Love Island contestants to get anti-gaslighting training
(and they’ll be ordered to stay off social media)
LOVE Island contestants will be given training on how to avoid ‘controlling and coercive behaviour’ following controversy over male islanders’ treatment of women on the latest series.
The ITV show sparked thousands of complaints over the summer with male contestants accused of ‘gaslighting’ – a form of emotional abuse.
For the first time, islanders will also be told to disable their social media accounts during future series to protect them and their families from online abuse.
The show’s new duty of care measures, which were announced yesterday, come after controversy surrounding the behaviour of islanders including Jacques O’Neill and Luca Bish earlier this year.
Mr O’Neill, 23, was accused of ‘manipulating’ his partner Paige Thorne before he dropped out of the show, citing mental health struggles. In another episode, Mr Bish was shown angrily accusing his partner Gemma Owen of flirting with a newcomer despite her insisting otherwise.
Ofcom revealed that that episode of the show, on July 17, was the most complained about programme of the year with 2,630 complaints. There was also anger at the return of contestant Adam Collard who was accused of ‘gaslighting and emotional abuse’ during his first appearance on the show in 2018.
Love Island’s new measures will come into force for the upcoming winter series in South Africa next month, which will be presented by new host Maya Jama.
ITV said the protocols include ‘extended measures’ such as asking islanders to make their social media profiles ‘dormant’ during their time on the show.
A spokesman on the show added that participants will be given resource links to read up on ‘to help them identify negative behaviours in relationships and understand the behaviour patterns associated with controlling and coercive behaviour’.
Dr Paul Litchfield, part of the show’s duty of care team, said the measures ‘continue to evolve’ in light of scientific advances and modern relationship pressures.
He added: ‘That culture of continuous improvement ensures that islanders are well placed to benefit from their experience of participating in one of the UK’s most popular TV shows.’
In 2019 ITV put out an updated set of guidelines following the suicides of ex-contestants, Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis.
‘Controlling and coercive’