Love Island's Harrison hits back at Women's Aid amid backlash over villa actions

Daily Record

6 days ago

Former Love Island star Harrison Solomon has spoken out after he was criticised by fans for his behaviour in the villa amid a love triangle with Toni Laites and Lauren Wood
Former Love Island contestant Harrison Solomon has spoken out about the criticism he faced from viewers. The islander had come under fire from fans during a complicated love triangle involving co-stars Toni Laites and Lauren Wood whilst in the villa.
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The 22-year-old attracted attention on the ITV2 show for what he deemed as a "back-and-forth" between his romantic connections with Toni, 24, and Lauren, 26. This included him sleeping with Lauren whilst separated from Toni, then urging Toni to choose him at the next recoupling.
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Following his recoupling with Toni, footballer Harrison proceeded to get to know Lauren once again, the Mirror reports. Lauren was dumped from the villa last week after she was left single when bombshell Angel chose to couple up with her partner Ty, and Harrison later left to reunite with her.
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Throughout his appearance on the show, Harrison faced criticism from audiences. Last week, during his Love Island journey, a Women's Aid representative released a statement to the Tab, referencing women being "lied to, slut-shamed and manipulated, as well as laughed at behind their backs."
Harrison has now addressed the "backlash" in an interview with the Daily Mail, explaining that he found it "hard to digest." He told the publication: "I would disagree with a lot of it in terms of my respect for women, I do respect women."
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He described the response from Women's Aid as the "worst." He said: "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."
Harrison expressed remorse, saying he is "sorry" to the women he has "hurt" and admitted, "I got it wrong." He acknowledged that the "back and forth" between his relationships with Lauren and Toni ultimately caused "more harm" than he had intended.
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However, he insisted it wasn't driven by ego.
The former Island said he isn't proud of the way he handled things inside the villa and won't "make excuses." Harrison stated that he simply wants to "own it" and pledged: "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."
Harrison pointed out that there's "no handbook" for dealing with being on a reality TV show, like Love Island, saying it is based on "instincts" and "intentions." He admitted to the Daily Mail that while he got "some of it right" he also "got a lot of it wrong."
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It's been suggested that the statement by Women's Aid particularly upset Harrison due to his relationship with his mother and younger sister.
He told the outlet that he prides himself on "standing up for women," as well as being a "protector," but is "disappointed" over how he handled himself in the villa.
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His comments come just days after viewers saw Harrison quit the show, just a day after Lauren was dumped from the villa. Prior to his exit, an emotional Harrison offered an apology to Toni.
He told her before leaving: "I want you to know that I genuinely am sorry for the way that I've treated you in here. [...] I think with me being indecisive in here and trying to spare people's feelings, I feel like I've hurt yours more."
Harrison said: "Deep down, you know I've got a good heart but I've just not gone about things the right way in here." Toni went on say: "I know you're not a bad person but you've got a big head and you treated me like s**t repeatedly." He replied: "I know, I'm sorry for that."