EXCLUSIVE What Love Island's Harrison Solomon REALLY thinks of Women's Aid 'misogyny' and 'sexism' claims and feelings over having sex with Lauren Wood on TV
Harrison, 22, quit the Majorca villa on Friday after becoming embroiled in a love triangle with Islanders Toni Laites, 24, and Lauren Wood, 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.'
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.
Breaking his silence in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Harrison insists 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.'
The reality star, who admits his sexual shenanigans on Love Island have been an awkward talking point with his family, says he regrets acting on impulse in the bedroom
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.
The reality star, who had been living in Miami playing for football team Florida Atlantic Owls prior to starring on Love Island, was raised by his single parent mother due to Harrison's biological father not being a constant figure in his life.
When his stepfather became a part of the family and after his younger sister was born, Harrison said he further learned to respect women and prides himself today in treating the opposite sex with kindness.
He said: 'Growing up, my mum was a single parent, so it was just us but then my stepdad came on the scene and now I have a younger sister.
'I would do anything for my sister and we're a really close family. That's why I am so disappointed by the way I handled myself in the villa because I pride myself on standing up for women and being a protector and honestly, my mum and my sister mean everything to me, I am hurt by how I acted based off those things.
'I only speak to my biological dad via text... I don't have a strong relationship with him in terms of seeing each other but we do speak. Naturally, I am a lot closer with my mum because she raised me, and we lived together but my dad is still on the scene it's just pretty rare for us to see each other.'
Harrison, who admits his sexual shenanigans on Love Island have been an awkward talking point with his family, says he regrets acting on impulse in the bedroom.
He became the first Islander in years to be intimate under the covers by having sex with Lauren, whom he had known for under two weeks, asking co-star Harry Cooksley for a condom in scenes captured on the show.
After Love Island producers had refused to explicitly show acts of sex to protect the mental health of contestants, was Harrison aware of the storyline airing before it was shown on national TV?
He said: 'I wasn't expecting it to make the show and it be a massive talking point. I have no problem with having sex on TV but at the same time I wish I would have waited.
'It's not been ideal for my parents and family to see. We have tried to skip past the subject but it's the elephant in the room. It's unfortunate they saw it on their screens.
'We know that cameras are on us 24/7 and we always knew there was a possibility of the sex being shown but there was no conversation from the producers prior. Producers made it known we are recorded and filmed constantly.
'Me and Lauren were very PDA, on top of each other, in the best way possible, we wanted to be around each all the time, and it wasn't just a physical attraction.
'In bed, one thing led to the next, and in the moment, I didn't regret it, even now because it was very natural, but I regret the day after where I expressed feelings for Toni.
'I should have waited until I had clarity on the situation. We shouldn't have... but that's nothing against Lauren, I just still had feelings for Toni in the back of my mind, so I should have waited.'
After being intimate twice, Harrison went behind Lauren's back to convince on/off flame Toni to rekindle during one of the show's re-coupling ceremonies, where the female Islanders were made to pick who they wanted to pair up with.
Shortly after Toni, who was persuaded by Harrison to give him a second chance, chose the footballer, Lauren was left single, resulting in her later being dumped from the villa.
Sobbing at the outcome, Lauren begged Harrison to leave with her, saying she would be willing to forgive his betrayal if he quit the show, an act some viewers branded 'embarrassing.'
But 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.'
Since Harrison's departure, Toni has been slowly growing close to Cash Mercer, who she met during Casa Amor, with potential for their romance to blossom once again.
Harrison said: 'I'm not usually an emotional person but I was crying every day in the villa. It was definitely tough, and I wish I communicated better on the whole situation.
'It was never about trying to keep my options open... it was about being honest with myself while trying to navigate something raw in real time. I am no longer split, I know what I want, so with me and Toni, if she wanted to be friends then I would be.
'Toni is an incredible person, and we shared something genuine... I will aways be grateful for the moments we shared in the villa because she was a big part of my Love Island experience.
'There is nothing but support from my side for both her and Cash because I've seen they are getting closer recently. I am rooting for her. I think she's a great girl.'
Love Island viewers saw Harrison and Lauren reunite for the first time on Sunday evening's Aftersun, hosted by Maya Jama, after the couple flew home separately from Majorca.
On Saturday, Harrison had been spotted having a 'boys' weekend' watching the boxing match between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium, sparking speculation his romance with Lauren was already over.
But Harrison, who says he will remain in the UK for the foreseeable, has revealed this week they plan on going on dates together in the capital, as Harrison insists his relationship with Lauren is his priority.
He vowed: 'For the future, I am not focusing on brand deals or Instagram followers, I want to build a proper connection with Lauren.
'It was a big statement to leave the villa, and I am happy with the decision I have made.
'I do see a long-term girlfriend in Lauren and I would like to get to that but as of now we're going to be spending time together, we have the next few days in London, enjoying each other's company without the cameras around.
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