JOEY Essex has suffered a huge blow after his former friend Sean Stone ‘erased him’ from his Love Island journey.

While the pair were solid friends during their time on the show, Sean, 24, has since had a change of heart about how genuine their bond really was.

Sean Stone has ‘erased’ Joey Essex from his Love Island journeyCredit: Rex
ITV2 viewers were first given a hint at the feud when Joey, 34, voted for Sean and Matilda, 24, as the villa’s least compatible couple.

Now, the sweet salesman has solidified their fallout with his latest Instagram post.

Reflecting on his time in the villa, Sean failed to mention Joey at all – or include him in the photos.

In snaps shared, he was seen with Ayo, Ciaran, Ronnie and Omar, as well as Matilda.

And, in his caption, he wrote: “Wow… Where do I start?!? I would just like to thank everyone for their support throughout my journey.

“This has been an experience I will never forget, so grateful to of met all the amazing people along the way. Friendships and relationships that hopefully last a lifetime, honestly I’m soooooo buzzing & grateful right now!!!!

“I’m looking forward to what the future holds, massive love from the CANDYMAN.

“Big up @loveisland & Big up the sweets @sweet__delivery.”

It comes just days after Sean admitted his friendship with Joey is over.

Appearing on the Love Island podcast with Matilda, the candyman explained that he thought Joey was “just playing a game”.
Love Island’s Joey Essex exposes himself as a ‘game player’ as best pal Sean Stone turns on him after shock bombshell
Interviewer Indiyah Polack asked: “You told Ayo and Matilda that you were a little bit blindsided by Joey and his comments – do you think it was all a game for him or do you think it’s just Joey being Joey?”

Sean replied: “I feel like Joey and I have such a good friendship – so I don’t think it was Joey being Joey.

“I feel like there was some sort of tactics behind voting for us and I was shocked. I was genuinely like ‘what?’

“When he tried to explain himself it didn’t really make sense. I felt a bit like ‘oh man’, because I’ve had his back through thick and thin, I’m supporting him here and I don’t really agree with it.

“For me it was a tough one, but it is what it is.”

Monday’s final saw Sean and Matilda finish in third place before Mimii and Josh were crowned the winners.

Speaking during their exit interview, Maya asked Sean about his close friendship with the Towie star and how he felt when he realised that he had voted him and Matilda ‘least compatible’ during Sunday’s savage twist.

Love Island 2024 voting percentages revealed

And the results are in!

Mimii and Josh – 41%

Ciaran and Nicole – 35%

Matilda and Sean – 14%

Ayo and Jess – 10%

Maya said: “Sean obviously you and Joey had such a solid bromance in the villa… then when he voted for you for ‘least compatible’, it shocked us all, not just you, how did it make you feel?”

Sean admitted: “I was gutted, I can’t lie but you know he had to do what he had to do.”

Maya then asked: “Are you not mates again?” with Sean responding: “I don’t know… I haven’t spoke to him yet. It’s his birthday, I won’t ruin it for him.”

Looking stunned by his answer, Maya replied: “Wow, okay…” before adding: “We can leave that for now!”

Joey is nowhere to be seen in Sean’s Love Island journey postCredit: Instagram

Matilda Draper featured in it lotsCredit: Instagram

The pair reached third place in Monday’s finalCredit: Instagram