Love Island viewers cringed as they tuned in to watch celebrity bombshell Joey Essex’s interactions on Tuesday night’s episode, particularly when his microphone picked up the sounds of him kissing the girls.
Amidst the unfolding drama on screen, fans found themselves distracted by the cringe-inducing noises of former TOWIE star Joey getting acquainted with the girls. Tasked with selecting the three girls he found most attractive, Joey engaged in ten-second kisses with Samantha, Nicole, and Harriet. While the girls were willing participants, those watching from home took to social media to express their discomfort.
On Twitter, one viewer remarked, “Oh, I forgot how yuck these kissing noises are! I know the sound guys are cringing putting these eps together each time #loveIsland.” Another shared a photo of Kanye West with his hands over his ears, captioning it, “Me when the kissing noises get louder and louder #LoveIsland.”
Others chimed in with similar sentiments, with one fan saying, “One thing I’ve not missed is these audible snogging sounds #LoveIsland,” and another questioning Joey’s technique, “Joey? Why does he kiss like that?” Some suggested he could use some pointers, with one commenting, “Joey Essex isn’t trying to kiss these girls he’s tryna bite them lmao,” while another added, “Joey looks like he can’t kiss, I can’t lie!” Even Samantha herself critiqued the kiss, mentioning “a lot of teeth.”
Despite the criticism of Joey’s kissing skills, one would assume that the 33-year-old, a former I’m A Celebrity contestant, has had plenty of practice, given his dating history with multiple stunning women. One of his ex-girlfriends, Brazilian model Brenda Santos, opened up about their relationship, offering fans an X-rated glimpse into what it was like to date the reality star.
Brenda, who dated Joey for several months in 2020, praised his prowess in bed after their relationship ended, describing him as “giving and generous.” Speaking to The Sun in 2021, she commended the “very sexy” TV personality, revealing they had an active sex life.
“We would have sex every day,” Brenda disclosed to the Daily Star. “Sometimes we would do it many times a day, depending on the mood. He was giving and generous in bed. Joey said he loved my body, especially my ‘bum-bum’ as you say in Brazil. It was intense and memorable. He’s a very passionate person, like myself.”
Their relationship reportedly began in May 2020 after being introduced by a mutual friend, and they spent time together at Joey’s home in Essex during the COVID-19 lockdown. Unfortunately, their romance came to an end in September of that year.