Kaz Crossley

It’s no secret that there are life-changing amounts of money to be made and career opportunities to take advantage of if you play your cards right after leaving the Love Island villa.

Yet while many stars have used their appearance on the show to obtain millions of social media followers and six-figure brand deals – some have been struck by tragedy after appearing on the show.

The hugely popular show has been under intense scrutiny over the years following the suicides of former contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalᴀssitis, as well as host Caroline Flack, prompting calls for producers to take more care of its stars.

Most recently, Jack Fincham was sentenced to six weeks in prison over a dog attack, following a drug driving charge. The former pen salesman has since appealed his prison sentence and has been granted bail pending its outcome.

Other contestants, including Kaz Crossley and Davide Sanclimenti, have also been involved with drugs after falling victim to the pressures of fame.

Here, MailOnline delves into the curse of Love Island and the beloved stars who have struggled, or lost their lives, since leaving the show.

The curse of Love Island: As Jack Fincham appeals his six week jail sentence for a dog attack, how previous Islanders have fallen victim to pressures of fame after leaving the villa

Kaz Crossley hit headlines in February 2023, when she was questioned and held in prison in the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of drug offences (pictured on the show in 2018)

Kaz Crossley

Kaz Crossley hit headlines in February 2023, when she was questioned and held in prison in the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of drug offences.

The reality star, 30, appeared on the ITV reality show in 2018, where she reached the final and finished in third place with Josh Denzel.

She arrived as a Casa Amor bombshell, and famously turned Josh’s head away from his then-partner Georgia Steel.

After the show the pair went on to date for six months, before eventually splitting in January 2019 with Kaz saying at the time: ‘Sometimes things don’t go the way you planned, but you have to be grateful for the journey.’

She soon sparked up a romance with fellow Love Island alum Theo Campbell in March that year, but in early 2020 he revealed he had been dumped ahead of what would have been their one-year anniversary.

Kaz then returned to the villa in 2025 for the All Stars version of the series, but was dumped half way through with partner Montel McKenzie. 

The appearance came two years after Kaz experienced the ‘lowest point of her life’ after she was arrested and held in a Dubai prison.

In 2020, the reality star was filmed without her knowledge, appearing to snort lines of white powder in Dubai by her ‘controlling and manipulative’ ex-boyfriend.

She said it ‘destroyed her mental health and career’ and she admitted she ‘didn’t leave the house for three months due to crippling anxiety’.

In 2020, the reality star was filmed without her knowledge, appearing to snort lines of white powder in Dubai by her ‘controlling and manipulative’ ex-boyfriend 

After flying into Abu Dhabi for a work trip following the incident, Kaz was put in jail for a week alongside a new mother and her six-month-old baby.

She detailed the ‘scariest experience of her life’ as she was ‘strip searched’ and held with prisoners in a jail cell for a week.

Kaz was arrested and an insider claimed ‘that her name obviously raised a red flag’ when her pᴀssport was checked in the UAE’s capital.

She was then moved to a Dubai prison, where she was reportedly refused a phone call to her family, but was permitted to send a single email.

A Foreign Office spokesman said at the time: ‘We are in contact with the local authorities following the arrest of a British national in the United Arab Emirates.’

Dubai has recently liberalised its drugs laws with first-time offenders given a minimum of three months in prison and a fine of between £4,559 and £22,799. Previously, offenders would have faced a minimum of four years in prison for any drug use.

After serving jail time, suspects are then deported to their home state – in Kaz’s case to the UK – and banned from returning to the UAE. Sentences for drug-trafficking can include the death penalty.

Opening up about the ordeal in August 2023, Kaz broke down in tears as she told GK Barry on her Saving Grace podcast about how her unnamed ex had been the one to release the video of her snorting lines of white powder.

The TV personality said her ‘controlling’ ex ‘retaliated’ and wanted to ‘hurt and destroy her career’ due to her moving on.

Kaz admitted her ‘heart sank’ as she received a phone call from her manager who told her a tabloid had caught hold of the video, saying she ‘couldn’t breathe’ and was left ‘hysterically crying’.

