Caroline Flack's ex Danny Cipriani says he's "never cried so much" after he missed a phone call from her.
The TV presenter was found dead at the age of 40 at her home in east London on Saturday, after taking her own life.
Rugby star Cipriani, who described Flack as a "kind soul" dated the former Love Island host for eight weeks last year.
On Sunday, he revealed he was up all night after hearing the tragic news.
After being targeted with abuse online by someone who accused him of trying to use Caroline's death to get attention, the 32-year-old sportsman hit back, the Mirror reports.
He wrote: "You couldn’t be more misguided. I don’t know who you are. I sincerely hope u get the love you never received.
"This has nothing to do with a game. I missed her call because of a f*****g game. I've been up all night. Never cried this much. But I’m showing u it’s ok to be vulnerable."
It's not known when the call Danny is referring to was made, but on Friday he played for Gloucester in a game against Exeter.
Flack told police she would kill herself after she allegedly assaulted her boyfriend in December.
Described as "vulnerable" by her management, she had pleaded not guilty to assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton at her former flat in north London in a court hearing in December.
Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court heard that, in the aftermath of the alleged incident, Flack told police "I did it" and then warned she would kill herself.
Flack was arrested and charged with assault by beating after police were called to her flat in Islington on December 12.
The Metropolitan Police declined to comment, although further details may emerge at an inquest.
Flack stepped down from presenting the current winter series of Love Island after the alleged assault.
The ITV programme did not air on Sunday night, but will be back on Monday with a tribute to Flack.
An ITV spokeswoman said on Sunday: "Many people at ITV knew Caroline well and held her in great affection.
"All of us are absolutely devastated at this tragic news.
"After careful consultation between Caroline's representatives and the Love Island production team and given how close we still are to the news of Caroline's tragic death we have decided not to broadcast tonight's Love Island out of respect for Caroline's family.
"Love Island will return tomorrow night which will include a tribute to Caroline, who will be forever in our hearts."
Ambulance crews were called on Friday night to a property in Clapton, north east London, where Flack was thought to have recently moved - but a London Ambulance Service (LAS) spokesman refused to confirm or deny reports the paramedics attended her flat.
An LAS statement said: "We were called shortly after 10.30pm on February 14 to a residential property on Northwold Road, N16.
"Crews attended and, following a clinical assessment, the person was not taken to hospital. Due to patient confidentiality we cannot comment further."
The LAS also said crews were called to Northwold Road at 2.30pm on Saturday, adding that "a person was pronounced dead at the scene", but would not comment on whether the two incidents were linked.
The shock news prompted a flood of tributes from celebrities. But it also brought questions about the decision to persist with prosecuting Flack for the alleged assault on her boyfriend, and about the pressures faced by TV celebrities from the press and social media.
Francis Ridley, of Money Talent Management, said on Saturday night: "The Crown Prosecution Service pursued this when they knew not only how very vulnerable Caroline was but also that the alleged victim did not support the prosecution and had disputed the CPS version of events.
"The CPS should look at themselves today and how they pursued a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest. And ultimately resulted in significant distress to Caroline."
In response, the CPS said its "deepest sympathies go to the family and friends" of Flack, but did not comment further.
However, on Sunday, the CPS said it had been asked questions about "the role of the CPS in deciding whether to charge an individual with a criminal offence", and released information explaining their role and approach.
