Social media and reality TV criticised after latest tragedy
Caroline Flack’s sudden death raised fresh concern last night after a number of deaths by suicide linked to reality TV and the pressures of social media.
The Love Island presenter’s arrest and then decision to stand down from the current series created a maelstrom on social media. And BBC breakfast presenter Dan Walker said the attention and abuse endured by celebrities on social media must be addressed.
He said: “It must be heartbreaking for the family and friends of Caroline Flack to read tributes from some of those who hounded her. Our ‘cancel’ culture is brutal. We all have demons and flaws but we dehumanise each other and are then surprised when it all becomes too much.”
At the time Ms Flack stepped down from Love Island, some fans and commentators said her treatment by TV bosses had been heavy handed.
They compared her treatment with that of ITV presenter Anthony McPartlin (Ant of Ant and Dec), who was allowed time to deal with the mental health issues that lay behind his drunk-driving conviction.
Psychologist Graham Price a Positive Mind Training expert said Caroline’s death was tragic, sad, and did not need to happen.
The stress expert said: “When celebrities encounter difficulties in life, and because they live their lives under constant public scrutiny because of social media, unless they have the training and resilience to accept what they can’t change, they can suffer dreadfully.
“If only I had known Caroline, I would have been able to reach out to her and teach her the skills she needed to prevent this tragedy.”
Love Island and other reality shows have already come under pressure to offer better care and support for vulnerable contestants. Former Love Island contestants Sophie Gradon, 32, and Mike Thalassitis, 26, both took their lives after appearing on the ITV2 reality TV show.
And the Jeremy Kyle show was axed after a guest’s death by suicide prompting Ofcom to introduce strict new rules.