Hitting what she thought was rock bottom, she lost all her brand deals, ‘became depressed’ and didn’t leave the house.

Sophie Gradon

Sophie Gradon appeared on the 2016 series of the ITV show and took her own life in June 2018

Sophie Gradon appeared on the 2016 series of the ITV show and took her own life in June 2018.

Her body was found at her home in Ponteland, Northumberland, by her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, who killed himself 20 days later.

They found her in the living room with her mobile phones nearby, and attempts to give her CPR continued until paramedics arrived.

Sophie spoke about the ‘horrific’ effects online trolls had on her life in her final interview before she was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at her home.

Speaking to Radio Aire, the former Love Island star heavily relayed her distaste for viewers forming negative opinions on reality stars before hauntingly noting: ‘The harsh reality is, it can end up with that person taking their own life.’

Exiting the ITV2 villa in 2016, Sophie also revealed in the interview that she wasn’t prepared for the ‘scale of comments’ from their ‘thousands of new followers’ who heavily judged her – admitting: ‘It can really get into your mind and really affect you.’

Sophie was joined by her pal and former Love Island co-star Zara Holland during her final interview.

The pair discussed the significant effects trolling had on their everyday lives, with Sophie speaking about negativity surrounding their social media accounts following their appearance on the popular show.

Sophie was joined by Love Island co-star Zara Holland during her final interview. Zara was stripped off her Miss GB тιтle following a steamy encounter with Alex Bowen on the show

Zara said: ‘People just know me as the girl on Love Island who lost her crown. Trolls are horrible and cyber bullies are horrible. When you put yourself in that situation it’s hard not to look’

‘It was horrific,’ she recalled. ‘I think when you get so many comments on the scale we did coming out of thousands of followers.

‘There are fans and positive comments but people would focus on the negatives. Sometimes I would look for it,’ she heartbreakingly admitted.

Sophie detailed the time of her life further: ‘There would be so many negative comments. They are commenting on the way you look, the way you talk.

‘They would come up with an opinion of you on a TV show where they’ve watched you for 45 minutes. And you’ve probably only be on ten minutes and its cut down from 24 hours,’ Sophie looked back.

She continued: ‘It was very hard to deal with because you take it like you’re being judged. It can really get into your mind and really affect you.

‘The harsh reality is, it can end up with that person taking their own life. And as you’ve seen in the media, that is what happens. Can you imagine being responsible for that?’ she concluded.

Zara, who was stripped off her Miss Great Britain тιтle following her steamy encounter with Alex Bowen on the show, echoed her sentiments: ‘People just know me as the girl on Love Island who lost her crown.

‘Trolls are horrible and cyber bullies are horrible. When you put yourself in that situation it’s hard not to look,’ Zara revealed.

At the time of Sophie’s death, ITV bosses expressed their ‘profound sadness at the news and extend deepest sympathies and thoughts to her family and friends.’

Mike Thalᴀssitis

Mike Thalᴀssitis took his life at the age of 26 in March 2019, after shooting to fame on the hit reality show on series three in 2017

Mike Thalᴀssitis took his life at the age of 26 in March 2019, after shooting fame on the hit reality show on series three in 2017.

He was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ by a jogger in a park near his north London home, where he left notes to his family making clear his intention to kill himself.

His friends revealed he had been ‘in a dark place’ in the months leading up to his death, thought to have been struggling to come to terms with the death of his grandmother and was said to have been dealing with debt.

Mike’s death came less than a year after fellow Love Island contestant Sophie Gradon also took her own life, being found at her home in Ponteland, Northumberland, by her boyfriend and his brother in June 2018.

Less than 12 months after Mike’s pᴀssing, Love Island host Caroline Flack also died by suicide in February 2020, a day after hearing the Crown Prosecution Service would go ahead with a trial for allegedly attacking her boyfriend Lewis Burton.

The death of Mike prompted calls from Health Secretary Matt Hancock for reality shows to do more for compeтιтors once they have become famous.

Following the tragic deaths, producers announced a new duty of care policies towards contestants, saying all would be able to access therapy sessions, social media and financial training, and a minimum of 14 months of ‘proactive’ contact.

