Caroline Flack: TV presenter dies at 40

[Barbara Fan]

Not my kind of TV show to watch but sad news to take your life at 40 especially when your boyfriend supported her despite assault on him

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51517973

Caroline Flack, former Love Island host, has died, weeks before she was due to stand trial accused of assaulting her boyfriend.

Her family confirmed her death in a statement.

Ms Flack began presenting Love Island in 2015, having fronted a series of The X Factor, and winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.

 

[Angela Channing]

The media hounded and harassed her in life. Only yesterday, The Sun newspaper were mocking her with this valentine's card:

It needs to recognised that the appalling behaviour of sections of the media has consequences.

 

[Sarah]

It’s terrible. I think yes the media has a huge part to play but she may have struggled with finding someone to talk to about her problems.

I openly admit I have struggled with my mental health over the past few years and it can be really hard to find someone who understands or who has the time to listen.

My best friend - or so I thought - told me my sensitivity was too difficult to manage. I’ve found it hard to open up to anyone except people here that I trust since.

I encourage everyone to talk. I for one will listen.

 

[Karin Schill]

I didn't know who she was but this is awful. I wonder if the press mocking her had anything to do with her death or if it was coincidental?

Either way it's sad when someone dies so young. My condolances to her family and friends.

 

[Emelee]

According to her boyfriend:

So why all the commotion?

 

[Angela Channing]

So why all the commotion?

Because the media interest in the story put pressure on the Crown Prosecution Service to pursue the case against her.

 

[Emelee]

So the gossiping tabloids got to spin their "truth" despite what the boyfriend stated and the law fell for media pressure?

Seriously??

Wow.

 

[Pamela_E]

It's very tragic, I hate to think what a dark place she was in.

The Sun have removed the article and Valentines pic and are now using their editorial to blame ITV.

How many lives have been ruined at the hands of the tabloids. It's never ending.

I recall how they treated actors like Sandy Radcliffe and Elaine Lordan.

But it won't change, they wouldnt publish it if people didnt lap it up.

 

[Emelee]

But it won't change, they wouldnt publish it if people didnt lap it up.

At the store, I sometimes take a look at the front pages of the gossip magazines and wonder "who the heck buys this crap?!"

One moment a couple has a huge argument, next they are splitting up, then they are expecting a baby, then one has cheated, next one has thrown the other out, next there's a custody fight....

But when you check Getty Images, you see paparazzi shots of them out and about without a sign of tention. And when you check their instagram, everything is perfectly fine between them.

It's painfully obvious that the tabloids are making up their own stories without acting on any kind of evidence or rumour.

 

[Jock Og]

A very sad day yesterday. I offer my sympathies to Caroline's family and friends.

 

[Angela Channing]

For a while Caroline Flack was the quarry for the media and now she has gone they will continue with their other targets which currently seem to be Meghan Markle, Katie Price, Kerry Katona and Jessie Wallace, amongst others. Many of their targets are vulnerable people, sometimes they are dealing with mental health issues.

There is a long path of bodies of people that have died due to excessive media intrusion, including David Scarboro, the original Mark Fowler in EastEnders. He was in a psychiatric unit being treated for a mental health problem and a tabloid newspaper published details of this treatment and photographs of where he was staying which forced Mr Scarboro to leave the facility. He committed suicided shortly after leaving.

There will be other it there isn't stronger action taken against the excesses of the media but I can't see it happening because large sections of the media have a symbiotic relationship with the Conservative Party so the government have little interest in changing things. I fear in a few months time we will be discussing this all again after there has been another similar tragedy.

 

[Justine]

I can't say I was a massive fan - I don't watch Love Island - but it's terribly sad.

I also wish I could say I was shocked but I wasn't and I'm still not. Reports said (possibly untrue) she threatened to kill herself after the incident with her partner and she wrote in plain sight about her mental health on social media.

 

[Sarah]

Even with those accusing the media, they were being very hypocritical and calling Eamonn Holmes a murderer. So what about his mental health? People shouldn't give off then do the exact thing they're accusing others of. Practice what you preach.

 

[Barbara Fan]

Social media ie Twitter is poisonous IMHO, rarely on it and so many nasty folks out there

I dont think I have ever seen a show she was in,

BUT I do think the CPS need to review as so many "celebs" have been put thro the wringer and hung out to dry with cases they have decided to prosecute (Cliff Richard for example) and have turned out to be a total waste of taxpayer money.

But by the same token, she did attack someone and assault them so does she "get let off lightly" as she is a so called celeb? Its a sad end regardless.

 

[Sarah]

Yet Katie Hopkins' ban has been lifted and she's allowed to post whatever she likes because she is a (cough) 'celeb'.