Calum Best calls for Love Island bosses to have more focus on mental health support
The son of Manchester United legend George Best and former Celebrity Love Island contestant Calum Best has said that ITV needs to make sure ‘there is support and monitoring’ for Love Island contestants.
Best was speaking to Metro.co.uk just a couple of weeks after the death of 2016 Love Island contestant Sophie Gradon.
In the months before her death, Gradon said that contestants can struggle after leaving the famous villa, saying online trolls ‘could lead to someone taking their life’.
And now Best, who referred to Gradon as his friend, said that the show should focus more on providing the right mental health support to contestants.
Calum Best said that the Love Island should ensure contestants' 'minds are right' [Pictured on This Morning in 2016]
‘I think that realistically, without getting too full on – because it is just a reality show and a lot of people are having fun – but… a friend of mine passed recently, Sophie Gradon, and she did the show as well, and it really made me think that as much as fun as the show can be living on an island in sunshine, people need to make sure that people’s minds are right,’ he said.
‘Whether that’s viewers or the people on the show, we need to make sure there is support and monitoring.’
ITV told Metro.co.uk: ‘All of our islanders are offered psychological support before, during and after their time in the villa. We take our duty of care very seriously and this is always our top priority.’
His comments also come at the time when Sunday, July 1’s instalment became Love Island’s most complained about episode ever, with 2500 complaints lodged in 48 hours.
People complained to Ofcom because of the situation involving Dani Dyer and her new boyfriend Jack Fincham.
Danny Dyer’s daughter was shown a video clip of Jack coming face-to-face with his ex-girlfriend Ellie Jones, with the implication that Jack was very excited about seeing his ex and therefore not really committed to Dani. In reality, Jack was not keen on seeing Ellie, had limited contact with her and slept alone throughout his stay at Casa Amor.
The clip left Dani visibly distressed, upset and panicking about her relationship. The decision to show Dani the clip was branded ‘cruel’ by fans of the show, telling producers to show clips of Jack subsequently saying how strongly he feels about Dani.
Other fans took to Twitter to slam the Love Island producers. One person wrote: ‘Do the Love Island producers not think about people’s mental health before doing such cruel things?’
Another posted: 'I think it was very cruel of @LoveIsland to mess with Dani’s head and show her that video, why not show her what a gentleman he has been through casa amor #loveisland #shameonyou #letthemhaveahappyending!'
Do the #LoveIsland producers not think about people’s mental health before doing such cruel things? Now Dani will over-think and build up anxiety for no reason — Renezza Kom Skaikru♔ (@ChaseOurFuture) July 1, 2018
#LoveIsland after Sophie Gradon's death, the love island producers assured us that the islanders' mental health was their top priority but then they go and deliberately cause dani to get upset and completely mess with her mental health JUST FOR THE DRAMA? not acceptable. — Oakzzz (@Hxllyoakz) July 1, 2018
Best has recently partnered with the NSPCC and Childline on his Best Me Buddy journal aimed at 7 to 14-year-olds to help them practise positive thinking and write down their achievements and successes.
‘We have laid out a base for kids to write down what they’re thoughtful of that day, what they did to make someone else happy, who they love, their health, and the journal is quite a soft tool – it’s not as hardcore as discussing [openly] self-harm or suicide – so the journal is so that once the children have written out their thoughts, the parents can see, “oh they’re happy here but struggling there”, and that can help them openly talk to their kids.’
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, or see samaritans.org for details.