LOVE Island star Rachel Finni has slammed the show in a new YouTube video, saying that the ITV2 dating programme is FIXED.
Opening up in an online interview, the reality star said that “every aspect of the show is controlled” by bosses, including who wins.
Rachel, 29, recently revealed she had quit fame in order to return to ‘normal’ life as a luxury travel specialist in London.
The former TV star – who rose to fame on season 7 of Love Island – has gone on to slam the show as “fixed” in a new interview.
She told YouTube star Murad Merali that she was “told by people at ITV” that she was brought in due to “lack of diversity”.
The dating show contestant felt the bosses “didn’t give her a story” and instead only “cared about ticking boxes”.
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Rachel said: “I don’t want to seem like I’m bitter, but when you go for these interviews with ITV they ask you for months what your type is.
“I was in cast holding for a month because of Covid, and every day they asked me who my top three were, but then I had to pick between [Chuggs and Brad].
“I’d been there a month, but the people who were interested in them got flown in two weeks before. They knew what they were doing.”
She continued to scathe: “I got told by people who work for ITV that I got put in at that time because there was so much backlash on the outside for lack of diversity.
“They knew what my type is, they knew what Brad and Chugg’s type is, but they put me in at that time because they thought, ‘This is going to shut people up’.
“I was the first black bombshell but they didn’t give a story, they were just ticking boxes. They only care about ticking boxes.”
“The show is controlled, every aspect of it is controlled,” Rachel scathed. “Everything is set up, it’s all set up.”
She went on to allege that other Islanders were “absolutely awful to her” – but that the bullying was never aired on TV.
“One of the girls had been awful to me, so in the challenge I was the only one wearing sunglasses because I’d been crying,” she went on.
ITV responded to Rachel’s comments, with a spokesperson telling The Celeb Report: “ITV has a commitment towards accelerating change in terms of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic representation across both its workforce and its on screen talent and contributors, as part of its Diversity Acceleration Plan.
“Diversity and inclusivity are key priorities for us as a broadcaster and we are always looking to improve representation on screen and behind the scenes.
“We would take any suggestion that any editorial decisions are made based on race very seriously indeed and would refute this in the strongest possible terms.”
BACK TO ‘NORMAL’
Earlier this year, Rachel revealed she had quit fame and now has a completely normal job again.
The star revealed she went to law school initially, but decided to work in hotels after doing an apprenticeship with a hotel sales and marketing company.
She explained that after appearing on Love Island she did a bit of influencing before returning to her first love.
She told her fans: “A lot of people don’t know this, but I’ve actually gone back to working in hospitality which I’m really enjoying so far.
“My end goal is to focus as much as I can on my career, keep doing influencing on the side and hopefully one day be a housewife with my babies.”
Rachel suffered a rocky time on the ITV2 dating show, and concerned fans when she was regularly seen crying.
The beauty struggled on the show when she made a bombshell arrival and then had to choose between Chuggs and Brad to save from being dumped.
Brad has since admitted that he “played the game” to stay on the show, and Rachel was unable to find love with any of the other boys.
She also suffered blunders while on the show, including being teased for her walk into the villa, and when a challenge fall saw her crash head-first into a railing and flash her bottom.
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Rachel later revealed there was a therapist on hand for her to talk to everyday.
She shared: “The mental health checks are amazing – you have to have a thorough assessment ahead of going in, and 24-hour support in the villa with a therapist who you speak to every day.”
Rachel added to Closer: “When I left I had regular calls with a therapist to check I was okay. They ask if you’re sleeping, how you’re feeling – they couldn’t do any more.”
