ITV have been forced to deny claims Jacques O’Neill was pressured into appearing on Love Island’s spin-off show Aftersun.
The 23-year-old sensationally left the villa last week, after admitting to his fellow Islanders that he was struggling and wasn’t being himself.
Days later, Jacques appeared on Love Island’s weekly spin-off show Aftersun to talk about his ordeal on the show.
However, sources have claimed the rugby league player was unhappy about appearing on the programme following his emotional exit from the villa.
An insider told the UK Mail on Sunday: “Jacques kept saying he wasn’t mentally well enough.”
“It was quite obvious that was the case, especially when you read what he said after he came out of the villa.”
Before he appeared on Aftersun, Jacques sat down for an interview with The Sun, in which he confessed signing up for the show was “the worst decision of his life”.
In response to claims Jacques was pressured into appearing on Aftersun, ITV has insisted producers would “never force” someone to take part in the programme.
A spokesperson said they are “genuinely committed to making sure the Islanders have a positive experience on the show” and confirmed producers would “respect an Islander’s decision if they didn’t want to participate and we would never force someone to take part in the programme.”
ITV didn’t comment on the contestants’ contractual obligations after leaving the villa, but the spokesperson added: “Aftersun is usually part of the itinerary for any Islander after they have left the villa.”
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on Virgin Media Two.
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