Love Island star Anton Danyluk says going from 'hero to zero' after series led to him trying to take his life
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide and drug use, which some readers may find distressing.
Former Love Island star Anton Danyluk has opened up about how the pressures of finding fame on reality TV led to him trying to end his life in 2023.
During its heyday, the ITV series was a cultural phenomenon, turning everyday people such as Molly-Mae Hague, Maura Higgins and Olivia Attwood into bona fide celebrities.
However, the series has also been marred by several tragedies, most notably the deaths of former contestants Sophie Gradon, Mike Thalassitis and presenter Caroline Flack.
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Now, Prime Video's new two-part documentary The Curse of Love Island revisits the experiences of several former islanders in order to shed light on the darker side of reality TV fame.
"I was trying to chase the high Love Island gave me because nothing could quite give me that feeling."
One of the people to open up about the difficulties they experienced after Love Island is Scottish-born contestant Anton.
After appearing on the fifth season of the show, Anton would last 56 days in the villa before being dumped, coming home to a sizeable following and the countless opportunities which come along with being television's newest reality star.
However, Anton's struggles with fame came six months after he exited the villa, when the launch of ITV's short-lived winter series meant that a new crop of islanders were brought into the spotlight.
"It's hero to zero," Anton said of the viewers' shift in attention.
"You're on this high and then all of the sudden the next season of Love Island comes around, there's this switch, and suddenly no one gives a s**t anymore."
Finding fame at such a young age was also tough for fitness coach Anton, who was just 24 years old when he first appeared on TV screens, with the now 31-year-old explaining: "When you're young and you feel you've hit the peak of everything, it's hard to know what's next.
"That's the hardest bit of it, what comes after it."
When asked to comment on the allegations over aftercare failings, ITV explained that it would not be appropriate for the broadcaster to comment on the welfare of contestants, due to concerns about medical confidentiality.
After his popularity on the series waned, Anton found himself turning to alcohol and drugs, moving to Marbella in the summer of 2023 to immerse himself in the party lifestyle.
However, he continued to struggle with his mental health, culminating in trying to take his life after a 24-hour alcohol and drugs binge.
"I just wanted it to be over," he said.
ITV remains in 'proactive contact' with contestants for 14 months after the series ends
Following the deaths of Gradon and Thalassitis, ITV stepped up its duty of care protocol towards former contestants, which includes 'comprehensive psychological support', managing cast expectations and supporting islanders with financial management.
After his stint on the series, Anton was one of the islanders to be offered aftercare, with the Scotsman saying that he needed the support more in the long term rather than immediately after leaving the villa.
Anton did confirm that he reached out to ITV's psychological team during a difficult period in his life, but claimed he received a delayed response from producers, an interaction which he says left him feeling 'more worthless',
Responding to Anton's claims, a spokesperson for ITV said that Anton's alleged aftercare experience did not 'reflect their records', adding that support is available for 14 months after leaving the villa, with 'additional help provided where applicable'.
In a statement to LADbible, ITV said: "We are transparent that we maintain proactive contact with Islanders for a period of 14 months after the series in which they have appeared has ended, with additional help provided where applicable."
The broadcaster also pointed to testimonies from other ex-islanders such as Amy Hart, Megan Barton-Hanson and Alex George, who've all voiced support for the programme's aftercare procedures.
Despite the difficulties he faced, Anton did not lay the blame directly on the series itself, adding: "I'm not saying it was the show that got me to my lowest point, but definitely the aftermath of it did."
Both episodes of The Curse of Love Island will be available to watch on Prime Video from Sunday 26 July.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.
Topics: Love Island, ITV, TV, Amazon Prime, Mental Health
Brenna Cooper