Love Island's Lauren Wood claps back at Women's Aid's statement on Harrison Solomon's behaviour as she insists 'it was blown out of proportion'

Daily Mail​

25-07-2025

Love Island's Lauren Wood has clapped back at Women's Aid after the charity accused her partner Harrison Solomon of 'misogyny' and 'sexism' on the show.
Harrison, 22, quit the Majorca villa last week after becoming embroiled in a love triangle with Islanders Toni Laites, 24, and Lauren, 26, which saw the footballer go back and forth between the two women, causing weeks of upset and conflict.
His treatment of the pair was condemned by viewers but much to his dismay, Women's Aid also criticised his actions by releasing a damning statement claiming his behaviour 'reinforces a culture that excuses and trivialises violence against women and girls.'
But dog walker Lauren has declared the charity's statement was 'blown way out of proportion' as she insisted Harrison 'just made a mistake'.
She told Cosmopolitan: 'Erm obviously, I think it was blown out of proportion like he's made a mistake but everyone makes mistakes.
'Like, he's gone about it the wrong way, he knows he has done wrong. I think it was just the timing of everything.
'It was literally just the timing of it but like he said, he isn't a bad person and everyone in the villa knows that.'
MailOnline has contacted Women's Aid for comment.
The Derby-born Islander had a relationship with US waitress Toni before embarking on a new romance with Lauren after meeting her in rival villa Casa Amor, with the couple becoming the first to have sex on the ITV2 show this series.
But Harrison then sparked outrage by convincing Toni, who was unaware he had slept with Lauren, to rekindle, leaving the distraught influencer in floods of tears.
Shortly after their bedroom antics were exposed, Lauren was dumped from the villa and followed out the door by Harrison, who was quickly informed of Women's Aid's criticism which left him dumbstruck.
Fans on X shared their concern for Lauren's disagreement with Women's Aid and wrote: 'She forgive Harrison everything. Let's c once they have split up',
'setting women back omg', 'Standing up for someone is one thing, but brushing off a real issue as 'just a mistake' can do more harm than good',
'To think they were trying to support her as well. They literally made that statement to support her',
'Mind you Women's Aid were backing HER and were fuming about how she was treated and she's saying this? This girl has set women back 1000 years'.
Fans on X shared their concern for Lauren's disagreement with Women's Aid and wrote: 'She forgive Harrison everything. Let's c once they have split up'
Meanwhile, Harrison revealed what he really thought on the Women's Aid statement in an exclusive interview with MailOnline.
He insisted the charity was wrong to call him out and claims the nature of the statement upset his family.
He said: 'I have seen the backlash and it's hard to digest. I would disagree with a lot of it in terms of my respect for women, I do respect women.
'The worst has been from Women's Aid. I know myself and the girls on the show too, Toni said she knows I'm not a bad person, just went about situations in the wrong way, but the Women's Aid statement wasn't nice... it's not nice coming out of the villa to my mum upset by that so I would say that's been the hardest.'
He added: 'To the women I have hurt, I am obviously sorry. I got it wrong and the back and forth between the two connections caused more harm than I ever intended.
'It wasn't ever an ego thing. I am not proud of how I handled things and I'm not going to make excuses.
'I just want to own it. If people can give me the space to grow from it, I will do everything I can to be better and that's the only thing I can do.
'There is no handbook for how to be on a show like Love Island. It's instincts and intentions. I got some of it right, but I know I got a lot of it wrong, and I know that now.'
Lauren was regularly left in tears after feeling humiliated by Harrison and his actions in the Love Island villa
Harrison said the statement issued by Women's Aid, which commented on women being 'lied to, slut-shamed, and laughed at behind their backs' was particularly detrimental given the close relationship he shares with his mother and younger sister.
Harrison says leaving Love Island was a decision he made himself, telling MailOnline: 'I have seen a lot of this online and I feel like I am my own man and I'm going to make my own choices.
'I wouldn't have left one of the biggest TV shows in the UK if I didn't see a future with Lauren. It was a very emotional conversation because she was just dumped, she was acting on emotion, she just wanted to get across to me how much she was into me and wanted to give me a second chance.
'I understand where people are coming from, but Lauren found a proper connection, of course she wanted me to leave with her. Lauren didn't make the decision for me though I followed my heart.'
American contestant Toni believed she had found The One in Harrison, given he was Miami based and in her age range, but after realising she deserved better than to be an option, she told him: 'You treated me like s*** repeatedly and I tried to walk away multiple times. Please don't treat Lauren this way.'
NAME: Dejon Noel Williams
AGE: 26
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Semi-pro footballer and personal trainer
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is beautiful on the inside and out, looks after themselves and is healthy
CLAIM TO FAME? My dad being an ex-professional footballer. I've met all kinds of famous people through him. When I was younger it was weird because he was just my dad, but we'd go to a game and fans were asking for photos. I've met David Beckham, he was really nice.
NAME: Megan Moore
AGE: 25
FROM: Southampton
