Love Island presenter Caroline Flack has urged critics to stop “blaming” the show “without the facts” after the deaths of former contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon.
The 39-year-old insisted that the hit dating show is “feelgood” with “romance at its core” and suggested that reality TV had become a scapegoat for “a global problem.”
“When something becomes popular there seems to be a desire to pull it to pieces and over-analyse it,” she told Metro.
“This is about young singletons having fun, getting to know each other, in an amazing villa in the Spanish sun.
“There is a spotlight on reality TV shows at the moment but sadly this is a global problem we are dealing with; a modern-day life for all that is becoming overwhelming.”
Flack said that detractors should “stop blaming and speculating without the facts,” telling the publication: “As a human race we all need to come together, communicate, open up, express ourselves, be kind and be understanding of what all of us are dealing with on a daily basis.
“We are not robots. We are human beings with feelings and emotions. We all need to listen to one another without any judgement or discrimination.”
She went on to describe the show’s aftercare process as “first class.”
Her comments came after ITV cancelled The Jeremy Kyle Show after a guest died one week after appearing on the programme. The decision prompted some viewers to ask whether Love Island would also be pulled from schedules.
Yesterday, the broadcaster shared details of the revised duty of care process ahead of the new series, confirming all contestants will be offered “enhanced psychological support” before and after filming.
They will also receive eight therapy sessions upon returning home as well as “bespoke social media training.”
Creative Director of ITV Studios Entertainment Richard Cowles said: “Due to the success of the show our Islanders can find themselves in the public eye following their appearance.
“We really want to make sure they have given real consideration to this and what appearing on TV entails. Discussing all of this with us forms a big part of the casting process and, ultimately, their decision to take part.”
Love Island will return to ITV2 on June 3
