LOVE Island star Malin Andersson has called for the show to be AXED – eight years after hitting rock bottom on it.
Malin, 32, said it’s “shocking” the ITV2 staple is still on-air and accused it of fuelling eating disorders and glorifying toxic relationships.
She took to her Instagram Stories to share a powerful statement hours before the new series kicked off, nearly a decade after she appeared on it.
Malin wrote: “Love Island. It starts tonight.. I’m quite shocked this show is still on air to be honest.
“I was on it 8 years ago, and in that 8 years I’ve turned pain into purpose and used my platform for good.
“Within the 8 years that have passed I’ve had to hit rockbottom to find a strength I never knew I had – and awaken to the truth of who we are.
“However what young Malin didn’t know was, how
dangerous a show like this is – portraying toxicity as love, unrealistic body standards and women who maybe broken inside but wanting love for the wrong reasons – and thinking fame will save them.. and as for the men – similar things.
“We need a show on how to show the world what it looks like to HEAL WITHIN & find love for ourselves first, then finding it in someone else.
“We don’t need a show making women especially feel bad about themselves – or fuelling eating disorders. That’s outdated now. It’s not it.”
Malin found fame on the second series of Love Island in 2016, spending 24 days in the villa where she was partnered with Terry Walsh.
Though she’s synonymous with the show, Malin has made it known before she isn’t a fan.
She previously told Bobby Norris on Fubar Radio: “I’ve not watched it. I haven’t watched a single episode. I didn’t even watch my own series.
“From what I can see the format is the same and it’s like the luggage belt at the airport arrivals and they’re just spinning out the same characters. It’s the same old bag every time. It sounds really bad.”
She continued: “I think Love Island has had its day a long time ago. And I think for the younger generation, there could be more put out there. I think all we’re seeing now is a lot of dating shows.”
Mum Malin recalled her obsession in the villa with viewers’ perception of her appearance.
She likened the experience to Jim Carrey’s classic film, The Truman Show, in which his character is the central figure in a reality construct he has no idea about.
“I remember being in the villa and I kept asking the producers ‘are there any bad comments about my weight?'” she said. “That’s all I cared about. ‘Are there any comments calling me fat?’ That’s all I remember asking them.
“They would say no to everything. You’re in the Truman show in there. It is literally like a bubble. No time, they tell you when to eat, when to sleep. It’s such a different false reality.”
ITV has been contacted for comment.
- Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
Love Island's duty of care
Pre Filming and Filming
– Registered mental health professional engaged throughout the whole series – from pre-filming to aftercare.
– Thorough pre-filming psychological and medical assessments including assessments by an independent doctor, psychological consultant and reports from each Islander’s own GP to check medical history.
– Potential Islanders are required to fully disclose in confidence any medical history that would be relevant to their inclusion in the Villa and the production’s ability to provide a suitable environment for them.
– Managing cast expectations: detailed explanations both verbally and in writing of the implications, both positive and negative, of taking part in the series are given to potential cast members throughout the casting process and reinforced within the contract so it is clear.
– Cast are told they should consider all the potential implications of taking part in the show and work through this decision-making process in consultation with their family and those closest to them, to ensure they feel it is right for them.
– Senior Team on the ground have received training in Mental Health First Aid.
– A welfare team solely dedicated to the Islanders both during the show and after.
Aftercare
– Bespoke training on dealing with social media and advice on finance and adjusting to life back home.
– A minimum of eight therapy sessions will be offered to each Islander when they return home.
– Proactive contact with Islanders for a period of 14 months after the series in which they have appeared has ended, with additional help provided where applicable.
– We encourage Islanders to secure management to represent them after the show and manage them should they choose to take part in other TV shows, advertising campaigns or other public appearance opportunities.
ITV’s support for Mental Health
In 2019 ITV selected mental health as the main focus for its on air health campaigns aimed at its viewers. ITV partnered with Mind and YoungMinds, alongside SAMH in Scotland, and Ant and Dec launched the Britain Get Talking campaign in Britain’s Got Talent, with the aim of encouraging 10m people to take action to support their mental or physical health by 2023. Since it launched, Britain Get Talking has resulted in over 100 million more meaningful conversations, and in 2022 ITV announced a further target of encouraging 200 million actions for better health by the end of 2023.
Alongside Britain Get Talking, ITV has a mental wellbeing initiative aimed at a younger demographic in partnership with mental health charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). In 2022 it encouraged 1.8m young people to take action to feel better able to cope with life’s ups and downs through the campaign ‘What Gets You Through‘.
ITV’s Mental Health Advisory Group, chaired by Ruth Davidson with members including CEOs of mental health charities Mind, YoungMinds and SAMH, provides guidance and support on all aspects of ITV, and STV’s, approach to mental health and wellbeing among its people, production teams, participants in its shows and audiences.
ITV also hosted the Mental Health in the Media conference in March 2023, bringing writers, producers, duty of care professionals, brands and broadcasters together to explore best practice around mental wellbeing on screen and behind the screens.
Президент США висловив переконання в тому, що ситуація в містах Каліфорнії, де напередодні спалахнули протести та сутички з правоохоронцями, наразі перебуває під контролем. Про це Дональд Трамп заявив під час «круглого столу» в Білому домі з питань інвестування в Америку, передає власний кореспондент Укрінформу. «Я думаю, що ми тримаємо це (ситуацію – ред.) дуже добре […]