This season of Love Island: All Stars has seen all the usual drama, but this time around many fans are also raising concerns about the amount of tears being shed by the dating show veterans – with Curtis Pritchard’s display of emotions last night prompting some viewers to question whether he needs greater mental health support.
After Millie Court called it quits on their blossoming relationship, Curtis was seen getting visibly upset.
"I think I just maybe got more feelings faster," Curtis told Millie, as she broke things off and the tears flowed. "It's never nice is it. Obviously I feel gutted, but I just want you to be happy so it is what it is.
"I didn't expect to come in here and actually catch feelings for someone that fast."
In response to a clip of Curtis that was posted on the official Love Island Instagram page, one fan wrote: “Is Curtis ok? Feel like he’s got more going on & needs some support” amassing over 800 likes. Another commented, “Curtis seems to be suffering with his mental health 💔🥺🥺🥺”.
A third added, “Curtis is a massive red flag crying like that how old he is 😵💫”.
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Curtis isn’t the only one we’ve seen reduced to tears this season either – Jess was visibly upset after a falling out with Whitney, and cried when things got heated between Sean and Scott during a gifting game. Sean also broke down and claimed Scott had it in for him, and Samie cried when Ciaran asked her to hold off on kissing (in order to be respectful to Lucinda... who stole him).
But why is it that the Islanders seem so much more prone to getting emotional the second time around, when you might assume they’ll know what to expect and have a better handle on it all? Well, according to psychotherapist Eloise Skinner, the stakes may well feel higher for those seeking a connection on TV part deux.
Speaking about Curtis in particular, Skinner said “it could be the pressure of the situation, exhaustion (apparently he was filming other reality TV shows recently), a loss of confidence, past emotional challenges that haven't been resolved, or just an authentic emotional reaction that might be perceived as 'too much' from a viewer's perspective, possibly with some stereotypes around masculinity”.
Psychologist, Dr Ahmar Ferguson, agrees that there are nuances at play when it comes to gender and how gracious the public can be when it comes to emotions on display.
“It’s important to acknowledge individual differences. Some of the men viewers are referring to, including Tommy, Sean and Curtis, appear to be temperamentally more sensitive. Sensitivity isn’t a weakness. When people with that predisposition are placed in an environment that amplifies rejection, uncertainty and social comparison, stronger emotional expression is not only expected, it’s entirely understandable.
“Crying in this context doesn’t indicate fragility or loss of control. Being rejected by a romantic interest is uncomfortable for anyone. Having that rejection occur publicly, within a tight social group, and with the added layer of it being televised, compounds the emotional load. What we’re seeing is less about something new or insidious happening within the programme, and more about very human responses playing out in an unusually intense setting.”
Overall, taking a second punt on the Villa also means re-entering with an even greater awareness of the importance of public perception, Skinner says. “Since leaving the show, many go on to become content creators or work at least partially in the influencer space, which provides a deeper level of awareness about how the public perceive behaviour.
“From a psychological level, this kind of identity awareness can result in more intentional, cultivated behaviour, rather than authentic responses. This is true of any reality TV participant, due to the nature of the show, but definitely accentuated in those who already have experience of this situation.”
She explains that for a first time reality star, there’s also the option of returning to a non-public facing job afterwards, which isn’t necessarily the case for this batch of round two hopefuls.
Rightly, Skinner adds, it’s worth noting that “our perceptions of the show are controlled and shaped by the edit chosen by the production team, so it might be that they want to emphasise the tears for various reasons – more engagement, perhaps tapping into a general social feeling of it being an emotionally tough time”.
Dr Ferguson also reminds that audiences ought to be careful with their words when it comes to discussing reality stars, saying that “in relation to Curtis specifically [...] describing visible distress as a 'mental breakdown' risks oversimplifying and pathologising a reaction that may actually be proportionate to the pressures involved.
“Emotional overwhelm, tearfulness and confusion under stress are not, in themselves, indicators of a psychological collapse. They are signs that someone is struggling in the moment, not that they are mentally unwell.”
When approached by Cosmopolitan UK for comment, a Love Island spokesperson assured us that everyone in the Villa has access to support whenever they need it, with check-ins taking place regularly: “The emotional wellbeing of all Islanders is paramount. Dedicated welfare producers monitor and speak with them all privately one-to-one, and psychological support is available 24/7.
“Islanders are therefore fully supported by both on-site professionals and their friends in the Villa.”
