Last Saturday, news broke that confirmed the death of former Love Island host Caroline Flack. The 40-year-old ended her life on Valentine's Day and was found in her East London apartment by officials.
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Social media and the British press have been blamed for having a part in Flack's downward spiral following their coverage of her assault case. Despite her boyfriend Lewis Burton's insistence of her innocence and his continual support of his 'loyal and kind' girlfriend, Caroline faced backlash and shaming the weeks before her tragic death.
Flack was ordered not to contact Lewis 'directly or indirectly', but Lewis often took Instagram as a means to defend his girlfriend. He posted a picture of himself kissing Caroline a few hours after the judge's decision, and again at Christmas with this message:
'Gutted I can't spend Christmas with you. I want to repeat I never pressed charges and asked the other day for the bail conditions to be dropped but no1 listened to me. I want this all to be over.'
The former Tennis player took Instagram again to share his love for Caroline on Valentine's Day. He shared a picture of the two of them together with a message on Friday expressing his love for her.
He shared this snap on an Instagram story today, with a broken heart on the picture:
One picture has surfaced showing the head of Caroline Flack's boyfriend the night of the assault. A source told The Sun:
'She was clearly unfit to be questioned and should have been given psychiatric help instead of a grilling. The picture shows clearly there was no head injury so there was no ‘violent attack’ with a lamp as claimed by the CPS - all the blood was from Caroline. “She was not well mentally, she was exhausted and had been drinking heavily and even warned officers at the time she would kill herself.'
Caroline has opened up before about mental health issues and her vulnerable state felt during and after the trial. Her tragic death once again shines a light on the tragic series of suicides that Love Island has been associated with since its conception. Many on social media have called for Love Island to be axed following the death of the presenter and contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis.
A petition to cancel Love Island has already obtained more than 1,400 signatures.
* Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans atjo@samaritans.org
