Women’s Aid issues warning as ITV brings ‘emotionally abusive’ contestant back to Love Island

Women's Aid has appealed to ITV to intervene if Love Island contestant Adam Collard repeats his "gaslighting" and "emotional abuse" when he returns to the show.

Teresa Parker, head of communications and media relations at the women's charity, told Yahoo News UK: “In the 2018 series of Love Island, we saw Rosie rightly call out Adam for his unacceptable behaviour, which included gaslighting and emotional abuse.

"We hope that ITV producers recognise how serious this issue is and that it must be learned from, considering they have asked Adam to return to the show.

"Love Island is watched by many young people and we know what a huge influence it has. Producers must make sure there is support for contestants throughout, and intervene if relationships become unhealthy or abusive.”

Collard, a 26-year-old personal trainer and influencer from Newcastle, first appeared in season four of the reality show.

He hit the headlines from the moment he entered after being given the opportunity to couple up with a girl who had already been partnered off, within a day.

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He then dated multiple girls at once and jumped quickly from love interest to love interest, while leading on others and speaking about them behind their backs.

Collard's behaviour at the time prompted Women’s Aid to comment on the show, with his behaviour described as “part of a pattern of gaslighting and emotional abuse.”

In 2018, in response to Adam’s behaviour on the show Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, said: “On the latest series of Love Island, there are clear warning signs in Adam’s behaviour.

“In a relationship, a partner questioning your memory of events, trivialising your thoughts or feelings and turning things around to blame you can be part of a pattern of gaslighting and emotional abuse.

“Last night, Rosie called out Adam’s unacceptable behaviour on the show. We ask viewers to join her in recognising unhealthy behaviour in relationships and speaking out against all forms of domestic abuse – emotional as well as physical.

“It is only when we make a stand together against abuse in relationships that we will see attitudes change and an end to domestic abuse.”