Jake Cornish has claimed he was painted as a “pantomime villain” on Love Island.
In his first interview since leaving the villa, the 24-year-old addressed the backlash he’s received since appearing on the show.
Jake insisted viewers didn’t get to see everything that happened between him and Liberty Poole, who ended their romance just days before the final.
Speaking to MailOnline, Jake said: “There’s stuff I have spoken to Lib about on camera that hasn’t aired about how I was feeling.”
“It isn’t nice I’ve been painted this way as a pantomime villain. It isn’t the nicest to come across as someone I’m not.”
“During the Movie Night they had to bring back a clip from Day Two to make me look bad. I’m sorry but Day Two? Everyone’s got opinions but that was taken out of context. I had to sit back and take it.”
“They’ve got to make storylines but it isn’t nice when you’re on the back end. Liberty and I were big parts of the show; it was a way to make something out of it, which is a shame really. At the time I was like ‘what the hell?'”
During the Movie Night challenge, a clip of Jake admitting he didn’t want to rip Liberty’s clothes off was played for the whole villa – which left him fuming.
Jake continued: “The Movie Night was the turning point. It went from 0-100 straight away and because it’s such an intense environment in there your head just goes into overdrive. It wasn’t the nicest of feelings I’ll tell you that for a fact.”
“It was me on the back end of it for many weeks and trying to deal with it in there, you’ve got six different opinions all against you, it is going to take a knock-on effect.”
“I got a bigger backlash than Liam when I didn’t get with any girl and was loyal and I’m the one that’s come out the worst – how does that work?”
In response to Jake’s comments, an ITV spokesperson said: “The opinions they have, decisions they make and the relationships formed are completely within the control of the Islanders themselves.”
“It is always our intention to produce a show that is a fair and accurate representation of life in the villa.”
During the Movie Night challenge, producers also exposed a video of Jake seemingly egging on the boys in Casa Amor, which angered the female Islanders – particularly Faye Winter.
Addressing that video clip, the Weston-Super-Mare native said: “That was definitely taken out of context. All I was saying was ‘boys, have fun’ I wasn’t saying to kiss anyone.”
“Everyone is a grown person in there. I was saying ‘have fun in Casa and enjoy it.’ We always had a cheers every night and said ‘no regrets.'”
“At the end of the day I believe there’s no harm in having fun. Having fun doesn’t mean go and kiss someone. It’s been taken way out of proportion.”
Despite public opinion, Jake insisted his romance with Liberty was 100% real, and slammed speculation he didn’t treat her well.
“People said I never complimented Lib but she got compliments from me every single day,” he said. “She used to say ‘I’ve never been treated the way you treat me, you compliment me every single day, and I’ve never had that.'”
“Things like that make you open your eyes when you come out and you think ‘did they really even air any of this?’ People don’t see the bigger picture.”
“I say ‘you’re my girlfriend’ because I’ve only ever had one girlfriend in my life. So, for me to call someone my girlfriend it’s a massive thing.”
Jake continued: “If people didn’t think I was genuine that’s totally up to them but I know I am genuine and I am real.”
“I am very black and white and I wear my heart on my sleeve.”
The 24-year-old also revealed he’s been inundated with death threats since leaving the villa, but insisted he’s doing ok mentally.
Jake explained: “I am okay. I am very thick skinned. I’ve had a lot of death threats but the only people I care about are those that want to support me.”
“Before they went on the show they asked and so far it hasn’t got to me and I’ve had a lot of really bad stuff.”
