Love Island: Cassidy McGill reveals the terrible toll social media abuse has had on her mental health

LOVE ­Island star Cassidy McGill has revealed she has been the victim of a campaign of vile abuse from online trolls — including taunts that she should kill herself — days after a British contestant on the same show committed suicide. Listen to the interview.

ONE of the stars of Australian reality dating series Love ­Island has revealed she has been the victim of a campaign of vile abuse from social media trolls — including taunts that she should kill herself — days after a British contestant on the same show committed suicide.

Cassidy McGill has opened up about the terrible toll the abuse has taken on her mental wellbeing.

Days after her British Love Island counterpart Sophie Gradon took her own life, Ms McGill has detailed the vile abuse she endured since her elimination from the competition last week.

Eliminated Love Island Australia contestant Cassidy McGill has revealed she is being abused online by trolls. Picture: Ian Currie

“People have told me to kill myself,” the 23-year-old told The Daily Telegraph after returning to Australia from Majorca in Spain where the series is filmed.

“It is sad. I do my best to move on. One of the things I was most nervous about was losing my privacy … and learning to cope with social media comments.”

Ms McGill’s frank revelations come just days after the death of Ms Gradon, who was a Love Island UK contestant in 2016. Her death followed years of online torment by trolls.

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On the same day Cassidy was eliminated, UK Love Island star Sophie Gradon committed suicide after being tormented online by trolls for a number of years. Picture: Instagram/@sophiegradon

Ms McGill said it was easy to see how such abuse could lead to tragic consequences.

“They’ve picked on my weight and my family,” Ms McGill, who is a size eight to 10, said. “I just have to remind myself that what they are saying is more of a reflection of how they feel about themselves than anything to do with me.”

It is standard procedure for reality shows to have a psychologist on set and on call to all contestants post production.

Love Island is centred around pairing singles together in Spain. One couple wins a cash price at the end. Picture: Channel 9/Supplied

But one industry insider admitted more could be done to protect the mental wellbeing of the young reality stars and to help them navigate a return to everyday life after such a short time in the spotlight.

“Not only are they processing their experience on the show but they are having to ­respond to the general public’s perception of the show itself and the character they think that person is as a result of them participating on the show.”

The psychologist added: “People can be cruel and even more so when they hide behind social media. It is a big issue and something we need to address as a society because calling for someone to kill themself is not OK at any point or on any platform.”

Online trolls have picked on her weight. Picture: Supplied

But she is remaining positive and using her social media presence to put an end to negative body image. Picture: Ian Currie

But Ms McGill has vowed to turn the negativity around.

“It puts fire in my belly to do something positive and to use my spot on social media to put an end to negative body image and embracing what you’ve got,” she said.

“Every woman is beautiful, all shapes and sizes, but every girl has self-esteem issues. So going into the villa I wanted to portray a healthy image and a healthy mindset. I have always lived by the saying that I will love what I’ve been given.”

Channel 9 commissioned the series from production company ITV, which is also behind the UK version and other shows including The Voice and I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!

“Love Island Australia has always maintained the highest standard of psychological support, before, during and after Islanders are in the villa,” an ITV Australia spokesman said.

“It is in line with current government standard protocols.’’

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