Emma-Jane Woodhams ‘regrets’ having sex on Love Island and subjecting her family to online abuse

By Liam On Feb 8, 2023

Emma-Jane Woodhams has admitted she “regrets” having sex on Love Island and subjecting her family to online abuse after appearing on the dating show.

The former contestant, who was just 19 years old during her stint in the village, appeared on television screens playing fellow contestant Terry Walsh, then 28, in the second season.

Looking back on her time, Emma, now 26, has said that she thought by “doing it openly” the scenes would not air.

Speaking about the abuse she and her family received after leaving the village, Emma said she “struggled to accept” her mistake because she was so young.

This year, Love Island made changes to its duty of care measures and will provide enhanced relationship behavior training, as well as a ban on social media.

Bad idea: Emma-Jane Woodhams, 26, admitted she “regrets” having sex on Love Island and subjecting her family to online abuse after appearing on the dating show (pictured in 2022 )

In an interview with SunEmma said: ‘I was talking to the other girls [in the villa] and they said doing it openly was the way they had been able to prevent their time in the hideout from being aired.

Being as young as I was, it stays with you and you have to take it with you, and I wouldn’t wish for what I went through when I met my worst enemy.

“And I really struggled to come to terms with the fact that my family had been subjected to that as well, because of what I had done.”

Emma went on to say that she can now see that the show has taken new steps in her aftercare, but she wishes her scene had remained private.

A year after the incident in 2017, she revealed that 12 months later, she was still being picked on for her “huge, huge mistake” by complete “strangers.”

Speaking in a video on Instagram, he said: “Last year on Love Island I made a mistake, I made a massive, massive mistake and I know it.”

“The amount of abuse I receive, even now, because of it, from outsiders not letting me live a mistake that I have repeatedly apologized for is horrendous.”

Admitting that she had grown “very thick skin”, Emma-Jane said she refused to keep quiet any longer.

Throwback: The former contestant, who was just 19 during her stint in the village, appeared on TV screens playing fellow contestant Terry Walsh, then 28, in the second series (pictured)

Regrets: Looking back on her time, Emma has said that she thought by “doing it openly” the scenes would not air (pictured with Terry)

She said: “No one is speaking up and saying, behind these accounts we are real people, with real feelings and we are very hurt by people who have absolutely no right to say such spiteful and vile things because they don’t like us.” a show that was meant for some lighthearted entertainment.

“When people include my family in the comments, that’s what hurts me the most, that’s what hurts me deeply, but I’m so lucky to have an amazing family that loves me and forgave me for Love Island last year, so I think it’s time the public did too.’

Ending on a positive note, he concluded, “I’m just going to keep going and keep my head up and look to the future.”

Horrible: She said, “With me being as young as I was, it stays with you and you have to take it with you, and I wouldn’t wish for what I went through when I met my worst enemy.”

After investigating the scenes following a number of complaints from viewers, Ofcom eventually ruled that the clips did not violate its rules.

Sex had been featured on the show before, and on other reality shows, but this was believed to be the first time it had been shown in full view of cameras rather than under the covers.

In its ruling on Love Island, Ofcom said broadcasters showing “real sex” should be careful as it could offend more than making love in a film or TV drama. But he concluded that the ITV2 station had not violated its rules.

ITV2 claimed that the show was aimed at a young adult audience and regularly featured sexual activity, meaning viewers should have known what to expect.

On the show: The 2016 series alone included more than 30 similar incidents of couples engaging in sexual activity, though the scenes broadcast were “relatively inexplicit,” ITV2 said.

The 2016 series alone included more than 30 similar incidents of couples engaging in sexual activity, although the scenes broadcast were “relatively inexplicit”, ITV2 said in its response to Ofcom.

Scenes between the duo were edited and “carefully avoided any shot being too explicit, and there is relatively little sound included in Emma and Terry’s lovemaking,” the station added.

Emma used a combination so that full nudity was not shown and the sequence was set to the Song of the Toreador from the opera Carmen “for deliberate comic effect,” the channel said.

Love Island duty of care protocols in full, prior to the 2023 series

The entire duty of care process is outlined below:

Pre Filming and Filming

– Registered mental health professional involved in the entire series, from pre-filming to aftercare.

– Comprehensive pre-filming medical and psychological evaluations, including evaluations by an independent doctor, a psychological consultant, and reports from each islander’s GP to verify medical history.

– Prospective islanders are required to confidentially disclose any medical history that is relevant to their inclusion in the Village and the production’s ability to provide them with a suitable environment.

– Managing cast expectations: detailed explanations, both verbally and in writing, of the implications, both positive and negative, of participating in the series are given to potential cast members throughout the casting process and reinforced in the contract to be clear.

– The cast are told that they should consider all the potential implications of participating in the show and work through this decision-making process in consultation with their family and those closest to them, to ensure they feel it is the right thing for them to do. they.

– The senior team on the ground have received mental health first aid training.

– A wellness team dedicated exclusively to the islanders both during the show and after.

Aftercare

– Personalized training on the management of social networks and advice on finances and adaptation to life at home.

– A minimum of eight therapy sessions will be offered to each islander when they return home.

– Proactive contact with Islanders for a period of 14 months after the end of the series in which they have appeared, with additional help in their case.

– We encourage Islanders to secure management to represent them after the show and manage them should they decide to participate in other TV shows, ad campaigns or other public appearance opportunities.