Love Island star hits back at backlash after sharing ‘fake’ Grace Jackson messages
Former Love Island star Mitch Taylor has addressed the backlash that he has received after posting purportedly “fake” messages from All Stars finalist Grace Jackson.
Grace, 26, was runner-up on the ITV2 show on Monday night alongside Luca Bish. Shortly before the final, she had faced claims that she had said she would do “whatever it takes to win” prior to entering the villa in South Africa.
The islander, who denied the claim, heard about it from Olivia Hawkins, 29, when a number of dumped former co-stars returned to the villa in Sunday’s episode. Olivia said: “So I’ve seen text messages of Grace just saying to someone that she will do whatever it takes to win the show this time.” She added that they were “from someone back home”.
Grace responded: “That is absolutely not true. I do not care about winning the show.” Olivia told her: “I’ve seen the screenshots.” Grace encouraged her to send the apparent “receipts,” saying: “I would love to see them.” She said that someone must have “forged” the messages, further denying the claim.
Then, during the live final, when asked by host Maya Jama is she had the ‘receipts’, Olivia said: “I’ve seen them. I’ve said what I said. You know me, I’m very straight talking. I’m just straight to the point. But I honestly wish them the best.” Grace responded to her: “I’m very straight talking too and there’s absolutely no reciepts so can’t wait to apparently see them.”
Mitch Taylor shared purported messages between Grace Jackson and someone else recently
Amid the situation, Mitch, 27 – who appeared on Love Island in 2023 – was asked, seemingly on Sunday night, if he had the ‘receipts’. He said in a post on Snapchat: “If someone sends them me I’ll happily put them on snap IDGAF.”
He later shared an apparent screen-recording of a message, purportedly between Grace and someone else. He wrote: “Erm guys.” The purported Instagram messages from Grace read: Aww thank you babe. I will win this time! I’ll do anything to.” Another purported message has been shared elsewhere.
Asked for more information following the result of the final – which was won by his pal Casey O’Gorman and Gabby Allen – he said on Snapchat: “I don’t know who the receipts are from, I got sent it loads all I know is Casey and Gabby won.” Seemingly further addressing the situation, he was asked by someone else: “Do you think it’s real?” He replied: “Don’t care Casey and Gabby won.”
Mitch has suggested that he doesn’t know if the alleged messages were real
Mitch Taylor has received a backlash after wading into Love Island All Stars drama
Fans have since claimed that he posted the video to help Casey, with one writing: “Mitch went on live to say that this is fake and that he posted it just to help Casey win. Now what? I hope Grace sue them all.” Another said: “They’re fake he made it up for his mate to win watch his recent.”
According to Capital though, he responded to such commentary on TikTok. The outlet reports that he replied to someone who wrote: “He admitted he posted fake dms of Grace, this is beyond the show and defamation.” Mitch replied: “No I didn’t I said I dunno if they’re real or not, stfu x.”
He’s attracted criticism on platforms like Instagram too, with some fans commenting on a post of him and his partner Hayley Griffin that they hope he gets cheated on. Mitch has also shared a message from someone telling him to take his own life.
Mitch later addressed the backlash on his Instagram Story on Tuesday, writing: “Morning guys, the hate/death threats don’t bother me but please stop sending hate and death threats to Hayley. I’ve always had a love hate relationship with the public, but keep the beef on me don’t involve my girlfriend. I appreciate you all.”
