The curtain is about to close on the latest series of Love Island, but the real drama has only just begun. A new Prime Video documentary, 'The Curse of Love Island', drops a bombshell into our collective consciousness, delving headfirst into the toxic world of reality TV and the human cost it exacts.
As the UK's favourite guilty pleasure since its revival in 2015, Love Island has long been a cultural phenomenon. But despite its continued popularity – albeit with viewing figures waning slightly to 600,000 for this year's launch – there can be no denying that the show's dark underbelly has left an indelible mark on British television.
Candid testimonials from former Islanders are the lifeblood of this documentary, laying bare the intense highs and crushing lows they've endured. Anton Danyluk, who first appeared in 2019 and later in Love Island: All Stars in 2024, opens up about his struggles with substance abuse and a harrowing attempt on his own life.
Luis Morrison (2015) is another contributor, and his words are laced with disgust as he revisits old footage. Malin Andersson (2016), meanwhile, paints the show in stark colours: 'quite toxic', she says, 'so superficial and artificial'. She also accuses producers of manipulating contestants during confrontations – a claim that raises more questions than answers.
As the documentary hurtles forward, it tackles the full spectrum of what these participants faced. Friends and experts share their insights into the relentless trolling and public scrutiny that Sophie Gradon (2016) endured before her tragic passing in 2018. Mike Thalassitis (2017), who met a similar fate just two years later, was forever known as 'Muggy Mike' – a catchphrase psychologist Linda Papadopoulos argues has done irreparable damage to our understanding of him.
The documentary has not been without its critics, however. Some argue it's too focused on the programme itself, rather than getting to the heart of what drives these tragedies. But experts like Papadopoulos stress that this isn't about blaming a single show or entity – rather, it's about understanding how a perfect storm of online vitriol, financial strain, pre-existing mental health conditions and more can lead down such a dark path.
Marcel Somerville (2017) even suggests that the improved contestant care measures put in place after these tragedies might have made all the difference for Thalassitis – although, as we know, it's impossible to change history.