I’m sorry, says Love Island contestant in ‘emotional abuse’ row
THE contestant at the centre of a Love Island emotional abuse row has apologised for her foul-mouthed tirade on the reality TV show.
Faye Winter was accused of gaslighting, a form of emotional manipulation, in the Majorcan villa when she failed to control her anger towards her now former love interest Teddy Soares in Friday night’s episode.
It has raised questions over the ITV show’s duty of care again following the deaths of former contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis as well as presenter Caroline Flack.
Lettings manager Ms Winter, 26, swore 75 times in the 65minute show after she saw an old clip of financial consultant Mr Soares saying he found another contestant ‘sexually attractive’.
Mr Soares, 26, has insisted he stayed loyal to her while he was in a second villa, Casa Amor, sleeping outside rather than sharing a bed. But Ms Winter, who recoupled while Mr Soares was gone, accused him of being a ‘liar’ and shouted at him at length. Fans accused her of gaslighting – making someone question their sanity or reality.
In a clip on Sunday evening, Ms Winter said that she was ‘sorry’ for how she behaved.
She told contestant Millie Court: ‘I feel bad. I feel like s*** that I blew up the way I did. And I am sorry for what I’ve done. There’s no excuse for the way I just flew off the handle. But I just want to move forward with it.
‘If anything it’s made me realise what I want.’
Ms Winter’s family and friends said they were ‘protecting her mental wellbeing’ on social media by blocking and deleting offensive comments.
They said on Instagram: ‘We ask everyone to remember: You are watching a highly edited TV show which is created for entertainment – you can never see the full picture. Faye is human, she may not always get things right.’
ITV said: ‘Welfare and duty of care towards our contributors is always our primary concern and we take the emotional wellbeing of all the Islanders extremely seriously.’ Love Island continues on Virgin Media One at 9pm.
‘Can never see the full picture’