Love Island contestant Amy Hart has revealed the reason she quit the reality show, citing her mental health as a major concern.
The 26-year-old flight attendant had been coupled up with fellow Love Island contestant Curtis Pritchard.
However, after the contestants were separated into two separate villas, the other known as Casa Amor, Pritchard admitted he wanted to put an end to their romantic relationship as he had attempted to pursue contestant Jourdan Riane unbeknown to Hart.
Just days later, Pritchard initiated a new romance with contestant Maura Higgins, which Hart now says she feared would trigger her anxiety.
In an interview with The Sun, the beauty pageant winner said that seeing her former partner moving on with another woman was too difficult and that she decided to quit the show in order to protect her mental health.
“I chose my mental health over the reality show,” Hart said.
”I was in a very horrible place over the last week, to be told that the gloves were off with Maura and I had to ‘brace myself’, like a storm. I knew I had to leave when I did.
“It’s not nice. I have to put myself and my sanity first.”
Hart also revealed that she lost a total of six pounds through not eating and that Love Island producers “stood over” her to make sure she ate.
“I felt so numb. I didn’t feel hungry,” she recalled.
“When I wouldn’t eat, they would stand over me and make me eat a bowl of food or I couldn’t do the challenges.”
The reality star added that she feels “a million times better” now she has left the Love Island villa.
Despite her mental health worries since appearing on the show, Hart praised Love Island’s duty of care, which had previously been placed under scrutiny after former contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis took their own lives.
“I used to be a bit scared of therapy and since going in the villa I love it,” Hart said.
“They gave me tools to deal with it. They were on call for 24 hours.”
On Tuesday night’s episode of the show, Hart announced she was leaving the villa in an emotional speech to Pritchard.
“I’m gonna let you pursue whoever it is you wanna pursue, because you can’t do that with me here and I can’t heal in here,” Hart said.
“And once this is all done, we will have the best friendship you’ll ever see in your life. The only way we’re gonna be friends is if I go now. I hope you find someone that makes you so, so happy.”
Following their conversation, the pair gathered their fellow islanders around the fire pit to inform them about Amy’s decision.
Later, Hart told the cameras: “I never thought I would meet someone so special that I would fall in love, and I know now that that will happen for me again.”
