Wetherby influencer urges Love Island finalists to "not take trolls seriously"
It's as psychologists will be giving extra support to this year's finalists so they can cope with their new-found fame
A Wetherby influencer's hoping those leaving this year's Love Island won't take any hurtful comments online to heart.
It's as this year's serious of Love Island concluded on Monday (23 August 2021) with producers promising to offer more mental health support to contestants now they leave the villa.
Two past contestants have taken their own lives due to trolling and struggles with their mental health; Sophie Gradon, 32, and Mike Thalassitis, 26.
Caroline Flack’s suicide in 2020 made her the third person associated with reality show to have died by suicide.
Wetherby influencer Em Sheldon knows some people who've previously starred in the show and has been subject to abuse from trolls for a number of years, with comments starting in the early stages of her career.
She told Greatest Hits Radio there is "no escape" from trolls.
She said: "The craziest thing is they feel as if they know you but the things they write are fiction they're not fact. So now I look at it and I just laugh because I think no happy person would sit and spend all day every day analysing a person's life.
"I try to take it with a pinch of salt in terms of people mocking my appearance or what I do but for these people that go out of their way to ruin people's businesses that's not OK.
"They hide on the deep dark web and they have their own communities which are designed for trolling and it is really unfortunate.
"You can never block everyone. There is always going to be someone who doesn't like how you look or what you do and I just wish they would get on with their lives.
"It can be the most miniscule, pointless thing which doesn't affect the real world but they'll use that and twist it and analyse every inch of your being.
"Unfortunately it's a part of the job and it shouldn't be like that but people are just nasty and I have to remind myself that it says more about that person than it does about me."
Now the Islanders have left the villa they will be offered training on dealing with social media, finance advice and encouraged to secure management to represent them.