But Mike’s heartbroken parents Shirley and Andy Thalᴀssitis have said that the changes were ‘too slow coming’, adding: ‘It’s too late for Michael and Caroline’.

Mike’s friends, including Montana Brown, revealed he had been ‘in a dark place’ in the months leading up to his death

Speaking to The Mirror, they said that the show had let them down, and added that they would be open to meeting Caroline’s family.

Shirley, 66, said: ‘Mike never received any support after he came out of the show, although ITV bosses were supportive when he pᴀssed. They introduced more support after the suicides, but it’s too late for Michael and Caroline. We would be open to meeting them – we feel that the show really let Caroline down.’

The couple added that Mike struggled to deal with the sudden fame from being on the show and had to deal with online trolls calling him names and branding him ‘vile’.

Shirley explained Mike went from 15,000 Instagram followers to over 500,000, and couldn’t walk down the street without being called out by stranger, but protected his family from the abuse.

Andy, 68, added: ‘The contestants going in now know what the score is but back seven years ago when the show was in its infancy they had no idea.’

Mike had been battling with his mental health in the lead up to his death, and had been prescribed antidepressants by his GP, which Shirley revealed that her and Andy didn’t know about, until after he pᴀssed.

She said: ‘Andy and I wish Michael had confided in us or his friends but he kept everything bottled up and put on a fake exterior when really he was dying inside.

‘Whoever said time heals has obviously never lost a child. There isn’t a day that goes by when we don’t think about him. We love and miss him so much.’

Andy went on to say that the one thing that they find ‘very comforting’ is knowing that Mike’s death has ‘helped men talk more openly about their mental health’, adding he know that Mike would ‘be pleased’ to know this.

Shirley and Andy insisted that anyone else suffering should not rely on a doctor and should ensure they open up to their loved ones, as ‘they’re the ones who love you and will do everything and anything to help you.’

Eva Zapico

Eva Zapico appeared in court in September 2024 after being charged with promoting a ‘high-risk’ foreign exchange scheme on Instagram (pictured on the show in 2020) 

Love Islander Biggs Chris, 32, (pictured in 2020) was also allegedly promoting the scheme

Season six star Eva Zapico appeared in court in September 2024 after being charged with promoting a ‘high-risk’ foreign exchange scheme on Instagram.

Eva, along with fellow Love Islander Biggs Chris, 2016 Celebrity Big Brother winner Scott Timlin, and original TOWIE cast member Lauren Goodger were allegedly paid to promote the scheme to 4.5 million Instagram followers.

Also charged by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are former Love Islanders Rebecca Gormley,  Jamie Clayton, Zapico and TOWIE member Yazmin Oukhellou.

The social media influencers and reality TV ‘entrepreneurs’ allegedly promoted @holly-fxtrends to millions of Instagram followers.

Zapico appeared at Southwark Crown Court with manicured nails, a white shirt and a long black coat.

She is yet to enter a plea to one count of issuing unauthorised communications of financial promotions on or about April 2, 2020.

Timlin, Clayton and Nwanze, Goodger, Chris, Gormley, Oukhellou and Holly Thompson – also known as Holly Zucchero – all denied issuing unauthorised communications of financial promotions at a previous hearing.

They are said to have promoted a foreign exchange scheme, linked to high-risk derivatives, run by Emmanuel Nwanze.

He allegedly paid seven of the influencers to promote an Instagram account that provided advice on buying and selling contracts for difference (CFDs) to their combined 4.5mn followers between 2018 and 2021.

Davide Sanclimenti

Davide Sanclimenti said he ‘spiralled into a dark place’ following his split from Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu before allegedly being seen handing out ‘illegal hippy crack’ at a private afterparty

Season eight winner Davide Sanclimenti said he ‘spiralled into a dark place’ following his split from Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu before allegedly being seen handing out ‘illegal hippy crack’ at a private afterparty.

The couple split for a second and final time in February after winning the ITV2 show in 2022, with Ekin-Su claiming at the time he had been unfaithful.

