Caroline Flack death: ITV faces calls to cancel Love Island after former presenter found dead
People are pointing to the deaths of two former Love Island contestants and demanding the show be axed
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ITV has come under pressure to cancel Love Island, after its former presenter Caroline Flack was found dead, aged 40.
A lawyer for the Flack family confirmed on Saturday (15 February) that Caroline took her own life and was found in her east London home.
Flack was set to face trial in March over allegations that she had assaulted her boyfriend Lewis Burton at her flat, which she denied.
She entered a not guilty plea at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court in December.
Flack stepped down from her role as Love Island presenter following the allegations and was replaced by Laura Whitmore for the winter series.
People have been making calls on social media for the show, which is currently filming in South Africa, to be axed. Many have pointed to the deaths of two former Love Island contestants – Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis – and the fact The Jeremy Kyle Show was cancelled after a participant died, as reason enough to permanently end the series.
“3 deaths from suicide now for people related to love island and nothing is done about it yet,” wrote one user. “1 death for someone related to the Jeremy Kyle show and they cancel it? @itvstudios sort it out.”
“3rd love island suicide, cancel that show immediately what’s the point,” said another.
A third added: “Cancel Love Island. Shut it down. 3 people have now taken their lives within the premise of this one show. It benefits nobody but fashion retailers and sponsors. It doesn't deliver a single positive message - just superficial, hetero swill. Why was it ever commissioned?”
See more calls for the show to be axed below.
Saturday night’s (15 February) Love Island highlights episode was pulled by ITV at the last minute, and Flack’s controversial new series The Surjury has also been cancelled by Channel 4.
Former Love Island contestants and other reality stars have been remembering Flack on Twitter.
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