Caroline Flack, the presenter of Love Island, and much-loved television and radio presenter, took her own life at her London flat three weeks before a court appearance. The allegations, for what her management termed a “show trial” centred around her alleged assault on her boyfriend, Lewis Burton.

The media circus that ensued following the Crown Prosecution Services (CPS) decision to proceed against Flack, resulted in her stepping down from her role in the ITV series. Flack, 40, was scheduled to appear in court on the 4th of March.

Her management had described the criminal proceedings as a “show trial” which was “without merit and not in the public interest”. Even her boyfriend, Burton, the alleged victim, had argued that the CPS’s interpretation of events was not accurate.

Tributes have poured in from friends, colleagues and fans, shocked and dismayed at her death.

Laura Whitmore, who stepped in to replace Flack as host for the winter series of Love Island, tweeted:

“I’m trying to find the words but I can’t.”

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly posted a tribute to Ms Flack on their shared Twitter account:

“We are both devastated to hear the news. It is beyond sad. Beyond words. So tragic.

Here is the full formal statement Flack’s Agents, Money Talent Management, just released.

“We are devastated at the loss of our client and friend Caroline Flack. An immensely talented young woman who was at the top of her game professionally and loved by television viewers across the country. In recent months Caroline had been under huge pressure because of an ongoing case and potential trial which has been well reported. The Crown Prosecution Service pursued this when they knew not only how very vulnerable Caroline was but also that the alleged victim did not support the prosecution and had disputed the CPS version of events. The CPS should look at themselves today and how they pursued a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest. And ultimately resulted in significant distress to Caroline. Our thoughts are with Caroline’s family at this time.”

The blame game is underway, as is so often the case when something happens we are unable to account for logically. We need reasons. We need scapegoats and in this instance, both the CPS and the media are complicit and easy targets.

Caroline Flack was crying out for help, as evidenced by a heart-wrenching statement she released on Instagram in October last year.

“The last few weeks I’ve been in a really weird place. I find it hard to talk about it. I guess it’s anxiety and pressure of life, and when I actually reached out to someone they said I was draining. I feel like this is why some people keep their emotions to themselves. I certainly hate talking about my feelings. And being a burden is my biggest fear. I’m lucky to be able to pick myself up when things feel shit. But what happens if someone can’t . Be nice to people. You never know what’s going on. Ever.”

British mainstream media and the gossip rags, for the most part, ignored the cries of clearly fragile individual and pursued her remorselessly. If you’re English and a celebrity, it is now seen as part of the price you pay for fame.

Put a toe over the line, or even look at the line and publications like the Sun are waiting. They thrive off the back of the misery of others, and if it doesn’t sound miserable enough, they’re quite happy to embellish. Liberally.

Johnny Depp sued them over a newspaper headline calling him a women beater. They’re not know for their impartial journalism and they will now be firmly in the sights of Flack’s many fans. Rightly so.

The Sun has hurriedly set about removing older negative articles posted on their website about Flack, an action that clearly indicates the realisation of their complicity.

A few comments from friends and supporters on Twitter would indicate just how accountable people hold not only the press but the whole rumour mill industry.

“It must be heartbreaking for the family & friends of Caroline Flack to read tributes from some of those who hounded her. Our ‘cancel’ culture is brutal. We all have demons and flaws but we dehumanise each other & are then surprised when it all becomes too much for some.” – Dan Walker

And this, from Jamie Theakston,

“There will be many tabloid editors, former tabloid editors, media commentators and journalists trawling back through tweets as we speak ..*deleting deleting deleting *. before they cry their crocodile tears tonight. You know who you are” #ripcaroline #caroline

There is a school of argument that suggests celebrities should be able to take whatever the media can hurl at them. That celebrities, by choice, choose to live in the public spotlight and should be able to cope with both the good and the bad. What these individuals fail to acknowledge is this.

There is no truth to be found in creating the news, interpreting small details and extrapolating on them simply for the sake of selling newspapers. Creating sensationalism and printing allegations simply for the purposes of paying the bills, at the expense of someone’s life, is fundamentally wrong.

There is a price to be paid for this, and in tragic instances, it is the victim, in this case, Flack, that has paid the ultimate price for their irresponsible behaviour.

The public is not without blame. Don’t be too quick to condemn the tabloids as the sole perpetrators of these evil practises. The very papers you decry could not exist without an eager audience to consume their lies. The darker side of humanity loves misery and controversy.

How guilty is the CPS in this deeply sad tale? That’s difficult to tell and we’ll need to wait for a formal investigation which will no doubt be called for. They’re in a difficult and unenviable position.

There is a lot of negative press currently associated with domestic abuse and prominent high profile cases such as Flack’s are especially difficult. The public, the same public reading and fuelling the rumour mills threads, are lurking.

Should the CPS not have have acted against Flack, they would have been persecuted as appearing to belittle the rights of men in domestic violence cases. Herein lies the danger of pandering to populist opinion and allowing it to influence due process.

We cannot allow our sense of ourselves to be defined by a few vocal voices seeking to disturb our societal norms for their own specific agendas.

The CPS chose to proceed with the case and it would appear from emerging evidence and statements from both Burton and Flack’s management that the case would eventually have been dismissed.

Sadly, and possibly because of new press coverage that would inevitably have resulted from the impending court appearance, Caroline Flack took matters into her own hands.

We’re all guilty ‘in absentia’ for Caroline’s death. We all have a part in it. We choose to remain silent when people cry out for help, we choose the path of least resistance, simply shaking our heads and moving on when we see miscarriages of justice.

We need to speak up and make our voices heard. We need to remove the financial crutches we provide to publications like The Sun. Actions speak, actions bring change. Boycott the publication, unfollow the rumour mongers on Social media. Silence them by removing their voices.

Alone, we cannot affect change, but you’re not alone. Cancel subscriptions, click to show your disgust and make a stand for your humanity. Raise your voice and speak out. Don’t let this beautiful young woman’s life simply turn into yet more headlines.

Let us instead celebrate her life by reclaiming our humanity. That would be a far more fitting epitaph for a life cut short by the evils of our modern society.

Our deepest sympathies go out to her family and friends. She will be missed by many.

Caroline Louise Flack 1979 - 2020