Speaking to The Sun, Davide denied some of his former flames allegations and said it was she who broke his heart, leaving him battling depression and ‘partying too hard’ in a bid to ‘numb the pain’.

Davide was also spotted snorting a suspicious white powder in Ibiza and now says in hindsight, his time in the relationship was a ‘miserable existence’ and he had no choice but to finally leave for his ‘own sanity’.

Telling the publication: ‘I’m only human and when you’re heartbroken and dealing with a break-up, you go into a dark place. I regret dealing with the break-up the way I did’.

David went on to say that he found himself surrounded by ‘the wrong people’ at parties and realised now they could not be trusted.

Speaking about his sudden fame following Love Island he said: ‘Yes, the post-show hype gave me good opportunities and I finally had everything I’d ever dreamed of — a nice car, a good job, friends, etc — but the truth is, I was living inside a miserable house and had a miserable existence.

‘I genuinely was in love with Ekin, but she broke my heart and I had no choice but to leave the relationship for my own sanity’.

Davide reportedly lost his six-figure brand deals after the alleged ‘illegal hippy crack’ controversy in April.

In a video obtained by The Sun he was seen seemingly using an air canister to fill the balloons for his pals.

According to the publication, a fellow partygoer claimed the gas was nitrous oxide.

It was later claimed he lost lucrative deals with sport nutrition firm Sci-mx and fashion brand Boohoo Man.

Jack Fincham

On Wednesday, Jack Fincham was freed on bail as he appeals his six week jail sentence for a dog attack after his black Cane Corso injured runner Robert Sudell in Swanley in 2022

On Wednesday, Jack Fincham was freed on bail as he appeals his six week jail sentence for a dog attack.

The 32-year-old Love Island winner pleaded guilty to the charge at Southend-on-Sea Magistrates’ Court today after his black Cane Corso injured runner Robert Sudell in Swanley, Kent, in September 2022.

Jack faced two counts of being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog, with a separate incident involving a woman occurring in Grays, EsSєx, in June 2024, although no injury was reported on that occasion.

He was also asked to pay £3680 to the courts. This includes a £200 compensation fee to Robert Sudell and a £50 compensation fee to a second victim.

A payment plan was set up for Jack to pay £400 per month upon release from jail.

His lawyer told MailOnline: ‘We are disappointed that the Magistrates did not find it would be unjust to activate the Suspended Sentence Order.

‘However, the case remains finely poised, and we are optimistic that in the fulness of time, the Crown Court will uphold Mr Fincham’s appeal.’

He also confirmed that Jack has been released on bail on the condition that he reports to the police station once a week.

Jack originally sH๏τ to fame after winning the 2018 iteration of Love Island alongside Dani Dyer, daughter of actor Danny Dyer. 

Jack originally sH๏τ to fame after winning the 2018 iteration of Love Island alongside Dani Dyer, daughter of actor Danny Dyer

In September 2022 Jack’s dog, named Elvis, attacked a runner and bit him. Originally the victim was willing to accept an apology and a caution, where Jack would engage in responsibility on dog ownership course.

This would be to ensure he abided by three stipulations; keep the dog on the lead, for the dog to wear a muzzle when outside and to not leave the animal alone with anyone under the age of 16.

However, there was another incident in June 2024, where Elvis grabbed the leg and ‘applied pressure’ to the calf of a woman.

This incident occurred when Jack was three months into his suspended sentence for drug driving.

Other things taken into consideration by the magistrates were pH๏τos posted by Jack on Facebook showing him having taken Elvis to the pub in Kent, without a muzzle or a lead on, in breach of his conditions.

This latest controversy is another legal blow for the former reality star, who previously sparked a backlash for importing Elvis from Russia in 2021 due to the dog’s cropped ears – an illegal practice in the UK. Animal rights group PETA slammed Jack at the time, urging him to use his platform to speak out against cruelty.

Despite the criticism, Jack has publicly defended his pet, recently sharing a pH๏τo on Instagram with the caption: ‘My best friend in the whole world. Have a story to tell you very soon. Sometimes I think this country is done honestly.’

