We’d like to meet parents of Caroline... she was let down just like our Mike was
Family say support from ITV came ‘too late’
THE heartbroken parents of Love Islander Mike Thalassitis would like to meet Caroline Flack’s family, saying broadcaster ITV could have offered better support.
Shirley and Andy Thalassitis’s world was shattered when their son took his own life aged 26 after appearing on the hit ITV2 show.
Host Caroline, 40 – who became close pals with Mike in the villa – also died by suicide less than a year later.
The broadcaster introduced a new duty of care policy towards contestants in the wake of both tragedies.
But Mike’s mum Shirley, 66, says changes were “too slow coming”. Speaking on the fifth anniversary of Mike’s death, she said: “Mike never received any support after he came out of the show, although ITV bosses were supportive when he passed.
“They introduced more support after the suicides, but it’s too late for Michael and Caroline.
“We would be open to meeting them – we feel that the show really let Caroline down.”
Caroline’s devastated mum Christine slammed ITV for “not protecting” its talent after former This Morning host Phillip Schofield admitted to being “in a very bad way” when his affair with a younger colleague was revealed.
Series three of Love Island in 2017 made semi-pro footballer Mike an overnight heartthrob.
A year later, he went on E4’s Celebs Go Dating, where he was branded “vile” by online trolls. His griefstricken parents, who live in Edmonton, North London, said their beloved son – nicknamed Muggy Mike – struggled to come to terms with his new-found fame.
Shirley said: “He went in with 15,000 followers on Instagram and came out with over 500,000. He couldn’t walk down the street without strangers calling out.
“Mike was very protective of us and didn’t want us to be exposed to social media and any abuse. He rarely posted photos of us as a family and used to tell us there are a lot of ‘haters’ out there.”
Dad Andy, 68, added: “The contestants going in now know what the score is but back seven years ago when the show was in its infancy they had no idea.” The reality star’s body was found in a park near his North London home in March 2019. An inquest heard Mike hanged himself after drinking and taking cocaine.
His death came 12 months after Love Island series two contestant Sophie Gradon, 32, took her own life.
Mike was grieving for his 94-yearold gran and reeling from a split with TOWIE star Megan Mckenna, 26.
His GP had prescribed antidepressants, which Shirley suspects made him feel worse.
She added: “It upsets us that Mike went to a doctor for help and they just prescribed him antidepressants.
“We didn’t find this out until after his death. Andy and I wish Michael
had confided in us or his friends but he kept everything bottled up and put on a fake exterior when really he was dying inside.”
Half a decade on, the pair – who are still in touch with Mike’s close pal and co-star Montana – say their agony will never subside. Shirley said: “Whoever said time heals has obviously never lost a child. There isn’t a day that goes by when we don’t think about him. We love and miss him so much.”
The family takes some solace from knowing Mike’s death could help others open up about anxiety and depression.
Andy said: “We do feel that Michael’s passing helped men talk more openly about their mental health, so we find this very comforting in knowing that Mike has helped this happen.
“We are sure that Michael would be
pleased that his death may help other men to talk.” And to others like Mike who are suffering in silence, they have a few words of advice: “Don’t rely on a doctor – confide in your family and friends as they’re the ones who love you and will do everything and anything to help you.”
An ITV spokesman said: “Welfare and duty of care towards our contributors is
always our primary concern, and we have extensive measures in place to support the islanders before, during and after their participation on the show.
“We have continued to evolve our process with each series, as the level of social media and media attention around the islanders has increased.”