Caroline Flack: Who is truly to blame? And what is to be done to those who we find guilty?

The tragic death of Caroline Flack has left the nation lost for words. From online tributes to charity organised events, the death of the former Love Island host, has resulted in an uproar within the British media. Caroline’s suicide is not the first to have occurred in connection to the ITV Reality TV show, after […]

Meg Howe
9th March 2020
Image: Flickr
The tragic death of Caroline Flack has left the nation lost for words. From online tributes to charity organised events, the death of the former Love Island host, has resulted in an uproar within the British media.

Caroline’s suicide is not the first to have occurred in connection to the ITV Reality TV show, after the deaths of contestants: Sophie Gradon, in June 2018, and Mike Thalassitis, in March 2019, resulting in many saying the show should be scrapped. This includes Sophie’s mother, who has spoken out, stating that the much loved show should be “taken off the air” and questions “how many more families must be destroyed?”.

One question that has been on the minds of many is, who is to blame? On one hand, it may seem obvious to blame ITV and Love Island for these tragedies. However, many have linked Caroline’s death with the effect of the ‘Red-Top’ newspapers, suggesting that these tabloid sheets should be to blame, due to the way they seek out and attack those within the public eye. Or, how about the general public? Caroline received hate comments across her social media attacking her after domestic abuse allegations.

The fact that the trial was planned to go ahead shows an enormous step in terms of domestic abuse being taken seriously

In 2019, Caroline was accused of assaulting her boyfriend, tennis player Lewis Burton, leading to her awaiting trial over this accusation. Despite the tragic death of Caroline, that is suggested to have been connected with the alleged assault, the fact that the trial was planned to go ahead (even after Lewis Burton denied ever being hit by Caroline), shows an enormous step in terms of domestic abuse being taken seriously, something that society has longed for! The media coverage of this accusation, to which Caroline pleaded not guilty, opened a gate way for internet trolls to taunt her. It could be suggested that the flood of these abusive comments is what is to blame for forcing Caroline to take her own life.

Kate Williams, Professor of History at the University of Reading, Tweeted on the day of Caroline’s death that the press have “hounded” a long list of strong females who have been in the public eye. This includes Princess Diana, Amy Winehouse and more recently Meghan Markle. I think it’s fair to say, that Caroline Flack should be added to this list! The way in which these scandal sheets sensationalise lives of people could be said to be blamed for Caroline taking her own life.

It’s become the norm to find someone else to blame for anything that we don’t want to take responsibility for

Within society, it’s become the norm to find someone else to blame for anything that we don’t want to take responsibility for, and I think that’s what has happened here. The mass coverage of the death of Caroline Flack, and the speculations as to whom is to blame, have led to undermining the fact that as a society we could do with being a little kinder.

But, what should be done to those we decide to blame? Some have openly stated Tabloid newspapers should been banned; with many beauty salons already getting rid of their Red-Tops and gossip magazines. Alongside this, an online petition named ‘Caroline’s Law’, has gained over 500,000 signatures, with the aim to make it a criminal offense for the British media to “bully a person up to the point that they take their own life”. Whether this will take off, we do not know.

I do worry that this will not stop the online hate that leads innocent lives being lost and families being destroyed.

AUTHOR: Meg Howe
Passionate History student and Educator

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ReLated Articles
magnifiercross
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap