Michael Owen breaks silence to give verdict on daughter Gemma’s first week on Love Island
Michael Owen has given his verdict on daughter Gemma’s first week on Love Island – from snogs, bed-swapping and thatage gap between the teen dressage star and Italian hunk Davide Sanclimenti
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Love Island: Luca picks Gemma in the recoupling
Michael Owen has given his less than impressed verdict on daughter Gemma’s first week on Love Island.
Speaking before the ITV2 series kicked off, the former sportsman admitted it was ‘every father’s worst nightmare’ to see their teenage daughter head into the infamous villa.
And after watching 19-year-old Gemma partner swap, bed swap and snog numerous male contestants on the show, Michael has not changed his mind.
Describing Gemma as his ‘pride and joy’, Michael said flatly of her antics over the last few days: “It’s not something any father wants to watch, is it?”
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Michael said his eyes had been opened to the world of Love Island as he admitted he was naive as to the rules of the game before watching the series for the first time with his daughter as a participant.
Gemma gets a snog from welshman Liam in the ‘Anything to Declare’ challenge
Image:
( ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
The dad-of-four recalled his shock at seeing Gemma hop into bed with a man on her very first night, before his wife Louise had to explain that was the norm.
“Luckily for me there was no physical contact. Gemma had her back to the guy.
“There was space between them. I thought, ‘Good girl’. No father wants to see physical contact do they? I certainly don’t. If there is physical contact I think I’ll be throwing something at the screen. I don’t want to see kissing. Do not make me see kissing!” he fumed.
Gemma and her dad Michael share a close bond
Michael carries his daughter in front of Newcastle United fans at St James’ Park in August 2005
Image:
( Getty Images)
According to the former England striker, his daughter Gemma ‘does not want’ to do any kissing either.
Michael, 42, says the eldest of his four children told him before she went in that she was ‘most worried’ about the kissing trials – a sentiment he firmly agreed with.
“I didn’t know anything about the show. But the worry was that she’d have to kiss this lad and that lad and the next…,” he admitted.
While Michael agreed to watch with caution, the dad did miss Gemma’s reality TV debut as he was away filming punditry for the current England squad’s clash against Germany.
Gemma coupled up with Luca Bish – her third partner of the week after Liam and Davide
Image:
( ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Instead his wife Louise had to phone in updates on what Gemma and her fellow islanders were getting up to, which included a lap dance and toe sucking.
As the first week has drawn on, Michael says Louise has been become increasingly agitated fearing that her daughter is becoming a victim to cruel online trolling.
Louise and her other children James, 16, Emily 14, and Jessica, 12, have been reading ‘the stuff’, says Michael with Mum Louise particularly upset by some of the viewer reaction.
After some backlash, Michael defended his daughter as a ‘clever, funny and kind’ person.
Michael said his daughter was a mature 19 and would have been a success without starring on Love Island
Image:
( ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Much of the criticism has been directed at Gemma’s age – with many viewers suggesting 19 is too young to be wanting to find love on the reality show.
Reflecting on his own sudden rise to fame, Michael says that his daughter is older than he was when he started playing for Liverpool at the age of 17.
The dad went on to add that Gemma, who also owns her own swimwear brand would have been a success with or without Love Island.
In the latest episode, viewers saw Gemma get a shock as she recognised the latest bombshell to stroll into the villa.
The star was heard saying ‘That’s my ex’ before the show drew to a dramatic conclusion.
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2
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