Nearly eight years ago, the author sat with Mike Thalassitis at an awards ceremony, describing him as one of the most charming men she had ever met. One month later she reported on his death at age 26. Mike had been in a ‘dark place’ leading up to his suicide, the inquest stated.
When Amazon Prime Video announced a two-part documentary exploring the three deaths associated with the ITV dating show — Mike, Sophie Gradon, and Caroline Flack — the author felt apprehensive. The subject is sensitive to many, and the documentary promised to ‘reveal the pressures of fame, online abuse and the devastating impact they can have’.
A blame game instead of investigation
But The Curse of Love Island reduces three very complex and devastating deaths to an outdated and unnecessary question: Who is to blame? Psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos reflects in the docu-series: ‘This isn’t about starting to point at a show, or a company, or a person. There are infinite reasons to kind of create this sort of perfect storm. It would be unfair to pick up one commonality and say that that was that one thing.’
While many contributors agree that Love Island and ITV aren’t responsible for what happened, former contestants disagree. Anton Danyluk, from series five and the All Stars spinoff, declares ‘there’s no higher high than the summer you’re preparing for Love Island,’ before revealing how he began drinking and using drugs and ultimately tried to take his own life. He argues that long-term aftercare wasn’t provided by the broadcaster.
Contributors speak out
Malin Andersson, from season two in 2016, recalls her stint as ‘quite toxic, so superficial and artificial’, and reveals financial struggles once the fame disappeared. A childhood friend of Sophie Gradon adds: ‘I wish she never did that show.’
The documentary puts these arguments to ITV, who said in a statement that their duty of care procedures have ‘evolved significantly’ over time. They now work with medical professionals and maintain ‘proactive contact’ with islanders for 14 months after the show ends.
What the documentary misses
The documentary comes across as more of a blame game than an investigation into what happened and why, and begs the question: What needs to change? It misses newer contestants who have experienced the post-aftercare overhaul. Without this, viewers are left in a vicious cycle debating whether the show should be cancelled.
Love Island has also faced accusations of racism, misogyny, and classism over the years. These issues should have been woven into unravelling the complicated history of the franchise, along with mention of other reality and tabloid shows that faced similar scandals, such as The Jeremy Kyle Show and Married at First Sight.
What the documentary does get right is shining a light on the three people lost, who deserve to be remembered for so much more than just Love Island.
