This year, to spice things up on Love Island, for the first time, producers introduced twins to the villa. The twins – Jess and Eve Gale – walked in at the end of the first episode, leaving the boys both shocked and amazed that two women could look exactly the same. But within days, the twins were split - as Eve was dumped from the villa.
While Jess stayed on the show, that meant that Eve was tasked with looking after her sister’s Instagram account. But last week, things turned nasty after her sister opted to kiss Mike - instead of Luke M - in Sunday night’s challenge. Taking to her Instagram story, Jess posted screenshots of Eve’s direct messages exposing horrific insults such as "sly, ugly, fat c--t" and "go die in a fire", adding that she had been sent hundreds of death threats.
Speaking to Grazia, Eve adds that Jess was sent racist abuse for choosing to kiss Mike.
"Before [the challenge], she was getting really nice messages, but obviously there were a few mean ones," she said. "But it was definitely not a popular decision when she chose Mike.
"Then she was getting so many racist comments from a lot of young boys. They were saying the N word, like you’re disgusting, why would you pick this person, which I was obviously really shocked by."
The reality star also says Jess’s stint in the villa is the longest - and farthest - that they’ve been away from each other, with Eve adding that she’s cried over the abuse.
CHECK OUT Love Island 2020 contestants
LOVE ISLAND JANUARY 2020 C0NFIRMED LINE UP slider
Leanne Amaning
Age: 22Hometown: LondonOccupation: Customer Service AdvisorDumped: 29th January after Mike chose to couple up with Sophie.
Siânnise Fudge
Age: 25Hometown: BristolOccupation: Beauty Consultant
Eve and Jess Gale
Age: 20Hometown: LondonOccupation: Students and VIP Hostesses Eve Gale: Dumped in the first re-coupling after she failed to be chosen by any of the guys.
Shaughna Phillips
Age: 25Hometown: LondonOccupation: Democratic Services Officer Dumped after Luke Mabbot chose Demi Jones instead of her.
Sophie Piper
Age: 21Hometown: EssexOccupation: Medical PADumped in a public vote, then by fellow Islanders with Wallace Wilson
Paige Turley
Age: 22Hometown: West LothianOccupation: Singer
Mike Boateng
Age: 24Hometown: LondonOccupation: Police Officer
Connor Durman
Age: 25Hometown: BrightonOccupation: Coffee Bean SalesmanDumped: 26th January after he and Sophie were voted the public's least favourite couple, and the Islanders had to send one of them home.
Callum Jones
Age: 23Hometown: ManchesterOccupation: ScaffolderDumped with partner Molly Smith in a public vote that culminated in Islanders decider.
Nas Majeed
Age: 23Hometown: LondonOccupation: Sports Science Graduate and BuilderDumped with new partner Eva Zapico after leaving Casa Amor in public vote
Ollie Williams
Age: 23Hometown: CornwallOccupation: Heir to the Lanhydrock Estate/Land OwnerLeft: Ollie quit the show on 14th January to get back with his ex.
Finley Tapp
Age: 20Hometown: Milton KeynesOccupation: Recruitment consultant
Connagh Howard
Age: 26Hometown: CardiffOccupation: ModelDumped: 25th January after he failed to be chosen by any of the women.
Rebecca Gormley
Age: 21Hometown: NewcastleOccupation: Part-time Model and Carer
Luke Mabbott
Age: 24Hometown: RedcarOccupation: Heating Engineer
Luke Trotman
Age: 22Hometown: LutonOccupation: Semi-pro footballer and Student
Wallace Wilson
Age: 24Hometown: InvernessOccupation: Personal Trainer
Demi Jones
Age: 21Hometown: PortsmouthOccupation: Fashion Advisor in a local boutique
Wallace Wilson
Age: 24Hometown: InvernessOccupation: Personal trainerDumped: Public vote that culminated in an Islander decider along with Sophie Piper
Ched Uzor
Age: 23Hometown: SuffolkOccupation: Scaffolder
WATCH ‘Luke M is fake and Mike is mugging Jess off!’ Eve doesn’t hold back ☕️ | Under the Duvet Ep 3
"I was really badly affected by it - that's my sister and naturally I feel protective over her," the 20-year-old says. "She is the most real, lovely, kind girl ever and she doesn’t deserve this. She is getting more hate from being in a reality TV show than murderers do."
She says that some people even went as far as to detail how Jess should take her own life.
ITV did prepare all the contestants for trolling on social media, with them advising them not to engage with the senders, who Eve says are "just normal people".
Though she hasn’t messaged the trolls, she said that posting the screenshots prompted a scared response from the bullies. "I got messages from them and their friends saying 'please delete this, I am going to get bullied at school, I’m going to lose my job.'"
Karma, she says.
"If you’re going to send messages like that deal with the consequences."
READ MORE Love Island news and spoilers
Sophie Piper reveals what sister Rochelle Humes really thinks of Connor Durman
Love Island’s Amy Hart says ‘mentally torturous’ Casa Amor was ‘pure hell’
Hang on - new Love Islander Alexi Eraclides has already exchanged messages with Jess Gale
Before the girls went into the villa, Eve says they talked about the possibility of being separated - they knew it would be tough being parted for so long, but they were willing to make the sacrifice.
"There is no jealousy there," she adds. "I want her to do so well."
While Eve admits she likes Mike, she admits that she isn’t entirely sure he would have professed his feelings if Leanne hadn't dumped him.
"He seems like a nice person," she says. "And I respect him. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do - and you’ve got to shoot your shot." As for Casa Amor, Eve wants her sister to couple up with "someone who she genuinely likes" because she feels like, so far, there's been "no one she would get with in the outside world."
"I just want her to be happy," she says. "If she’s happy I don’t care."