ITV boss blames internet trolls after Love Island stars are subjected to ‘disgusting’ abuse online

ITV boss shifts blame on to internet trolls after Love Island stars are subjected to ‘disgusting’ abuse on social media as she defends the channel’s aftercare for reality TV contestants

  • Angela Jain, managing director at ITV, told contestants to ‘take a break’ from the online world
  • The deaths of Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis led to scrutiny about aftercare
  • Angela said that her channel had improved its treatment for stars after the show

Managing director Angela Jain has branded the abuse that some Love Island contestants receive on social media as ‘absolutely disgusting’

An ITV chief has shifted the blame on to internet trolls over the treatment of Love Island stars as she defends the channel’s aftercare. 

Managing director Angela Jain has branded the abuse that some Love Island contestants receive on social media as ‘absolutely disgusting’. 

The media chief told an Edinburgh TV Festival panel covering the duty of care of broadcasters that her channel had improved its reality TV aftercare. 

She also advised that contestants should ‘take a break’ from the online world: ‘They are not all social media savvy. Some don’t come in with millions of followers.

‘What we have introduced now is social media training for all of them when they come out.

‘Some of the stuff that is said to islanders direct into their accounts is absolutely disgusting.

‘We sort of give them the advice we used to give talent – and we still give talent sometimes – along with their management and professional representation.’

Mike Thalassitis died in March 2019 after appearing on the third series of Love Island

Sophie Gradon appeared in the second series of the reality show and died in June 2018

The deaths of former Love Island contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis led to increased scrutiny on ITV over the reality show’s aftercare 

She added: ‘Sometimes it’s quite good to take a break from it. It is such a febrile atmosphere.

‘It’s so visceral, it’s so direct and it’s straight at you – and some of it is frankly disgusting and shouldn’t be allowed.’

The deaths of former Love Island contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis led to increased scrutiny on ITV over the reality show’s aftercare.

The broadcaster recently announced an enhanced duty of care process for participants after they left the show, including a minimum of eight therapy sessions. 

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