Taking part in a reality TV show such as Love Island, Big Brother, or Geordie Shore may seem appealing for the instant fame and fortune that comes with it; but nobody talks about the dark side of becoming an overnight celebrity. The anxiety, depression, and guaranteed scrutiny from internet trolls aren’t advertised quite so glamorously on the application form.
The tragic death of 2017 Love Island star, Mike Thalassitis has brought scrutiny to this style of reality show, and how it can have a catastrophic impact on the mental health of contestants.
26 year old Mike was found hanged in a park near his home in north London last week. Mike’s suicide comes just nine months after 2016 Love Island contestant Sophie Gradon was also found dead in her home in June 2018.
The unquestionable correlation between growth in suicide rates from reality TV stars is increasingly alarming. This begs the question, why? Mike’s fellow contestants claim the shows producers do not provide enough preparation or aftercare for how their lives will drastically change.
Some would argue that the contestants know what they are getting themselves in for before they enter, and yes, to an extent they do. But can anyone ever really prepare you for stardom?
Think about it; going from an unrecognisable person on the street, to a national celebrity in the space of a few weeks must be overwhelming. Imagine no longer being able to walk to your local corner shop for a pint of milk without being recognised and stopped for photos – and this is the least malicious consequence of fame.
Dom Lever, who appeared in the Love Island villa alongside Mike, tweeted,
“You get a psychological evaluation before and after you go on the show but hands down once you are done on the show you don’t get any support unless you’re number one.”
His wife Jess (also on Love Island 2017) added,
“Shows offer you ‘support’ but realistically it’s only while you are in their care. Minute you get home & are no longer making them money it’s out of sight out of mind.There should be ongoing support & also financial advice. Life after these shows isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
Mike’s friend and fellow reality TV star Mario Falcone (who was in The Only Way is Essex) thinks the show need to do more. He commented,
“Love Island have got to open their eyes to this. They’ve got to look at themselves and the way they treat their stars.”
He adds: “There is a stigma, especially with men, that you’re meant to be OK, so you don’t want to talk about it.”
Mario has been very open about his previous battles with depression, and has spoken about trying to take his own life in 2013.
It seems the public claims of negligence have got the show’s producers talking, as this week, ITV have announced a review of the level of support given to contestants regarding the adaption to fame. A spokesperson commented,
“Care for our Islanders is a process the show takes very seriously and is a continuous process for all those taking part in the show. We ensure that all of our contributors are able to access psychological support before, during and after appearing on the show.”
Reality stars are trolled over their looks, relationships, and even their business decisions. Sadly, it is almost as if once these people are awarded blue ticks on Twitter, they are suddenly dehumanised, and their emotions easily forgotten.
So, you would think after this awful tragedy, the internet trolls would think twice about the effect their comments have on these people. Sadly not.
Mike’s ex-girlfriend, Megan McKenna, has been the victim of cruel trolling following his death. Megan did not publicly post on social media for the first three days after the news broke. Her decision to grieve in private led to a torrent of abuse, suggesting she ‘doesn’t care’, or even that it could be her fault. The worrying thing is that they are probably the same people preaching about mental health awareness, whilst directly impacting on someone else’s.
Reality TV thrusts people into the limelight, and the pressures that follow can thrust them into the darkness. It is clear that there should be just as much aftercare as the time served on the show, if not more. Hopefully the ITV review will acknowledge this. After all, the contestants make the show, but what does the show make them?