Kerry Katona has spoken out in support of Caroline Flack following her alleged altercation with boyfriend Lewis Burton and subsequent stepping down from her role as Love Island host.
Comparing Caroline to fellow ITV face Ant McPartlin, who stepped back from all TV work in 2018 after a drink driving arrest, Kerry said that Caroline may face more scrutiny because she’s a woman.
“I applaud Ant McPartlin. I adore him. He’s done f---ing amazing to pull it all back,” she said.
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“But I think it is different for a man than it is for a woman. Within eight months of him crashing his car under the influence, into another with a little girl in it, he is winning awards.
“Then there’s me on This Morning, slurring my words due to mental health medication. I am still to this day crawling back up that ladder.
“I think with Caroline it’s different because she’s a woman. When we mess up, we have a hard time with it.”
CHECK OUT: Love Island 2020 contestants
LOVE ISLAND JANUARY 2020 C0NFIRMED LINE UP slider
1 of 20Leanne Amaning
Age: 22Hometown: LondonOccupation: Customer Service AdvisorDumped: 29th January after Mike chose to couple up with Sophie.
2 of 20Siânnise Fudge
Age: 25Hometown: BristolOccupation: Beauty Consultant
3 of 20Eve and Jess Gale
Age: 20Hometown: LondonOccupation: Students and VIP Hostesses Eve Gale: Dumped in the first re-coupling after she failed to be chosen by any of the guys.
4 of 20Shaughna Phillips
Age: 25Hometown: LondonOccupation: Democratic Services Officer Dumped after Luke Mabbot chose Demi Jones instead of her.
5 of 20Sophie Piper
Age: 21Hometown: EssexOccupation: Medical PADumped in a public vote, then by fellow Islanders with Wallace Wilson
6 of 20Paige Turley
Age: 22Hometown: West LothianOccupation: Singer
7 of 20Mike Boateng
Age: 24Hometown: LondonOccupation: Police Officer
8 of 20Connor Durman
Age: 25Hometown: BrightonOccupation: Coffee Bean SalesmanDumped: 26th January after he and Sophie were voted the public's least favourite couple, and the Islanders had to send one of them home.
9 of 20Callum Jones
Age: 23Hometown: ManchesterOccupation: ScaffolderDumped with partner Molly Smith in a public vote that culminated in Islanders decider.
10 of 20Nas Majeed
Age: 23Hometown: LondonOccupation: Sports Science Graduate and BuilderDumped with new partner Eva Zapico after leaving Casa Amor in public vote
11 of 20Ollie Williams
Age: 23Hometown: CornwallOccupation: Heir to the Lanhydrock Estate/Land OwnerLeft: Ollie quit the show on 14th January to get back with his ex.
12 of 20Finley Tapp
Age: 20Hometown: Milton KeynesOccupation: Recruitment consultant
13 of 20Connagh Howard
Age: 26Hometown: CardiffOccupation: ModelDumped: 25th January after he failed to be chosen by any of the women.
14 of 20Rebecca Gormley
Age: 21Hometown: NewcastleOccupation: Part-time Model and Carer
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15 of 20Luke Mabbott
Age: 24Hometown: RedcarOccupation: Heating Engineer
16 of 20Luke Trotman
Age: 22Hometown: LutonOccupation: Semi-pro footballer and Student
17 of 20Wallace Wilson
Age: 24Hometown: InvernessOccupation: Personal Trainer
18 of 20Demi Jones
Age: 21Hometown: PortsmouthOccupation: Fashion Advisor in a local boutique
19 of 20Wallace Wilson
Age: 24Hometown: InvernessOccupation: Personal trainerDumped: Public vote that culminated in an Islander decider along with Sophie Piper
20 of 20Ched Uzor
Age: 23Hometown: SuffolkOccupation: Scaffolder
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Kerry also mentioned Caroline’s Love Island replacement Laura Whitmore, who stepped in at the last minute after Caroline announced she was taking a break from the series.
“I think Laura has done an amazing job. I’d worry if I was Caroline, seeing it . . . she’s doing a good job, they are not going to take me back.’”
Releasing a statement after the scandal broke at the end of last year, Caroline said, “Love Island has been my world for the last five years, it’s the best show on telly.
“In order to not detract attention from the upcoming series I feel the best thing I can do is to stand down for series six.
“I want to wish the incredible team working on the show a fantastic series in Cape Town.”