Amazon Prime's documentary on the 'curse' of Love Island needed so much more

I've been thinking a lot about Mike Thalassitis, the Love Island contestant I met at an awards ceremony nearly eight years ago. He was charming, charismatic, and seemed to have it all together. But just a month later, I was reporting on his tragic death at the age of 26. The inquest revealed he was in a 'dark place' leading up to his suicide. When I heard that Amazon Prime Video was releasing a two-part documentary exploring the three deaths associated with the ITV dating show, I was apprehensive. The subject alone is sensitive to so many.

Love Island star Anton Danyluk says he went from hero to zero after his stint on the show. He argues that the long-term aftercare he needed wasn't provided by the broadcaster. Anton's story is just one of many that highlights the darker side of reality TV. The Curse of Love Island promises to 'reveal the pressures of fame, online abuse, and the devastating impact they can have.' But in reducing three very complex and devastating deaths to an outdated question of who's to blame, the documentary fails to deliver.

Look, the thing is, reality TV has changed a lot since Love Island first started. We're living in a world where social media is king, and contestants are constantly under pressure to present a perfect image. But behind the scenes, the reality is far more complex. Psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos reflects on the documentary, saying, 'There are infinite reasons to kind of create this sort of perfect storm. It would be unfair to pick up one commonality and say that that was that one thing.' Here's the thing: it's not just about the show; it's about the cultural landscape we're living in.

While a lot of the contributors on the show agree that Love Island and ITV aren't responsible for what happened, former contestants who should be considered the real experts disagree. Anton Danyluk's story is just one of many that highlights the aftercare that contestants need. He argues that the show's long-term support system is inadequate, and that's not something that's unique to him. Marcel Somerville spoke candidly about not being picked by female contestants on the show, and Malin Andersson shared a similar experience.

The Curse of Love Island needed so much more. It needed a nuanced exploration of the pressures of fame, online abuse, and the devastating impact they can have. It needed to delve deeper into the cultural landscape and the ways in which reality TV contributes to these pressures. Instead, it reduces three very complex and devastating deaths to an outdated and unnecessary question: Who is to blame?

But as I think about Mike Thalassitis and the others who have lost their lives, I'm left with a feeling of frustration. We need to do better. We need to create a cultural landscape that prioritizes mental health and support systems. We need to create a reality TV industry that looks beyond the perfect image and into the real lives of its contestants. The Curse of Love Island needed so much more, but it's not too late to start doing better.