Love Island's Sophie Gradon called for action against 'destructive' trolls just months before her untimely death... after the show left her in a 'dark place'

The 32-year-old star was found dead at her parents' house last night
At a cyber-bullying seminar in March, Sophie said: 'On leaving the show I descended into quite a dark dark place owing to the amount of negativity'

Published: 08:28 BST, 26 June 2018 | Updated: 10:11 BST, 26 June 2018

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Late Love Island star Sophie Gradon spoke out against online trolls just weeks before her suspected suicide aged 32.

The reality personality, who starred in the 2016 series of the show, was found dead at her parents' home just outside of Medburn, Ponteland on Thursday before tributes flooded in for the star, including many messages about mental health.

In March, Sophie spoke at a cyber-bullying conference where she admitted: 'Trolls leave you feeling vulnerable, unsafe and upset', as she spoke alongside her co-star Zara Holland while calling for action against trolls.

Heartbreaking: Late Love Island star Sophie Gradon spoke out against online trolls just weeks before her suspected suicide aged 32

Sophie passed away last week, in what has since been reported as a suicide, after she frequently posted about her battles with anxiety and depression.

Back in March, the star discussed her struggles with trolls after she left the villa and was dealing with the 'unprecedented success' of the show.

She said at the event: 'No one anticipated the show's success and in an instant I was catapulted from every day life into the limelight. We became public property overnight and everyone had an opinion both good and bad.

'On leaving the show I descended into quite a dark dark place owing to the amount of negativity focused towards me. There were positives and some lovely people but I would always let the negatives outweigh the positives.

Late star: The reality personality, who starred in the 2016 series of the show, was found dead at her parents' home just outside of Medburn, Ponteland on Wednesday before tributes flooded in for the star, including many messages about mental health

Saddening: In March, Sophie spoke at a cyber-bullying conference where she admitted: 'Trolls leave you feeling vulnerable, unsafe and upset', as she spoke alongside her co-star Zara Holland while calling for action against trolls

'I started to believe what these people were saying about me was true. Online bullying is as destructive as face-to-face bullying, sometimes worse. Trolls leave you feeling vulnerable, unsafe and upset.'

TV psychologist Emma Kenny wrote last week: 'Worked at an anti-bullying conference with Sophie a few months back. She was an utterly lovely woman who had her life turned upside down due to trolls.'

Having joined her in discussing online trolls at the event, Zara has since revealed she is on anti depressants two years on from starring on Love Island.

Zara, 22, told The Sun she 'changed as a person' when her Miss GB title was stripped off of her after she had sex on the show and is still 'haunted' by the repercussions.

Pal and confidante: Having joined her in discussing online trolls at the event, Zara has since revealed she is on anti depressants two years on from starring on Love Island

Producers have come under fire since she passed away amid claims the after-care facilities on the show are lapse - let bosses have since hit back.

A spokesperson for Love Island told MailOnline: 'All of our islanders are offered psychological support before, during and after their time in the villa. We take our duty of care very seriously and this is always our top priority.'

Sophie's tragic death caused huge stirs, particularly in the reality TV community, after it was revealed last week that she had passed away.

That was then... Friends of Sophie have since revealed that she was suffering from depression and anxiety, which had been worsened in recent weeks by financial issues

At the time, a spokesperson from Northumbria Police told MailOnline: 'At about 8.27pm yesterday police attended a property in Medburn, Ponteland, where sadly a 32-year-old woman was found deceased.

'There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding her death. A report will now be prepared for the coroner.'

Friends of Sophie have since revealed that she was suffering from depression and anxiety, which had been worsened in recent weeks by financial issues.

Numerous celebrities and friends have since paid tribute to the former beauty queen on social media, including her Love Island co-stars Olivia Buckland, Kady McDermott, Emma-Jane Woodhams and Malin Andersson.

Honour: Numerous celebrities and friends have since paid tribute to the former beauty queen on social media, including her Love Island co-stars Olivia Buckland, Kady McDermott, Emma-Jane Woodhams and Malin Andersson