Former Love Island star Savanna Darnell has opened up about the negative impact appearing on the ITV show in 2018 had on her life in a new tell-all interview ahead of the new series.
The 26-year-old appeared in Casa Amor in 2018 in the hopes the experience would change her life and boost her profile for her music career, but she has now said she ended up in a “deep black hole of depression”.
The reality star described being scouted by the programme via an Instagram DM and then meeting with various producers, where she said she was told “how different I was because I wore Vans to the auditions”.
She told OK! : “I was living with my brother in London at the time, and he didn’t want me to go on the show. He thought it was trashy and not something he wanted his little sister taking part in. We had a huge argument and still don’t really speak to this day.”
Savanna claims she was flown out to “super strict quarantine” in Spain and told she was likely to be in the original line-up for her series, only to be sent home.
She said she was then flown out again for the Casa Amor stage of the show and given three days to convince the boys in the main villa to swap partners.
Savanna continued: “I was working against the clock trying to forge a connection. I ended up spending a lot of time with Wes Nelson, and we shared a bed on the final night. He told me that he was going to take me to the main villa, but the next day he’d changed his mind.
“I was asking my mum about the different scenes that were televised, when I got home, and she hadn’t seen any of it. So I watched it back myself and realised I was barely on the show at all.
“Out of the six girls, only two of us weren’t chosen. It was the most embarrassing moment in my whole entire life. I had to watch as they excitedly prepared to move across to the main villa – I just felt sick.”
She continued: “I can’t even remember the flight back to the UK. I’ve completely blocked it out of my memory. Recently, I finally started having therapy, but I just haven’t been able to discuss it all yet. I fell into a deep black hole of depression.”
Savanna struggled seeing the likes of Zara McDermott and Dani Dyer landing work and attending star studded events while she “was doing nothing”.
She continued: “I spoke to the ITV psychiatrist once but it brought up more bad feelings so I said no to more therapy. Looking back I should have enquired about medication as I really needed some kind of help. I covered it up as much as I could, but inside I was an absolute mess.
“I’d say to any contestant going in this year: be smart and remember there's more to life than just this show. It's great if it works out, but if it doesn't, you want to be able to still have a life to go back to. In other words, please don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
ITV have a series of duty of care protocols in place to protect those taking part in the show, which include comprehensive psychological support, training for all Islanders on the impacts of social media and handling potential negativity as well as training for all Islanders on financial management, detailed conversations with Islanders regarding the impact of participation on the show a proactive aftercare package and guidance on taking on management after the show.
ITV confirmed this week: “Extensive welfare measures remain in place to provide support to programme participants before, during and after filming.
“Ahead of this series, contributors on the show will be offered video training and guidance covering inclusive language around disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, behaviours and microaggressions.”
