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Love Island’s Jacques O’Neill has revealed he’s started therapy as he apologised following accusations that he ‘mocked and bullied’ Tasha Ghouri.
Breaking his silence after it was revealed that both Tasha and her beau Andrew Le Page, 27, had unfollowed him on Instagram, the reality star, 23, penned a lengthy post insisting he doesn’t have ‘any bad feelings’ towards anyone from the show.
Jacques recently came under fire after a video leaked on Twitter that showed him appearing to mock Tasha, 23, sparking fury from fans who claimed that despite quitting the villa over his mental health, he cared little for the wellbeing of others.
Candid: Love Island’s Jacques O’Neill has revealed he’s started therapy as he apologised following accusations that he ‘mocked and bullied’ Tasha Ghouri
Sharing a lengthy post to his Instagram Stories, Jacques insisted he never intended to show any dislike towards any Love Island stars, and after an ‘overwhelming’ time since leaving the show he hadn’t ‘handled himself in the best possible way.
The rubgy player added that he completed his first therapy session on Monday, something which he needed to do ‘for years.’
Jacques said: ‘I just want to acknowledge the situation that’s happening right now and apologise if my behaviour has caused offence or been misinterpreted over the last few weeks.
‘I genuinely have no bad feelings towards anyone and I’ve not meant for anything to come across that way at all. It was not my intention and I’m genuinely sorry it has.
Backlash: The rugby star broke his silence after it was revealed that Tasha and her beau Andrew Le Page (pictured) have unfollowed him on Instagram
Insightful: Sharing a lengthy post to his Instagram Stories, Jacques insisted he doesn’t have ‘any bad feelings’ towards other stars in the villa, and he recently had his first therapy session
‘Life has been very overwhelming recently and admittedly I’ve probably not handled myself in the best possible way. I take full responsibility for my actions. I’m aware I’m far from perfect and that there is work that needs to be done to myself.
‘I had my first therapy session on Monday which really took me out of my comfort zone, I know have needed this for years but it’s only now I have decided to get help. I know it’s a step in the right direction for me even after just one session.
‘I’m not asking for sympathym I just wanted to acknowledge the situation and move forward as positively as I can.
‘However, I know this can be used as an important lesson for me moving forward and over the coming years. I hope I can become the person I want to be and use this new platform to spread a positive message. I’m sorry to anyone that I have let down.’
Drama: On Wednesday it was revealed that Tasha and Andrew were no longer following Jacques on Instagram
On Wednesday it was revealed that Tasha and Andrew were no longer following Jacques on Instagram, after he came under fire for mocking her in the private Instagram Story which was leaked online.
Many said they were feeling a lot less sympathetic to his mental health plight, and claimed he was bullying Tasha.
It comes after Tasha liked a post shared by fellow Love Island alum Remi Lambert on Tuesday where he accused Jacques of ‘bullying’ him during his short stint in the villa.
Fans picked up on Andrew and Tasha unfollowing Jacques on Twitter as one wrote: ‘Andrew unfollowed Jacques. We stan a supportive boyfriend’.
Another added: ‘Yess both Andrew and Tasha unfollowed Jacques and I’m here for it #loveisland’.
Awkward: Jacques (pictured last week) came under fire for mocking Tasha in a private Instagram Story that was leaked online
‘AND Andrew unfollowed Jacques today? The men are waking up,’ a third wrote.
Andrew, Tasha and Jacques’ representatives have been contacted by MailOnline for a comment.
It comes after last week Jacques came under fire for mocking Tasha in a private Instagram Story that was leaked online.
Social media statement: Neither Tasha nor Andrew come up on his list of followers when their names are searched for
The Love Islander, 23, filmed himself watching Tasha’s speech to Andrew in the final at the Summer Ball.
Over the top he quoted Davide Sanclimenti’s now iconic words, saying: ‘You’re a liar, an actress, go the f**k out!’
One fan tweeted in response: ‘So Jacques left the villa to protect his own mental health but is still bullying one of the girls from the outside. Does mental health not matter to girls no?’
Another agreed, writing: ‘We said f**k Jacques from the start for his behaviour towards Paige and Tasha in the villa but all of the misogynists used ‘#bekind’ and ‘men’s mental health matters too’ as a weapon to excuse his behaviour.’
