I seldom watch television, so until today knew almost nothing of Love Island, but I’ve just read that Miss Flack is the third person who appeared on the show who has taken their own life. What on Earth is going on?
David Baddiel has said that no one on Big Brother killed themselves because while the press could be awful about the contestants it wasn’t bolstered and magnified by thousands of people sending abuse via social media. Maybe that’s the thing. Maybe the hate mobs on Twitter and Facebook can do way more damage to one’s psyche than a handful of tabloid columnists no matter how widely read they are.
(Although these writers can often be the ones who light the blue touch paper to begin with)
This case is slightly different. Caroline Flack was the presenter and already had a media career. The other two people who took their own lives were contestants on the show and the argument there is what is the effect on someone in going from unknown to celebrity status in no time at all.