Love Island star Jacques O'Neill has issued a lengthy statement amid a row about his behaviour while in the villa. The former rugby player quit the ITV2 dating show last month in one of the most emotional moments in the 2022 series.
He decided to leave the villa amid the fallout of annual 'relationship test' Casa Amor saying he needed to "get back to himself". After leaving the villa, Jacques has said that taking part in the show was the 'worst decision of his life'. But he has since signed to Manchester's Social PR, run by former islander Scott Thomas.
However, Jacques has since been involved in a row about his behavior while in Mallorca, just over a week since the Love Island final aired and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti were crowned the show's latest winners. He has no taken to social media to apologise and told fans how he is now in therapy.
READ MORE: ITV Love Island's Luca Bish shares subtle support for Gemma after sharing post-villa reality
In the statement, fellow islander Gemma Owen's ex-boyfriend said "there is work that needs to be done on myself" and that he is "not asking for sympathy." Jacques' statement comes after fellow Islander Remi Lambert made a post in which he claimed he felt picked on by Jacques and Luca Bish.
The post was also liked by fellow Islander Tasha Ghouri who has since unfollowed Jacques on social media, as has her boyfriend Andrew Le Page. Reacting to recent events, 23-year-old Jacques penned in a message posted to his Instagram Story on Thursday (August 11): "I just want to acknowledge the situation that's happening right now and apologise if my behaviour has caused offence or been misinterpreted over the last few weeks.
"I genuinely have no bad feelings towards anyone and I've not meant for anything to come across that way at all. It was not my intention and I'm genuinely sorry if it has. Life has been very overwhelming recently and admittedly I've probably not handled myself in the best possible way.
"I take full responsibility for my actions. I'm aware I'm far from perfect and that there is work that needs to be done on myself." He went on to say: "I had my first therapy session on Monday which really took me out of my comfort zone, I know I have needed this for years but it's only now I have decided to get help. I know it's a step in the right direction for me even after just 1 session.
"I'm not asking for sympathy, I just want to acknowledge the situation and move forward as positively as I can. However, I know this can be used as an important lesson for me moving forward and over the coming years. I hope I can become the person I want to be and use this new platform to spread a positive message."
He ended his post: "I'm so sorry to anyone that I have let down." ITV has also been forced to speak out and deny rumours Jacques was 'removed' from the villa for misogynistic behaviour. It comes after thousands of viewers lodged official complaints with Ofcom during the series relating to the behaviour of the boys, including Jacques.
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