The family of Love Island's Tasha Ghouri have spoken out after the model received backlash online.
Tasha, who is coupled up with her now boyfriend Andrew Le Page, has been criticised online for her being "sensitive" and for shedding tears after being voted into the bottom by the public.
However, Tasha's dad Tarek has opened up about the realities of being deaf and how trying to keep up with what other contestants are saying can be "mentally draining" for his daughter.
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But despite this, he said he has always encouraged Tasha to follow her dreams.
Tarek said: "Firstly, I have always encouraged Tasha to do what she thinks is impossible. I would never restrict her from achieving her desires from life.
"Part of a Dad's job is to guide but not drive their kids ships. This mentality has got her to where she is today.
"Despite the negativity she was successful before she went in and she will be successful when she comes out. We talked about the possible negativity and if you think you're prepared for it you are not.
"Negativity is not what we do in this family so it is a bit of a shock but more so is the ablest comments like last night when someone described her as a "deaf wh***”.
"Tash wanted to do it to represent and show dead kids, teens and adults that they have nothing to fear embracing their deafness or hearing aids. It's why she is the ONLY love island contestant ever to publicly say she will donate half of any winnings to the deaf children's charity.
"A positive story that's been left behind as news does. This was publicised the first few days of her going in the villa. I applaud her and we will deal with the negativity. She lets nothing stop her."
Speaking about how Tasha's implant helps her to hear Tarek said: "It's mentally draining for her trying to compute what's been said, lip reading people who's lips aren't facing her or whose mouths are covered with bottles, who said what when many are talking.
"Staying involved in conversation when you can only hear robotic sounds in only one of your ears is mentally draining. This leads to tiredness and sometimes tears. It's a pressured environment for all but she has an extra pressure no one seems to recognise apart from anyone who is deaf or heard of hearing.'
Finally he thanked those who had sent messages of encouragement.
He said: "Thank you to everyone who's posted on this page with positive messages. Truly from the bottom of Tasha and our hearts."
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