

The backlash highlights ongoing viewer sensitivity around how contestants treat each other in the high-pressure environment of the villa, particularly when new islanders are involved. Many fans feel Sam’s comments crossed a line, reducing the women to interchangeable options rather than individuals.

As the drama continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether Sam can recover from the fan backlash or if this moment will define his time on the show.