In hot water: It comes after last week Jacques came under fire for mocking Tasha in a private Instagram Story that was later leaked on Twitter
A third echoed: ‘mental health this, mental health that, until it’s women’s mental health, right jacques?’
Someone else chimed in to add: ‘How about stop giving p****s the platform to rectify their image when they still mocking others on the internet Jacques doesn’t care about others mental health’.
And a fifth added: ‘How do you leave the show for ‘mental health’ but bully other people? But we all have to ‘Be kind’ to Jacques though?’
On Thursday, Tasha’s dad waded into the row, taking to Twitter to share a sly dig at Jacques.
Speech: He filmed himself watching Tasha’s speech to Andrew in the Love Island final and over the top he quoted Davide’s words, saying: ‘You’re a liar, an actress, go the f**k out!’
Replying to the video clip, he wrote: ‘Some people grow and mature from their Island experience, some don’t. It is what it is.’
Jacques quit the Love Island villa the same week love rival Adam Collard entered after he threatened his relationship with Paige.
He later revealed that during his time on the show he felt ‘the worst he ever had in his life’.
Also this week Love Island’s Remi Lambert accused Jacques and Luca Bish of ‘bullying’ him in a damning post on social media.
Reaction: After the video was leaked on Twitter, fans started to turn on Jacques, arguing that he had quit the villa over his mental health, but cared little about the mental health of others, especially that of women
The Manchester native entered the villa as a bombshell on day nine and was dumped just three days later when he failed to survive the recoupling.
His strong words for Luca and Jacques came after the pair took part in an Instagram Live where they mocked Remi’s rapping skills.
In the video, Jacques was reading comments coming in from fans and thought he saw one from Remi, but it was actually from a fake account.
Jacques said: ‘Remi’s just commented, “what are you boys saying about me and my rapping?” I said it’s really really good, you should turn pro.’
Luca asked: ‘Is Remi commenting? I can’t see the comments.’
Jacques said he was and then repeating the rapping comment in a seemingly sarcastic tone.
Luca then said: ‘Pro? A pro rapper? He ain’t got… What’s he gonna do? Work in Harrods next year?’ which made Jacques laugh.
Remi shared the video on his Instagram and wrote a lengthy post accusing both Luca and Jacques of bullying him while he was in the villa and said they should have been kicked out for their behaviour.
Strong words: Also this week, Love Island ‘s Remi Lambert accused Jacques and Luca Bish of ‘bullying’ him in a damning post on social media
He said: ‘@LoveIsland I never joined their live so I didn’t comment actually. A fake account called remilamb0 did. Don’t know why these guys have such a problem with me, clearly got some serious issues they need to sort out.
‘Everyone said I lied about the way I was treated in that villa, but this here is an example of what was going on whilst I was in there. Don’t know why they wasn’t kicked out for their behaviour to be honest. It’s not banter, it’s clear signs of bullying.
‘I wish everyone could see all of the crap I went through. There’s 24 hours in a day and yous only seen like about 3-5 10 second clips of me out of the whole day, so you could never tell what was truly happening.
‘Jacques said bad things about my appearance and the way I speak, whilst Luca was encouraging it. After about 3 strikes from Jacques I told him I won’t be speaking to him anymore in the villa.
Video: His strong words for Luca and Jacques came after the pair took part in an Instagram Live where they mocked Remi’s rapping skills
‘Later on he tried apologising to me but like 10 minutes after he started with the snide comments again. I’ve tried to avoid this guy multiple times but he always ends up starting again. I don’t know when it will stop.
‘Worst person to represent mental health and ADHD campaigns. He’s still out here mocking not just me but other islanders too.
‘You’d think with such a big platform they would use it to promote peace, but they’re using it to troll and they’re loving the attention. Immature.
‘These guys are not role models or good people. They have not once thought about my mental health. If I wasn’t so strong minded I could’ve done something stupid to myself by now, but they don’t care at all. I want justice.’
Remi received support from fellow Love Islander Tasha who liked his post.
Remi’s statement comes after he claimed his time on the show was ‘ruined’ after an unaired row with Jacques.
Statement: Remi wrote a lengthy post accusing both Luca and Jacques of bullying him while he was in the villa and said they should have been kicked out for their behaviour