Love Island: Where’s Everyone’s Empathy For Jessie Wynter?

The public appear to have turned on her merely for crying too much at Will's betrayal, and that's not fair.

Jessie Wynter

by Georgia Aspinall |
Published on

The fallout from Casa Amor continues this week on Love Island after a tumultuous weekend of heartbreak and home truths. While Will Young seemed to smooth things over with Jessie Wynter last night, it’s been difficult to watch the farmer seemingly break Jessie’s heart after kissing Casa Amor’s Lydia Karakyriakou.

Of course, it happens every year with Love Island’s big twist – the couple who go through the most often going on to win the publics favour again when they make up. Is this perhaps why so few people seem to be actually emotionally moved by any of the drama then? There certainly seems to be a lack of empathy for Jessie, particularly with viewers accusing her of being ‘fake’ despite the 23-year-old Australian crying over Will every episode for the last few days.

But that’s where the publics issue lies, they don’t seem to believe Jessie is really crying. ‘I knew Jessie was playing a game from the start,’ one person tweeted. ‘Has anyone actually seen a tear come out of her eyes when she's been "crying" over Will? I'm a pro at fake crying and she couldn't make it any more obvious hahaha, no tears, hands over the eyes.’

‘I know Jessie’s got a migraine from this dramatic fake ass crying she keeps doing,’ another added.

Even those who believe she’s crying seem to be losing patience.  ‘Jessie’s crocodile tears are getting boring at this point,’ said one viewer.

Given how viewers hearts broke for Millie Court last year, it’s a surprising reaction – but perhaps not when you consider how few people have trusted Jessie’s intentions since she entered the villa. In fact, some made their mind up about her as soon as she appeared on the show and have doubled down ever since merely from disbelief that she’s actually attracted to Will – an insult to the both of them, to be honest.

It's a classic display of misogyny, and toxic masculinity at that, assuming Jessie is fake because she’s attracted to a man that is comfortable being as feminine and whimsical as he wishes. Some have cottoned to the discourse though, likening the treatment of Jessie to last year’s Tasha Ghouri.

Because actually, Jessie hasn’t given any indication at all that she doesn’t like Will, nor that she’s not a genuine person. And if you want the science, it is actually possible to cry without tears. Some people have dry tear ducts, while others are unable to produce tears when dehydrated.

Perhaps viewers should think twice then before questioning Jessie’s intentions on Love Island – she might be a reality show connoisseur, but she’s been nothing but sweet since she walked into the villa.

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