Yesterday afternoon, it was announced that Dani Dyer's boyfriend at-the-time, Sammy Kimmence (and the father of her son, Santiago), would face three and a half years in jail after pleading guilty to five counts of fraud.
It was reported that the stockbroker cried in court as the verdict was reached and his actions (scamming two elderly men out of over £30,000) will now leave Dani a single mum, and son Santiago somewhat fatherless.
At the time of writing this piece, Dani herself was still publicly together with Sammy; however, today, just as the dust was beginning to settle on yesterday's news, it was revealed that Dani, daughter of EastEnders actor Danny Dyer, had reportedly 'split' from former boyfriend Sammy.
Since the 25-year-old's sentence was announced, Dani has remained silent on her Instragram grid. But, in the short time between initially writing this piece yesterday and the couple's 'split' being announced today, the new mum has already deactivated comments on all posts with Sammy.
We have to ask: did Dani's followers continue to harass her on social media, even after she called time on her criticised relationship? Even after she did exactly what some users demanded she do in her Instagram comments...
"Disown him," one even wrote.
Did Dani's followers continue to harass her on social media, even after she called time on her criticised relationship?
Of course, that's not to say Dani should heed the advice of harassing users in her Instagram comments, nor does it mean we can dispute the court's verdict - especially considering one of the victims in question passed away before justice could even be served.
What is, ultimately, troubling is rather the fact that Dani is now receiving an abundance of social media trolling for a crime she herself did not commit.
CHECK OUT: All the Love Islanders of yore's Instagram earnings RANKED
Love Islander Instagram earnings 2021 RANKED - slider
1 of 10Georgia Harrison
10) @georgialouiseharrison - £2,019 per postKicking things off in the bottom spot is Love Island 2017's Georgia Harrison. If this 26 year old did just one sponsored post per month, she could be taking home a comfortable £24k annual salary (...and she's defo doing more than one a month, FYI).
2 of 10Anton Danyluk
9) @anton_danyluk - £2,244 per postNext up, we have Love Island 2019's Anton Danyluk. In February 2020, Anton declared three ADs on his Insta feed - if we inflate that to a yearly salary, the 25 year old would be taking home a whopping £80k. Wowza.
3 of 10Gabby Allen
8) @gabbydawnallen - £2,381 per postFollowing on from Anton is Love Island 2017's Gabby Allen. In November 2020, Gabby posted six official ads on her feed - the most of our influencers so far. Adding that up over the course of a year, Gabby's theoretical salary would be drum roll £170k. Maybe we should sign up for Love Island 2021...
4 of 10Kaz Crossley
7) @kazcrossley - £2,645 per postIn seventh position is Love Island 2018's Kaz Crossley. Currently in Dubai, Kaz has posted two ads this month so far, though she often posts more. Based on her #spon content this month, Kaz's predicted salary would come in at around £60k, increasing by £30k annually for every additional ad she regularly posts each month.
5 of 10Laura Anderson
6) @lauraanderson1x - £3,113 per postIn sixth position (though, tbh, they're all winners with these salaries...) is former air hostess Laura Anderson. She's posted two official ads this month, bringing her potential salary to £74k. But, as with all the influencers, ads aren't the be all and end all. Influencers can be paid for things such as exposure and, most commonly, they can be paid through experiences and commodities - e.g. mini breaks, clothes etc.
6 of 10Zara McDermott
5) @zara_mcdermott - £3,143 per postGetting into the bigger names now. Zara McDermott comes in fifth position with £3,143 per post. This is what the 24 year old could earn solely through her Instagram, not to mention her contract with Made in Chelsea, her new fitness-wear range with Missguided - for this very much up and coming influencer, the possibilities are endless.
7 of 10Shaughna Phillips
4) @shaughnaphillips - £3,294 per postNext up, and rather a surprise entry, is Love Island 2020's Shaughna Phillips. It's been less than a year since this Islander left the villa and she's already filling one of the top spots for her potential Insta earnings. She's posted three ads this month, bringing her predicted salary to a pukka £118k, but we have a feeling social media is just the tip of the iceberg for this one.
8 of 10Alex Bowen
3) @ab_bowen - £3,412 per postInto our top three, Alex Bowen was Love Island series two's runner up along with wife Olivia. The pair have been somewhat of a power couple since leaving the villa, and it's not a surprise brands are willing to pay for the 28 year old's whopping 1.6million followers exposure. Still, £3,412 - that's 11% of the UK's median income (in 2019, according to ONS).
9 of 10Tommy Fury
2) @tommytntfury - £6,724 per post...Followed by one half of what's arguably the UK's biggest influencer power couple, Mr. Tommy Fury. Tommy rakes in almost double Alex's per post earnings with a whopping £6,724 and that's not even including his winnings as a professional boxer.
10 of 10Molly-Mae Hague
1) @mollymaehague - £10,690 per postAnd finally, Love Island's highest influencer earner, Molly-Mae Hague. This comes as absolutely no surprise with Molly having set up her own tanning brand, a babein' collection with PLT and her own YouTube channel with 1.43million subscribers. All in the two years since she and Tommy became Love Island runners up. This girl is a savvy businesswoman and she's not to be messed with, if you ask us.
After a quick browse of the former Love Islander's Instagram comments yesterday, you could spot remarks ranging from, "How embarrassing your bf is a great role model 🤣🤣🤣," to "Scamming two elderly men absolutely disgusting 🤮."
It's possible that commenters are accusing Dani of being complicit in her ex-boyfriend's charges or, potentially, of using the profits of his crimes (the two elderly men's funds) to fund both his and her lavish Essex lifestyles.
Certainly, while one follower commented under one of Dani's sponsored posts, " @mybabiieofficial please stop using this crime family to promote your products," another wrote, "Is this paid out the old peoples money?" beneath a snap of the former couple moving house back in March.
From her plush Epping Forest home, to trips to the notoriously expensive restaurant Sheesh, it's true, Dani hasn't been living quietly since Sammy's charges were announced back in 2020. But...she's not the one who's been sentenced and, even then, is she not being punished enough?
"Is she not being punished enough?"
Make associations all you like but, while Sammy goes to jail for a maximum of 42 months, Dani will remain free, but imprisoned in her own way. Overnight, she has now been left a single mum and her son a six month old with an absent father during the first of his formative years.
Being a single mum is, of course, not something to look down on; however, for Dani, it is the absence of choice for both her and Santiago in their soon-to-change lifestyle that should warrant her followers to respect her privacy.
After all, it's hard enough being a mum to a six month old as it is, let alone dealing with your ex-boyfriend's fraud charges and undergoing a 180° parenting change before your son's even learnt to say dada.
What is the point in trolling Dani Dyer's Instagram? She hasn't exactly got off Scot-free, give her some space.
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Previously, while she was pregnant, it was reported that Dani was "terrified" for Sammy's sentencing.
Speaking to The Sun, an inside source claimed, "Dani is upset and worried.
"She’s expecting a child with a bloke who could go to prison. Her baby is due at the end of January and then Sammy will up in court a few weeks later.
"Those first few weeks of having a newborn baby are so special but it will also be the countdown to his trial."