Caroline Flack's suicide puts price of fame back in spotlight

Those in the public eye tragically taking their own lives is by no means a new phenomenon. Obviously the epic tales from ancient civilisations continue to resonate, though even more contemporary examples including the likes of American actors Ona Munson and Marilyn Monroe up to Italian-Egyptian singer Dalida or US rocker Kurt Kobain have ignited many a conversation usually with participants simply asking: 'why?' Severe illness or potential foul play aside, why would anyone with wealth, status and opportunities of which the majority can only dream decide to not only give it all up, but also permanently expunge themselves from this world? The recent spate of K-Pop fraternity suicides and, on Saturday, Caroline Flack - the third member from the UK's Love Island reality television show to decide to end their life in three years - have intensified scrutiny. The questions appear to be evolving from mere causality and accusations that some people are just not suited to the limelight, to the victims' occupational welfare - positing nobody could handle life under such pressure.
In the case of Flack, a presenter on Love Island since its 2015 inception and popular television host since her breakthrough on mainstream Channel 4 in 2005, speculation about her personal life has been constant fodder for the tabloids - a side-effect Flack initially had appeared to take in relatively good humour. When helming ITV2's The Xtra Factor in 2011, the then 31-year-old made a splash for dating 17-year-old X Factor contestant Harry Styles, yet would only answer with a smile if asked about the experience on camera. In 2009 she and Prince Harry enjoyed a private tryst until the press found out. Flack gave a tongue-in-cheek statement on the relationship in her book Storm In A C Cup (2015): "We had to stop seeing each other. I was no longer Caroline Flack, TV presenter, I was Caroline Flack, Prince Harry's bit of rough."
Increasingly sordid details about subsequent partners and news of Flack's deteriorating mental health behind the jolly on-stage facade only fuelled gossip columns and stand-ups' monologues. A comparison, although arguably not as extreme, could be made between her plight and that of Amy Winehouse - a point raised in the 2015 documentary Amy. We were all witnessing the decline though instead of reaching out to help, laughed and revelled in the jokes.
In December Flack was arrested for an alleged assault with a weapon (table lamp) on her boyfriend, Lewis Burton, at their north London home. After being charged, she was ordered to stay away from Burton. Flack was immediately relieved of all her presenting duties including fronting the new series of Love Island scheduled to kick-off only a few weeks later. Red Top headlines the morning after the incident including 'Bedroom Bloodbath' and a quickly assembled crude Valentine's Day card put for sale online featuring an illustration of Flack under the phrase 'I'll f...... lamp you', prompted the presenter to take to Instagram in January writing her family was "no longer up for entertainment or gossip". She was discovered dead on February 15th.
So where does the blame lie? Is it with Flack, who in previous generations may have been labeled frail or overwhelmed? Obviously not. Is it with her friends and family, who could have provided more support? We can't know they didn't do their all and given their stern tack with the media on Sunday saying in a statement: "We would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time and we would ask they make no attempt to contact us and/or photograph us," have indicated where they believe the fault rests.
It is time for the tabloids, both print and broadcast, to once again reevaluate the balance between public interest and intrusion. While Flack chose a life in the public eye, the unnecessary and incessant public shaming of a 40-year old woman should not be a clause in the contract.
david@khaleejtimes.com