Love Island's Priya apologises for "catty" National Rail comment about Elicia

28 July 2026, 10:51 | Updated: 28 July 2026, 10:55

Love Island&squot;s Priya apologises for "out of character" comment against Elicia — Love Island's Priya apologises for "out of character" comment against Elicia. Picture: ITV

By Abbie Reynolds

Appearing on Love Island Aftersun, Priya Jaswal apologised for job-shaming Elicia Bailey with her shocking "National Rail" comment.

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Just before she was dumped from the villa in a public vote, Love Island's Priya Jaswal stirred up some controversy with some comments about Elicia Bailey.

After finding out that Elicia had branded Priya as the "biggest game player", Priya said: "I don’t care what Elicia says. I don’t care. It’s cringy. Go back to the National Rail."

She continued: "Elicia, you work for the National Rail, why are you f------ sitting in Aftersun?"

When Priya appeared on Love Island Aftersun herself, host Maya Jama pulled her up on her comments. Priya was quick to apologise, blaming her comments on weeks of emotion. She has also now apologised to Elicia face-to-face.

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Love Island's Priya has apologised for her comment. Picture: ITV

"I want to publicly apologise to Elicia because I think that comment about the National Rail, 'Go back to the National Rail', completely out of line, completely a catty comment," she started.

Priya continued: "[I] really let the feelings in there, over 7 to 8 weeks that were bubbling up, of emotion. I think the fellow Islanders can obviously also vouch for the fact that when you get to 7/8 weeks in there the feelings - wow the emotions - the feelings get very, very heightened."

She added that it was "very out of character" for her and said she regrets it. "I do want to publicly apologise to Elicia, that was completely out of line, completely out of character and yeah I do regret saying that," she concluded.

Love Island’s Priya apologises to Elicia after National Rail comment

Priya also apologised directly to Elicia during the live final, explaining: "I do want to apologise about the National Rail comment. It was obviously not meant to be a job-shaming comment, and at the end of the day, I was telling you to go back to your job because—go back to your day job, basically, and kind of keep my name out of your mouth. That was where I was coming from.

"It's nothing to do with the actual where you work," she continued. "I mean, I sell eye drops for a living. It was whether you worked at the Bank of England, you could have worked at Boots, you could have worked anywhere... I was mainly just referencing go back to your job and keep keep my name out your mouth."

Love Island's Aidan actually called Priya out for the comment she made about Elicia's job. Picture: ITV

Prior to Priya's face-to-face apology, Elicia told Love Island: The Debrief podcast hosts Shakira Khan, Yasmin Pettet and Toni Laites: "I'm really surprised by the bitter and jealous comments because her reacting the way she did seems quite bitter, about the fact that I called out what everyone else is thinking."

However, during the live final, it sounds like the drama between them has been squashed. Responding to Priya, Elicia said: "I feel like a few years back I'd have probably reacted the same way, you know, sort of shouting and going about that. So I sort of understand the reaction."

"I'm proud of my job and I work my ass off, so yeah, there's no hard feelings. Like, we've swept everything under the rug and she's, she's an amazing person, you know, so..."