OCCUPATION: Payroll specialist
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'd like to meet someone who is tall, with a nice tan, nice eyes and a nice smile. He needs to have a good fashion sense and a really good, funny personality that I can get on with
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt, right now. But we're going to make sales and get on that corporate ladder and be booming. Profits, profits, profits!
NAME: Helena Ford
AGE: 29
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Cabin Crew
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Somebody funny or Northern. I feel like Northern people have much more banter than Southerners. If you look through my previous dating history, you'll see I clearly go for personality. You can pretty much laugh me into bed.
WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I would say hire but then quickly fire soon after. It would only be a temporary contract.
NAME: Shakira Khan
AGE: 26
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is tall, charming, witty, with big arms, a good smile and just really funny.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Booming, but they're all frogs. It's a busy love life but I've not found 'the husband', I'm looking for 'the one'. I'm looking for the ring.
NAME: Harry Cooksley
AGE: 30
FROM: Guildford
OCCUPATION: Gold trader, semi-professional footballer and model
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? The girl next door that makes me laugh and can hold eye contact with me. I don't think I'd go for the most obvious girl, I like a real sweet girl.
CLAIM TO FAME? I'm the body double for Declan Rice. So when he does a shoot, any body close ups will actually be me. You'll never see my face, but you'll see my shoulder or chest, that kind of thing.
NAME: Conor Phillips
AGE: 23
FROM: Limerick
OCCUPATION: Professional rugby player
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?Someone who is really sure of themselves, ambitious, a bit of a go-getter and good craic. I like dark eyes and I don't mind a dominant woman.
WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? Definitely hire. I ask girls if they want to go halves on a baby. It doesn't work, but it gets them laughing. It's an ice-breaker, not a serious question of course!
NAME: Toni Laites
AGE: 24
FROM: Connecticut
OCCUPATION: Las Vegas Pool Cabana Server
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'm looking for darker hair, definitely muscular but not too muscular. Super fit. Clean hair cut. Someone that can make me laugh - I'm super outgoing. And someone that's quite active. Maybe one day we could start our own family together.
I WANT TO DATE A BRITISH GUY BECAUSE... I've lived in three different states and I'm still single. It's time to try something new! I have some British friends and they're pretty charming. I think all Americans love a good accent. British men are just more polite, with better manners.
NAME: Yasmin Pettet
AGE: 24
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Commercial Banking Executive
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'm looking for a guy who is fit, has a nice body and who is funny with a bit of banter.
WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST ICK? A guy that's stingy
NAME: Megan Moore
AGE: 24
FROM: Dublin
OCCUPATION: Musical theatre performer and energy broker
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously and has a sense of humour. If they're not bad looking, that's always a plus.
I love a boy that's a bit pasty, like Timothé e Chalamet. I don't mind scrawny, or a bit of a 'dad bod'. I'm 5ft1 so any height really.
CLAIM TO FAME? Me and my friends made a Derry Girls TikTok for Halloween and it went a bit viral around Brighton.
Sometimes I get stopped in the street about it. I've also done Panto.
NAME: Blu Chegini
AGE: 26
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Someone who is family oriented, has a lot of love to give and a lot of love to receive. Personality goes a long way.
WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? She'd fire me, but I've got the charm to smooth things over with a girl. The fact I speak fluent Spanish comes in handy when it comes to flirting!
Jamie
NAME: Jamie Rhodes
AGE: 26
OCCUPATION: Electric Engineer
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Bubbly, cheeky, outgoing, good face card and a nice bum.
WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE? I'll be in amongst the drama! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, I'm gonna take it by the horns and go for it.
NAME: Ty Isherwood
AGE: 23
OCCUPATION: Site Engineer
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I go off energy, if we vibe. I've typically dated brunettes, tanned, nice teeth with a nice smile.
WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE? A head turner! I get along with lads easily and like to make people laugh.
NAME: Cacherel 'Cach' Mercer
AGE: 24
OCCUPATION: Professional Dancer
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who's emotionally intelligent, beautiful, charismatic, caring, affectionate, and I'd say an intro extrovert.
WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE? I think I'm gonna get into trouble, I feel like I'll be the joker of the group! I'll also be the person people come to for advice… and a bit of eye candy at the same time.
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Angel
NAME: Angel Swift
AGE: 26
OCCUPATION: Aesthetics Practitioner and Salon Owner
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'm ready to make memories with someone, go travelling with them and fall in love
WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE? I feel like people have been getting their heads turned very easily. I do feel like I have quite a good chance of turning someone's head.