Lena Dunham has revealed how Caroline Flack's death "hit her with a sickening power" as she also knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of a fierce backlash.
The Girls actress and Love Island super fan, 33, wrote a touching piece about the former host, who was tragically found dead at her London flat on February 15 at the age of 41.
Lena said she was a huge fan of Caroline, and adored her "raspy voice", "surprised guffaw", and the "empathy she brought" to the beloved TV show.
Having scrolled through the countless articles written about Flack, Lena explained in her Guardian opinion piece that her connection with the star is "only a small part of why her death hit me with a sickening power".
The US star became engrossed in Love Island after moving to the UK for work - and after having her own heart broken.
She revealed the dating show helped her feel less lonely and she tuned into the programme six nights a week.
Lena related to Caroline and said that while she "doesn't claim to know how Caroline felt when she took her own life", she understands the backlash of being in the public eye, having been through a "decade-long journey" herself.
The actress and writer said she could relate to the pitfalls of fame, having been admired by fans and being on the end of cruel trolling at the same time.
She continued: "I wish we could have shown Flack a more hopeful reality: that women are as worthy of love as men."
Lena also made reference to the assault charge the tragic star faced, writing "the deepest rage is reserved for women".
Caroline was arrested following an incident with boyfriend Lewis Burton, although she denied the charge. Lewis also didn't support the prosecution.
Devastated Lena wished she could have spoken to Caroline to tell her "it changes" as she could imagine the former presenter "was reeling from several kinds of heartbreak".
Lena admitted that although things may not have gone back to normal, it could "become something better".
She wrote: "But it can, with the right support and reconstruction, become something better – more self-reliant and therefore more peaceful, no matter how the boat may rock."
The defiant star said Caroline's "complexity" should be honoured and it will go a "long way toward changing the narrative for the women who watched her".
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