Sophie Gradon’s mother accuses ITV boss of ‘belittling’ death of ex-Love Island contestant

‘How dare you try to trivialise and belittle the deaths of our beloved children’

Sophie Gradon during the 2016 series of Love Island (ITV/REX)

Sophie Gradon’s mother has heavily criticised ITV’s chief executive for saying that it is “strange” to connect her daughter’s suicide to her appearance on Love Island.

Last week, ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall appeared on BBC Radio 4 Today to discuss the production company’s half-year results.

During the radio interview, McCall was questioned by business correspondent Dominic O’Connell over whether Love Island should have been cancelled in light of the deaths of Gradon and former contestant Mike Thalassitis, both of whom took their own lives two years after starring on the reality dating show in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

McCall stated that it was a “strange topic” for O’Connell to raise, adding that mental health charities frequently “tell the media constantly not to simplify links” when an individual takes their own life.

In an open letter published in The Sun, Gradon’s mother, Deborah Gradon, wrote that she was “abhorred” by the ITV chief executive’s comments on the Today programme.

“You make the claim it’s ‘strange to link former contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis’ suicides with the show Love Island. This theory, belief or ideology, is totally inappropriate,” Ms Gradon stated.

Ms Gradon explained that the “common denominator” between the deaths of Gradon and Thalassitis were their stints on Love Island, adding that she believes McCall’s “insensitive and tactless remarks” would have had a similar effect on Thalassitis’ family.

“How dare you try to trivialise and belittle the deaths of our beloved children. To try and exercise some right of removal from the show, is principally evil,” Ms Gradon wrote.

Ms Gradon outlined how her daughter had been scouted to appear on Love Island, and how she had been open about her struggles with mental health issues throughout the selection process.

“In my opinion, this was seen as a vulnerability by your staff,” Ms Gradon said. “Sophie exposed her defencelessness to you and you took total advantage. She could be manipulated, deployed and stage-managed to do almost anything at your behest.”

Gradon’s mother stated that her daughter made “several attempts” to leave Love Island as she had been feeling “desperately unhappy”, with her request being accepted at her fourth request.

“By this time Sophie’s anxiety was exacerbated to an unprecedented level,” Ms Gradon added.

Following Gradon’s appearance on Love Island, ITV reportedly provided her with a 10-minute Skype call with a counsellor after she requested mental health support.

“In my beautiful darling daughter’s own words: ‘I sold my soul to ITV’,” Ms Gradon penned at the end of her letter.

“As a mother yourself, I hope your hypocrisy and haughtily placed remarks sit well on your conscience.”

Prior to the start of this year’s series of Love Island, ITV announced that all contestants will receive a minimum of eight therapy sessions after the show has ended.

The broadcaster outlined several new “duty of care processes”, one of which was to provide islanders with “enhanced psychological support”.

In a statement sent to The Independent, ITV said: "Our deepest sympathies are with Sophie's mother and her friends and family."

For mental health support, you can contact the Mind helpline by calling 0300 123 3393, texting 86463 or emailing info@mind.org.uk. The helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am until 6pm, except on bank holidays.