James Argent and pal Joey Essex looked worlds away from themselves as the TOWIE star shared a major throwback snap on Instagram on Monday.
The reality stars were seen beaming for the photo, which was taken 15-years-ago, while enjoying a beer in Marbella, Spain.
The Essex duo looked unrecognisable as they boasted sweeping side fringes with James, now 36, rocking a white polo shirt and Joey wearing a red checked shirt.
Marking close pal Joey’s 34th birthday, James wrote: ‘Happy birthday. Love you mate [red heart emoji] ‘Marbella 09’ [laughing face].
It comes after Joey looked ‘furious’ during the Love Island live final in Mallorca on Monday evening following his controversial stint on the ITV show.
James Argent and pal Joey Essex looked worlds away from themselves as the TOWIE star shared a major throwback snap on Instagram on Monday
It comes after Joey looked ‘furious’ during the Love Island live final in Mallorca on Monday evening following his controversial stint on the ITV show
Joey, who was celebrating his birthday, was dumped from the island alongside his partner Jessy Potts during a shock elimination on Sunday.
Joey and Jessy were given the boot just a day before the final, as former Islanders returned to the villa to settle scores during the episode.
The ex-Islanders were asked to vote for the least compatible couple and ultimately sent Joey and Jessy packing when they received the most [seven] votes.
However, fans of the show claimed that the former TOWIE star was looking ‘bitter’ as he attended the final, which was won by Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan.
Viewers admitted they couldn’t help but notice his unimpressed facial expressions as the cameras paused on him during the show.
They speculated that he wasn’t happy he didn’t make it to the final with Jessy, 25, after leaving the villa just one day prior.
Taking to X during the show, they said: ‘Joey Essex must be burning!!!’; ‘Look at punk ass Joey Essex ha!’; ‘I just know Joey Essex is in the corner furniture’;
‘It’s Joey Essex’s birthday as well’; ‘Joey Essex spending his birthday watching the people who he tried to sabotage win HAS ME ROLLING’; ‘I think this might be Joey Essex’s worst birthday’
The Essex duo have been friends since Joey joined the cast of TOWIE in 2010; pictured L-R Joey Essex, Mark Wright, James Argent James Argent, Kirk Norcross and Harry Derbidge
During the latest series of Love Island Joey was dumped from the villa alongside his partner Jessy Potts during a shock elimination one day before the final
Fans of the show claimed that the former TOWIE star was looking ‘bitter’ as he attended the final
Viewers admitted they couldn’t help but notice Joey’s unimpressed facial expressions as the cameras paused on him during the show
Host Maya Jama announced Mimii and Josh had received the highest percentage of the public vote and will take home the £50,000 cash prize.
Mimii, 24, and Josh, 29, made Love Island history as the first black couple to win the show since the rebooted version of the series began in 2015.
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The couple were in the final with Nicole Samuel and Ciaran Davies, Matilda Draper and Sean Stone and Jessica Spencer and Ayo Odukoya.
It comes after brand and culture expert Nick Ede said Joey went into the villa as a fan favourite as people loved that there was a familiar face on the show.
But Nick has told that the stint ‘backfired’ on Joey, as it has exposed his ‘unlikeable, rude and arrogant’ actions.
‘The star has now tarnished himself and his brand by being so “messy” on the show,’ Nick said. ‘He has messed things up and the narrative he has created is not working and the show isn’t working for him.
‘The Love Islanders are upset by him, the viewers are upset by him and it’s backfired badly. I think this will be a career killer for him.’
However Joey is now reportedly set to earn a whopping £250,000 with a club tour following his Love Island dumping.
Despite not making the final Joey – who is already worth £8million – could be set for the last laugh with a potential quarter of a million to bank if he does a club tour.
Despite being controversial throughout the series Joey is now reportedly set to earn a whopping £250,000 with a club tour following his Love Island dumping
On Monday, host Maya Jama announced Mimii and Josh had won the series and will take home the £50,000 cash prize
The Sun reports that his team has a string of £6,000-an-hour UK dates lined up where fans can take selfies and party with the star.
It comes after it was revealed at the start of this year’s series of Love Island that he wasn’t being paid any more to be on the show than the other contestants – which is around £375 a week.
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The £375 a week to appear on the show is to cover the Islanders’ rent and bills back at home while they are away, and Joey received the same as everyone else.
A TV source told at the time: ‘Joey is being treated like any other Love Island contestant, he’s playing by the same rules and won’t be given any preferential treatment.
‘He hasn’t been paid an appearance fee or any money at all for signing up to the show, not a penny.
‘On Love Island, it is all about the exposure and for Joey, it means more than that too… He’s looking for someone to settle down with, so it’s not about the money he can make on the other side.’
But he could be set to become one of the country’s wealthiest reality stars with his reported new string of club appearances.
A representative for Joey has been contacted by for comment.