Love Island's Chris Hughes is lauded by mental health charity for showing emotions after anxiety battle... as fans brand Olivia 'callous and nasty' for blaming her unpopularity on his tears

Published: 01:41 BST, 14 July 2017 | Updated: 02:54 BST, 14 July 2017

e-mail

View
comments

Love Island star Chris Hughes has been lauded by mental health charity Signpost for candidly displaying his emotions on the ITV2 show.

After the public voted his partner Olivia Attwood one of the most unpopular housemates on Wednesday night's show, the couple were locked in a furious row in which she attributed his tearful displays to her lukewarm reception.

Following her comment, the model was branded 'vile', 'callous' and 'selfish' by viewers, as Twitter was swarmed with support and praise for Chris, who previously admitted he had overcome a crippling battle with anxiety and panic attacks.

Scroll down for video

Strong man: Love Island star Chris Hughes has been lauded by mental health charity Signpost for candidly displaying his emotions on the ITV2 show

Chris has had a relatively tumultuous stint in the villa after entering the show as a late arrival last month and kicking off a romance with Chloe Crowhurst before splitting shortly after and coupling up with Olivia.

The pair's embattled romance has kept viewers captivated yet the popularity vote, which saw Olivia stand alongside Amber Davies, Johnny Mitchell and Tyla Carr as the least popular, led to huge backlash.

After Chris has been seen crying on a number of occasions, it seemed Olivia blamed his tearful displays on her unpopularity as she said to the bewildered star: 'Don’t cry again because that’s the whole reason we’re in this situation'.

Soon after the outburst, Twitter was flooded with support for Chris, with Signpost, a Hertfordshire-based charity providing counselling and coaching to problem-stricken youths, applauding the star for candidly displaying his emotions.

Unfair: After the public voted his partner Olivia Attwood one of the most unpopular housemates on Wednesday night's show, the couple were locked in a furious row in which she attributed his tearful displays to her lukewarm reception

A spokesperson for the charity penned: 'They say men younger & older don't feel safe to show their emotions ... shout out to Chris for being himself and bearing all'.

Atop the message from charity officials, other viewers swarmed the site with praise: 'Can someone please go check on Chris for f**k sake. Imagine his poor mother watching him there crying #loveisland...

'No way can you compare @OliviaDBuck last year to this years Olivia The way she's treated Chris "Stop crying" callous & nasty #LoveIsland...

Woes: Chris has had a relatively tumultuous stint in the villa after entering the show as a late arrival last month and kicking off a romance with Chloe Crowhurst before splitting shortly after and coupling up with Olivia

Saddening: 'I want Chris to stop crying and Olivia to fuck off #LoveIsland... can't believe Liv blamed Chris' crying for their break up... like wtf'

'I want Chris to stop crying and Olivia to fuck off #LoveIsland... can't believe Liv blamed Chris' crying for their break up... like wtf...

'How selfish is Liv to say Chris crying got them in that situation...Sorry hun do you not realise your the c**t that made him cry #LoveIsland. (sic)'

In October, before finding TV fame, Chris took to Instagram to detail his battle with anxiety and panic attacks which he faced in 2013 before seeking help.

Tough times: 'How selfish is Liv to say Chris crying got them in that situation...Sorry hun do you not realise your the c**t that made him cry #LoveIsland. (sic)'

Opened up: In October, before finding TV fame, Chris took to Instagram to detail his battle with anxiety and panic attacks which he faced in 2013 before seeking help

He penned: 'Hopefully this may help certain people who’ll relate: It was about May 2013 when I finally overcame anxiety and panic attacks, most sickening months of my life where you never know what your you’re guna do.

'And it wasn’t until my mum knew and I spoke out about it I could sort things out. It hit me again summer just gone but I knew from the breathing techniques, imagery and everything else I was taught, getting over it wasn’t an issue.

'Took time and money but it was the best I ever spent. Can only thank one man for that, David Crees, a cognitive hypnotherapist, and his company Ethical Minds. Don’t hesitate for help when it’s there, that blokes a genius.'