Love Island star Danny Bibby has been accused of ‘gaslighting’ Lucinda Strafford by the charity Women’s Aid.
The plumber, 25, had been coupled up with Lucinda before she decided to pursue a relationship with Aaron Francis.
He was vocally annoyed when Lucinda ‘ignored him’ to speak with Aaron, with Women’s Aid saying they thought Danny’s behaviour demonstrated ‘possessiveness and manipulation’.
Statement: Danny Bibby has been criticised by charity Women’s Aid for his behaviour towards Lucinda Strafford which they believe ‘looked like gaslighting’
Teresa Parker, Head of Media and Communications at Women’s Aid said: ‘Our team at Women’s Aid watched Danny and Lucinda’s relationship develop and became increasingly concerned with his behaviour towards her on screen, including what looked like gaslighting, possessiveness, and manipulation.
‘This is clearly not what a healthy relationship looks like, and these are all tactics used by perpetrators of abuse.
‘Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse which makes someone question their perception of reality and can be used to confuse, exhaust and control the victim.
Coupled up: Danny was previously coupled with Lucinda before they decided to go their separate ways
They added: ‘More widely, coercive control, which is a persistent pattern of controlling, coercive and threatening behaviour, has been a criminal offence since 2015 – you do not have to be hit to be abused in a relationship.
‘We urge the producers of Love Island to recognise the signs of abusive behaviour when it is happening on the show, as this is not the first time it has happened. Abuse should not be used for entertainment, and producers need to know when to step in.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Love Island for comment.
Women’s Aid said: ‘Our team at Women’s Aid watched Danny and Lucinda’s relationship develop and became increasingly concerned with his behaviour towards her on screen’
Danny – who was dumped from the villa alongside AJ Bunker in Wednesday night’s episode – came under fire for how he reacted when Aaron tried to kiss Lucinda in front of him.
Viewers were worried he was showing several red flags after mimicking the blonde bombshell and the seriousness in which he confronted her for ‘mugging him off’ after only a day of being in the villa.
The plumber could be seen in the background looking shocked and was quick to pull Aaron aside – after branding him a ‘snake’.
They added: ‘We urge the producers of Love Island to recognise the signs of abusive behaviour when it is happening on the show, as this is not the first time it has happened’
He told him: ‘Lad, it’s my first night, yeah. I’ve just recoupled with her, and then you go and try and slap this on her.
‘You just look like a mug and she’s gone and mugged you off in front of everyone.
‘Do you not feel like an idiot? Like, do you not think I deserve a bit of respect?’
Viewers saw Danny and Lucinda end things on Monday after he pied her during the Snog, Marry, Pie challenge.
He said: ‘I’m not the type to chase you like a little dog. I’d rather take you down a peg and have banter with you.
‘I feel like you give nothing back to me. I’m not asking for a kiss, I’m asking you to come and ask me am I alright. I can sense you gravitating towards Aaron more than me.’
‘I need to just nip it in the bud I think,’ Danny said, to which Lucinda agreed: ‘You need to nip it in the bud.’
He added: ‘I don’t think we’re vibing with each other at all.’
‘No I don’t think we are to be honest,’ Lucinda said.
Awkward! Danny came under fire for how he reacted when Aaron Francis tried to kiss Lucinda in front of him
Speaking in the beach hut, Lucinda added: ‘I am so happy that Danny situation is over and out. Aaron is the nicest person ever I just can’t wait to get to know him more.’
It isn’t the first time accusations of gaslighting have been made towards contestants on the show.
Adam Collard sparked concerns over his relationship with Rosie Williams during series four when his head was turned by Zara McDermott.
Backlash: The plumber has been this series’ most controversial contestant to date with viewers calling for him to be removed from the show after a racist comment was unearthed
Rosie confronted Adam and said he had been ignoring her, to which he said he didn’t ‘need to reassure her’ and said she was acting like a child.
In series five, Women’s Aid said Joe Garratt displayed ‘possessive’ behaviour when he told Lucie Donlan he thought it was ‘strange’ she was hanging out with Tommy Fury after they spent a ‘good hour’ together.
Fellow 2019 contestant Michael Griffiths came under fire from fans for his manipulative ‘gaslighting’ behaviour inside the villa towards ex Amber Gill when he recoupled with Joanna Chimonides during Casa Amor.
