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8 hours ago
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Love Island USA Issues Statement on “Cyberbullying” of Contestants
Kate Cassidy is asking for kindness.
The influencer—who dated One Direction singer Liam Payne for two years before his death in October—expressed empathy for new Love Island USA star Vanna Einerson whose appearance has been subject to scrutiny online since she joined season seven of the Peacock dating competition show during the June 23 episode.
"People are brutal in this world," Kate said in a June 24 TikTok video. “I don't even watch Love Island. This beautiful girl who goes into the villa, I guess, Vanna, she is so pretty, she's so young. She's being ripped to shreds on TikTok, on the internet. It is insane, and it is so mean and hurtful."
When Vanna first joined the show, many viewers expressed surprise that the reality star is just 21 years old, given her mature features.
Kate went on, "Could you imagine not having your phone, going into a villa, whatever, being all excited to meet all these new people, you come out, you get your phone back and you're just scrolling and it's literally just degrading, mean s--t?"
And the 26-year-old understands what Vanna is going through.
"I get it; I have been slandered on the internet before," Kate explained. "Like, literally, I've heard it all. I've heard, 'you look like a mother,' 'you look like a mom,' 'you look literally 45,' 'no way she's 25, 'I can't even believe it, I thought she was at least 40.'"
"Guys, it's so mean," she added. "It actually literally genuinely hurts. It's mean, and it's just so uncalled for."
Kate ended her video with a straightforward message, saying, "Just three simple words, ready? Just be kind."
Peacock
Her plea for viewers to be kinder to Vanna comes after Love Island USA aired a similar message to fans during its latest episode.
"THE KEYWORD IN LOVE ISLAND IS...LOVE,” the screen said at one point during the show's June 24 episode. “WE LOVE OUR FANS. WE LOVE OUR ISLANDERS, WE DON'T LOVE CYBERBULLYING, HARASSMENT OR HATE."
Instagram/Kate Cassidy
The series also issued a “friendly reminder to our Love Island USA Family” across its official social media platforms earlier that day.
“We appreciate the fans, the passion for the series, and the amazing group of Islanders who are sharing their summer with us,” the note read. “Please just remember they’re real people so let’s be kind and spread the love!”
Keep reading for more about this season's Love Island USA Islanders...
Peacock
Bryan Arenales
Boston, Massachusetts
Peacock
Elan Bibas
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Peacock
Courtney "CoCo" Watson
Los Angeles, Calfornia
Peacock
Clarke Carraway
Columbia, South Carolina
Peacock
Chris Seeley
Fresno, California
Peacock
Zak Srakaew
Roi Et, Thailand
Peacock
Zac Woodworth
Portland, Utah
Peacock
JD Dodard
Dallas, Texas
Peacock
Jaden Duggar
Los Angeles, California
Peacock
Gracyn Blackmore
Bristol, Virginia
Peacock
Savanna "Vanna" Einerson
Salt Lake City, Utah
Peacock/NBCUniversal
Andreina Santos
Peacock/NBCUniversal
Thomas John "TJ" Thomas
Peacock
Belle-A Walker
Honolulu, Hawaii
Peacock
Austin Shepard
Northville, Michigan
Peacock
Ace Greene
Los Angeles, California
Peacock
Chelley Bissainthe
Orlando, Florida
Peacock
Huda Mustafa
Raleigh, North Carolina
Peacock
Nicolas Vansteenberghe
Jacksonville, Florida
Peacock
Jeremiah Brown
Los Angeles, California
Peacock
Olandria Carthen
Decatur, Alabama
Peacock
Yulissa Escobar
Miami, Florida
Peacock
Taylor Williams
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Peacock
Cierra Ortega
Peacock
Charlie Georgiou
Voted Out
English (US)