Aaron Francis’s family have thanked fans for support after they revealed the Love Island lad had been a victim of racist trolling.
In a statement shared on Instagram on Friday, Love Island contestant Aaron Francis’s family wrote: “We’re shocked and frustrated by the racist comments and messages that Aaron has been receiving since the very beginning of his Love Island experience.
“There has been no end to monkey and gorilla emojis commented on his posts and horrible, abusive, racist messages in his DMs.
“This is only only one example of what we have witnessed and we need to call out this intolerable behaviour.”
After Love Island viewers were quick to offer their support to Aaron, the Francis family posted another message thanking them.
“We’re so overwhelmed and grateful for the support we received today,” they said.
“Racism is ignorance and following the events after the Euros final we would’ve hoped there was already some more awareness.
“There’s never a tolerable instance for racially charged insults.”
They concluded their heartfelt post with: “Hate will never win.”
Aaron, 24, has been in the Love Island villa for four weeks and is currently paired up with online fashion boutique owner Lucinda Strafford, 21.
It’s not the first time this series that an islander’s loved ones have issued a strong statement on social media abuse.
Earlier this month Chloe Burrows, 25, unknowingly sent Shannon Singh, 23, home, and then received death threats online.
“As the family and friends of Chloe, we would like to let you all know that we are extremely disappointed and saddened by the recent threats made towards Chloe,” her family responded.
“To receive death threats and see the malicious vitriol that exists online first-hand is incredibly distressing and we are apprehensive for Chloe to leave the villa and observe this herself.”
Love Island has already had another race row this series after now-dumped islander Danny Bibby, 25, was found to have used a racist slur on a historic Instagram post.
He was allowed to apologise from the villa but fans criticised the show for allowing him to remain.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
