EX-LOVE Island star Bethany Rogers has opened up on her tumultuous life after she took part in series one at the age of 19.
The star says she was trolled so much after her appearance that her mental health declined and she entered a violent relationship, while grappling with ketamine addiction.
Bethany, who worked as a dancer, performer, and fire breather in Leeds, told The Sun she was approached for Love Island's inaugural season on Facebook and hoped it would boost her career.
While not making the initial line-up, she was brought in as a bombshell to "stir up trouble."
But after being ousted from the show in just 10 days she was bombarded with hundreds of vile messages from trolls.
In a low state, Bethany entered a relationship with an ex who she alleges turned violent and abusive.
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She told The Sun: "As much as I was the victim, I was ashamed and embarrassed that I'd let myself get into this rut, where he'd beat me up and then I'd take him back."
Bethany later faced money laundering charges related to the purchase of an Audi A3 and was arrested for money laundering alongside him.
Stressed about the impending court case and feeling isolated after ending her relationship, Bethany fell into addiction.
She said: "It's difficult to talk about but after everything that happened I became addicted to ketamine.
"I didn't realize what I was doing to myself, but I just felt like I couldn't lose anything else because I already lost my reputation from being on the show, I had the trauma of an abusive relationship."
In 2020, the charges against her were dropped, while changed his plea to guilty on charges of perverting the course of justice.
Bethany became pregnant and gave birth to a little girl - and realised she needed to get help to overcome her addiction.
"I was depressed, I was suicidal. I knew that if I didn't get help I'd be dead," Bethany recalled in an interview in 2022.
"I felt so selfish having to leave my nine-month-old baby but the harsh truth was that if I didn't go to rehab she wouldn't have a mother for the rest of her life.
"It broke my heart having to leave my baby girl, it was mental torture. But I didn't want to lose her. I checked myself into rehab and that's when I realised this is not rock bottom - I can still pull it back."
Bethany went on to study psychology at Bradford University - and said she wanted to help other people who have experienced trauma like she has.
GETTING HELP:
If you think that you have a drug addiction then please contact your GP.
You can also visit FRANK for honest information about drugs and to find local treatment services.
If you are having trouble finding the right help, call the FRANK drugs helpline on 03001236600
Or click here to visit the NHS website for more advice and support
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.