Oh dear: It isn’t the first time accusations of gaslighting have been made towards contestants on the show. Adam Collard sparked concerns over his relationship with Rosie Williams during series four when his head was turned by Zara McDermott
It comes after Love Island was hit with more than 1,500 Ofcom complaints after Danny entrance in the villa last week.
The plumber from Manchester has been this series’ most controversial contestant to date with viewers calling for him to be removed from the show after a historic Instagram comment where he used a racial slur was unearthed.
Danny’s father Richard has quit Instagram after 1,081 viewers complained to Ofcom about the episode on July 15, in which the islander entered the villa.
Danny made his debut on Thursday evening’s show as a bombshell, however soon after the episode aired, fans delved into his Instagram and sourced the comment made in 2019.
Shock: 2019 Love Island contestant Michael Griffiths came under fire from fans for his manipulative ‘gaslighting’ behaviour inside the villa with ex Amber Gill
Danny apologised for his actions from the villa, saying he ‘meant no offence’ and has ‘learnt from his mistakes’.
Three days later, the show sparked 426 complaints, after they played Kanye West and Jay-Z’s song N****s In Paris at the start of the episode after ignoring viewers’ calls for Danny to be axed.
Several viewers shared their amazement over the music choice on Twitter, with some saying that it was a ‘disrespectful’ and others being left in shock.
Doomed couple: In series five, Women’s Aid said Joe Garratt displayed ‘possessive’ behaviour when he told Lucie Donlan he thought it was ‘strange’ she was hanging out with Tommy Fury after they spent a ‘good hour’ together
One viewer penned: ‘How ironic that @LoveIsland choose to use the song ‘N****s in Paris’ for that Danny boys intro that was a massive disrespect to all of us! Just wow.’
While another wrote: ‘I still can’t believe Love Island started last nights episode with N****s in Paris.’
And someone else tweeted: ‘love island really started off with n****s in paris as background music… the audacity.’
Shocking: The comment in question, written 85 weeks ago, sees an Instagram account which appears to be Danny’s responding to a fellow Twitter user, who greets him with: ‘Champ’. In response, the tattooed hunk’s account replies: ‘My n****’
Danny’s father had previously jumped to his son’s defense and apologised on his behalf after the historic racial slur was unearthed.
Richard said at the time: ‘Danny does not have a racist bone in his body and there were no racist intentions to this post. I absolutely apologise on his behalf for the offence this wording may have caused.’
The comment in question, written 85 weeks ago when Danny was 23, sees an Instagram account which appears to be Danny’s responding to a fellow Twitter user, who greets him with: ‘Champ’.
In response, the tattooed hunk’s account replied: ‘My n****’.
Not acceptable: Another message, dated 26th November 2019, has also been circulated, in which the account uses the same offensive term
Reacting to the uncovered comment, viewers assumed the comment was sent by Danny and made their feelings abundantly clear, with one writing: ‘We demand that the racist islander Danny is taken off the show immediately.’
While another shared: ‘Danny is in fact a racist who previously used the n word on Instagram. @itvstudios @LoveIsland I assume you will be acting on this?’
‘Sorry but new boy Danny is racist and they are making our queen KAZ GO ON A DATE WITH HIMMMMM???? Sorry but throw the casting crew and directors in the bin’ tweeted a third.
Shock: Three days later, the show sparked 426 complaints, after they played Kanye West and Jay-Z’s song N****s In Paris at the start of the episode
This isn’t the only time Love Island has been caught up in a racism storm.
In the 2020 winter series, the show was hit with 272 complaints in the first episode after Siânnise Fudge compared her partner Nas Majeed – the only Asian contestant – to Aladdin.
Danny and AJ were dumped on Wednesday with their fellow islanders deciding their fate after the they, alongside four others, received the fewest amounts of votes from viewers.
And after much deliberation, the pair – who were the newest islanders – were told that they would be going home after just a few days, just as three new bombshells arrived to cause a stir in the villa.
Love Island continues on ITV2 at 9pm.
Exit: Danny and AJ Bunker were dumped on Wednesday with their fellow islanders deciding their fate after the they, alongside four others, received the fewest amounts of votes from viewers