RIP Caroline Flack

The untimely passing of Caroline Flack, the well-known TV personality and presenter of the ITV 2 reality show Love Island, is nothing short of a tragedy. In light of Caroline’s death, many questions regarding the responsibility of the news media, social media and reality TV aftercare have quite rightly been brought to the forefront.

Despite the pain caused to friends, family and fans, it is important that these issues are highlighted and scrutinised. Out of respect, this article is not to pry into her personal life but rather address some controversy that resulted due to the reporting of her life, both before and after her passing.

Before her death, Caroline was no stranger to tabloid headlines, her well-publicised love life was a large source of ‘news’ in the papers and online. However, this incessant reporting took a turn for the worst when Caroline was subject of domestic violence charge on 12th December 2019 involving her boyfriend Lewis Burton. The news resulted in numerous publications capitalising on the events, publishing articles that were quick to shame the presenter for her alleged behaviour.

As Caroline had not been charged, these reports were not factually based, with both Caroline and her boyfriend (the only people present) both stating that matters were not as they were reported. The reports forced Caroline to leave her role as presenter of TV show Love Island in fear she would distract attention from the upcoming series. Not known to everyone at the time, this incident and what followed would play an integral part in downward spiral of Caroline’s life.

On 15th February 2020 news broke that Caroline had taken her own life and the tabloids faced severe backlash. The tabloids and the way they report news can be incredibly influential in setting the narrative, and unfortunately the vast majority abuse this power and use it tear down those in the public eye.

This has resulted in many Twitter users taking matters into their own hands by blocking the accounts of tabloid news publications on social media as part of campaign protests such as #iblockedthesun, which have been trending following her trial by media. The invasive and uninformed reporting of Caroline Flack’s personal life, undoubtedly had a negative impact on her psychological state. This quickly translated into ‘hate’ on social media and in the court of public opinion, people are incredibly impressionable and quick to make judgement.

In the current day, almost everyone feels the need to have an opinion on everything and most importantly, vocalise that opinion to anyone who is willing to hear it via social media. However, there are extreme groups of users known online as trolls, who use their anonymity to hound celebrities. These individuals say such horrific things as they feel they are untraceable and unfortunately in most instances, they are. The correlation between online abuse and suicide is undeniable. How many tragic instances of toxic online abuse will it take for social media networks to realise they must do more to police and subsequently prevent such hate being spread on their platforms?

Gone are the days where opinions on such matters were kept to close friends and family. Once upon a time celebrities had the ability to lock the door, draw the curtains and wait for a media storm to blow over. However, social media has created an environment where public figures and celebrities face unavoidable criticism with the voices of millions of users online.

It also raises questions over reality television and, more specifically, the effect of Love Island. In society we seemingly take for granted the personal intrusion that takes place every night on television. Tv shows such as Big Brother and Love Island, although entertaining, can pry on the vulnerable for entertainment purposes. Within the last two years, Love Island has been related to three suicides, two of which were previous ‘Islanders’ on the programme and the other being Caroline. So, this raises the question as to whether broadcasting networks are doing enough to support these individuals once they come off our screens.

Fame is a complex and dangerous concept. Even for the strongest of characters, it can have an enormous impact on an individual’s psychological state. Taking people from a ‘normal’ life and thrusting them into the public eye on such an enormous scale is a lot to process. Should ITV take some responsibility for not protecting the psychological welfare of contestants on these programs?

Although Caroline ultimately chose to take her own life, it is clear to see that there are numerous contributing factors to her death. So, what is the answer? Although it is still unclear and ultimately impossible to point finger definitively due to the complexity of the situation, one thing is for sure; the tabloids, broadcasting networks and social media need to do more to take accountability.

It is possible to be saddened and shocked that Caroline Flack is dead whilst simultaneously taking the allegations of abuse filed against her seriously. It is also still possible to condemn the tabloids that hounded and harassed her into a dark place. Every cloud has a silver lining, so let’s hope that the death of Caroline Flack can be turned into a valuable lesson, not only to the media but as to how we treat others.

In words of Caroline before she passed ‘in a world where you can be anything… Be Kind’. Rest in Peace, Caroline Flack.