The former pen salesman also has a history of flouting driving laws, having been convicted of drug driving just five months before his latest offence. He was banned for three years in October 2022 after being caught behind the wheel under the influence.

Jack and on-off girlfriend Chloe Brockett were seen enjoying a spa break together just days before the verdict was delivered

Read More Jack Fincham kisses girlfriend as he’s FREED on bail after being sentenced to prison for dog attack

In March, Jack was spared jail after speeding his £50,000 car during a cocaine binge.

He was behind the wheel of his BMW 520D driving down the hard shoulder of the A2 in Kent when he was stopped by police.

Jack later admitted drug driving and driving without due care and attention.

He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and using false number plates.

Jack, who won the ITV show’s 2018 series with Dani Dyer, told the court he was ‘driving angry’ to see a friend ‘who was in a bad way’ in August 2023.

He was given a 12-week sentence suspended for 18 months.

He was also disqualified from getting behind the wheel until October 2029 and must complete 250 hours of unpaid work.

The drug-driving conviction was Jack’s second in five months after he was banned from driving for three years the previous October.

Jack’s estranged father Mark Gard has also previously spent time behind bars after he was convicted for distributing cocaine around the country.

Away from his reality TV exploits, Jack has previously dabbled in the sport of boxing.

Having previously taken part on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather’s bout against Youtuber Deji in 2022, Jack was due to fight again in a special exhibition in Harrow at the beginning of March.

Following that 2022 fight, Jack spoke of how he went into ‘self destruct mode’ by partying for 18 months.

‘I went into complete self destruct mode. I was already battling with addiction, at the time I was going into that fight. I was battling addiction quite secretly for a few years, as well’, he told Amber O’Donnell.

‘I was out every weekend, you know, taking drugs and drinking and just doing things that have lost me jobs, lost me friends. I’d always fall back on my family. But I think even they got to a point where they were too sick of hearing it’, he added.

In an attempt to combat these destructive habits, Jack entered rehab after becoming addicted to cocaine and diazepam pills.

Speaking to the Sun at the time, Jack confessed: ‘Death was on the cards for me, it was imminent.’

For confidential support or advice call the Samaritans on 116 123 for free or visit www.samaritans.org

For help with drugs, call FRANK 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0300 123 6600, text 82111

Love Island’s duty of care protocols

The full duty of care process is outlined below:

Pre Filming and Filming

– Registered mental health professional engaged throughout the whole series – from pre-filming to aftercare.

– Thorough pre-filming psychological and medical ᴀssessments including ᴀssessments by an independent doctor, psychological consultant and reports from each Islander’s own GP to check medical history.

– Potential Islanders are required to fully disclose in confidence any medical history that would be relevant to their inclusion in the Villa and the production’s ability to provide a suitable environment for them.

– Managing cast expectations: detailed explanations both verbally and in writing of the implications, both positive and negative, of taking part in the series are given to potential cast members throughout the casting process and reinforced within the contract so it is clear.

– Cast are told they should consider all the potential implications of taking part in the show and work through this decision-making process in consultation with their family and those closest to them, to ensure they feel it is right for them.

– Senior Team on the ground have received training in Mental Health First Aid.

– A welfare team solely dedicated to the Islanders both during the show and after.

Aftercare

– Bespoke training on dealing with social media and advice on finance and adjusting to life back home.

– A minimum of eight therapy sessions will be offered to each Islander when they return home.

– Proactive contact with Islanders for a period of 14 months after the series in which they have appeared has ended, with additional help provided where applicable.

– We encourage Islanders to secure management to represent them after the show and manage them should they choose to take part in other TV shows, advertising campaigns or other public appearance opportunities.

– Bespoke training on dealing with social media and advice on finance and adjusting to life back home.

– A minimum of eight therapy sessions will be offered to each Islander when they return home.

– Proactive contact with Islanders for a period of 14 months after the series in which they have appeared has ended, with additional help provided where applicable.

– We encourage Islanders to secure management to represent them after the show and manage them should they choose to take part in other TV shows, advertising campaigns or other public appearance opportunities.