Caroline Flack, best known for her television and radio presenting, took her own life on Saturday, aged 40, just weeks before she was due to go on trial for the alleged assault of her boyfriend, Lewis Burton.
Firstly, I will admit that I was never particularly fond of Flack, but I knew that I could never make a fair judgement without knowing her personally. It's natural to have an opinion of people in the public eye, but I believe those opinions should only be shared on the internet or in the press if they are positive. I think the saying, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all", is more relevant than ever in the age of social media, where the world is awash with everybody’s words and thoughts, both famous and unknown. I may not have been Flack's biggest fan, but I would never say anything cruel or unnecessary about her in the public domain.
It has been very sad to see Flack's close friends, many of whom I follow, post heartfelt tributes on social media, reminding everyone how talented and loved she was. I hope any trolls who targeted Flack, both during recent events and over the years, feel a degree of guilt for what has happened. At the very least, hopefully a tragedy like this will make people think twice about what they say online in the future.
Many people have directly placed the blame on Love Island, as two former contestants of the show have committed suicide in the past. Flack, who had presented all previous series of the show, quit its first winter edition before it even began in January, due to her upcoming trial. ITV did not air Love Island this weekend, out of respect for Flack’s friends and family, but it has been revealed that tonight’s episode will go ahead and will feature a special tribute.
Some people believe Flack was not given adequate support from ITV. Comparisons have been drawn between Flack and Ant McPartlin, who returned to his usual ITV presenting jobs after going to rehab for addiction. However, I don’t feel that such a straightforward comparison can be made, as there are often many nuances. Personally, I feel that a reality show in itself cannot be blamed for such tragedies, and that the real issue is the scrutiny people face from the press and public once the show is over.
Flack’s management have expressed anger towards the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for pursuing the case, even when her boyfriend, the alleged victim, said that he did not support the prosecution. They’ve accused the CPS of pursuing a “show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest.”
It should be noted that Flack did speak about struggling with her mental health and press intrusion in the past, and that depression and suicide can rarely be linked to a single cause.
When events like this happen, it reminds me why I aspire to work in journalism. Serious changes need to be made in the industry, and I want to be a part of making that happen. The news should be just that, the news, a source of information about the world. There is no need for the flurry of negativity that attacks people daily, too often ending in tragedy. The only good that can come of all this is the recognition that change is needed.
If you are affected by any of the issues mentioned, the number to contact Samaritans in the UK and Ireland is 116 123. More international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.
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