Love island star Zara McDermott opens up about 'tough' online abuse from cruel trolls

The former government advisor has also been faced with plastic surgery accusations 
Emma Powell8 August 2018

Love Island star Zara McDermott has opened up about the barrage of online abuse she has faced since leaving Love Island, saying she is finding it “tough”.

McDermott said trolls target her weight and accuse her of having plastic surgery, something she vehemently denies.

The former government advisor, who revealed she was bullied at school during her teens, said she wants to work with young people to stamp out online abuse.

“I think, in Love Island, it’s an overnight fame you find,” she told Christine Lampard on Lorraine. “This is like you are catapulted into this world where all of a sudden people feel like they have the right to comment negatively on everything you do, just because you are in the public eye. I think that’s a controversial thing to do.

Tough: Zara McDermott has support from boyfriend Adam Collard
Ken McKay/ITV/Rex

“I don’t think it’s the comments so much that are so tough for me because I understand people have opinions. But it’s actually the fact I can’t empathise with someone else who chooses to comment negatively on my appearance because I would never do it to someone else.”

McDermott read out examples of messages she has received from trolls, one of which read: “She’s breathing in so much it hurts to look at… Think that bikinis a bit small for you love.”

Loved up: Zara McDermott and Adam Collard got each other's initials tattooed
Instagram/ Zara McDermott

She said she now has the “confidence” to hit back at negativity and said she wants to work in schools to educate children on the dangers of posting abusive content as they need to realise they are “leaving a footprint behind”.

McDermott’s boyfriend Adam Collard, who she met on the ITV2 reality show, said he tries to ignore trolls, but often “kills them with kindness”.

He said: “I try not to look at them as much. I try not to get involved. I’m very sarcastic. And I think almost ‘kill them with kindness’. The people who are commenting are usually insecure.

“I think some of the people that are commenting would probably regret some of the things they say the instant they press send. Instagram should have a final.”

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