Caroline Flack, former host of Britain's Love Island, dies at 40

The Guardian

Flack was found dead at her London home on Saturday. A lawyer for the Flack family told Sky News she committed suicide, though authorities have yet to make an official announcement. “We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today, 15 February," Flack's family said in a statement. "We would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time and we would ask they make no attempt to contact us and/or photograph us.” Flack made headlines in December when she was arrested for allegedly attacking her boyfriend and accused of hitting him on the head with a lamp, prompting her resignation from Love Island, which she hosted for five seasons. Flack died weeks before her trial over the alleged incident was set to begin on March 4. In addition to hosting Love Island, Flack also co-hosted Simon Cowell's The X Factor for one season in 2015 after co-presenting its spinoff aftershow The Xtra Factor from 2011 to 2013. Twitter users quickly blamed the British tabloids, particularly The Sun, for hounding Flack and, as British journalist Heidi Moore put it, making "sport of her life for years." Get Shorty star Chris O'Dowd tweeted of his friend: "Might be an idea to ignore every inch of tabloid coverage of this horrible news. They profited from her life, they certainly don’t deserve to profit from her death." O'Dowd added in another tweet: "Caroline was so f*ckin fun. She had the best cackle of a laugh. She deserved so much better. She’s gone far too soon. My heart goes out to her sister Jo and the family. You’ll be so missed darlin, by so many." On Valentine's Day yesterday, The Sun posted a "No Flacks Given" story about a "Brutal Caroline Flack Valentine's Day Card" that read "I'll f*cking lamp you." The article has since been taken down. The Good Place alum Jameela Jamil, a former British TV presenter herself who often makes UK tabloid headlines, tweeted: "It was only a matter of time before the media and a prolonged social media dogpile, hers lasted for MONTHS, pushed someone completely over the edge. Rest In Peace Caroline Flack. This is f*cking horrendous."