Love Island’s Zara McDermott and Adam Collard have opened up about the online abuse they’ve received since leaving the villa.
The couple appeared on Lorraine this morning, and spoke about their online bullying experiences.
Zara seemed to be particularly affected by the hateful reactions, as she read some of the comments out loud.
“She’s breathing in soooo much it hurts to look at… Think that bikini is a bit too small for you love,” the 21-year-old read from Instagram.
Since leaving #LoveIsland, @zaramcdermott_ has been targeted by online trolls on her social media accounts. She shares just a few of the comments she finds on her posts daily… #Lorraine pic.twitter.com/dKEkT0Gpv1
— Lorraine (@lorraine) August 8, 2018
“I’m finding it so difficult not to defend myself against things,” Zara explained.
Her boyfriend and fellow Love Island star, Adam Collard, also opened up about his experience of bullying.
The personal trainer told Lorraine that he was bullied for being overweight as a child, and was very self-conscious growing up.
Adam compared the bullying he experienced as a child to the online abuse the couple receive now and said, “I was quite overweight, all the way up to 16. But I could come home and get away from it then. But when it’s on Instagram and Twitter, you can’t really get away from it.”
‘We are normal people, just because we have a blue tick… we’re not a punch bag.’@theadamcollard was bullied at school because he was told he was overweight. He now says he’s been subject to similar abuse again since he appeared on #LoveIsland. #Lorraine pic.twitter.com/Df3ZevvXo2
— Lorraine (@lorraine) August 8, 2018
“We are normal people, just because we have a blue tick, we’re not a punch bag,” the 22-year-old said.
Adam also spoke about former Love Island contestant and friend, Sophie Gradon, who allegedly commit suicide back in June.
“When I knew Sophie, she was one of the strongest girls I knew. It proves it can get to anyone and people need to really think,” he said.
