Axed Love Islander reveals Samantha was left furious by show producers ‘engineering’ Joey Essex romance

A STAR who has left Love Island lifted the lid on the failed romance between Samantha and Joey Essex, revealing her claims that the relationship was 'engineered'.

Samantha was axed from the villa yesterday after a recoupling ceremony where she was left single after Joey reconnected with an ex.

The Scouser had already threatened to leave the show after witnessing a passionate kiss between Grace and Joey left her in tears.

Her co-star Munveer Jabbal has confirmed that Sam's feelings for Joey were real.

However, he did share that she felt 'set up' by producers.

Munveer, whose summer of love was cut short last week, told FUBAR Radio: "[Samantha]  literally just called me about an hour ago and she’s obviously livid, for obvious reasons.

"Watching it the other day was a tough watch because, being so close to Samantha in the villa, you could clearly see she has strong feelings for Joey but it wasn’t reciprocated. No physical touch, no intimacy.

"Then Grace walks in and smacks one right on the lips right in front of her. She obviously feels embarrassed."

He went on to suggest that producers might have had a hand in setting Samantha up with the TOWIE star, adding: "She just feels like she wasn’t able to do what she wanted to and some of it was a little bit engineered.

"She feels like she was a little bit restricted in what she could have done in certain situations.

"I’m not saying it's scripted but sometimes it’s difficult to go have a conversation with someone, there’s timing and all these different things. She just feels like it didn’t go her way."

He also hinted he agrees with fan theories that Grace and Joey faked their break up to stage a reunion on the ITV show.

Munveer said: "I think you hit the nail on the head there, no smoke without fire.

"The way they’ve come in it seems like they’ve known each other for a while. There’s a past there, how strong is that past? Who knows.

"She’s come in, and they’ve coupled up straight away.

"I feel really sorry for Samantha because she is a class girl. She put it herself and said she was a placeholder.

"It was sad to see because she actually had genuine feelings towards Joey."

Even Joey's sister has shared a supportive message with Samantha in the wake of her brutal dumping.

Frankie made it clear that she was rooting for Sam to end up with her brother while the blonde beauty was on the show.