Greg O'Shea found fame 'tough' as he says he 'didn't want to be here'
Greg O'Shea has detailed the mental health struggles he faced after winning Love Island.
The professional rugby player turned TV presenter was crowned the winner of series five of Love Island back in 2019 with Amber Gill. However, things didn't go too well for the couple who split just weeks after returning home from Majorca.
But Greg, 28, was trolled on social media and was subsequently "cancelled" after deciding to shun the Love Island lifestyle of attending launch parties and glitzy red carpets. Now, the Olympian has opened up about his mental health struggles as well as reflecting on previously admitting he contemplated his life.
Greg O'Shea has opened up about his mental health struggles (SM-IR Irish Pictures <[email protected]>)
Nowadays, Greg is in a much better place after speaking to his doctorSpeaking exclusively to the Mirror, Greg said: "It was tough for me to open up. As a man growing up in society, we're kind of subconsciously expected to be very stoic and strong and don't show our emotions and just get through it. And even me being from Ireland or being from a rugby background. We're even further behind people in the UK and for me to then put myself in the biggest show in Britain and end up winning it after 12 days, but then coming straight back home into my normal life.
"People didn't appreciate that, they just wanted me to be the Love Island guy - the only reason I got on Love Island was because of the person I was beforehand and I wasn't just going to throw that all away for 12 days on a show."
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The Limerick-born star went on to say that he was "naive" before going onto the show and didn't anticipate a negative response from vile social media trolls. "It was very tough for me to deal with it," he said before adding: "Four years on now it's completely gone and all the haters have finally unfollowed me, I have a beautiful community that's supportive."
The Olympian admits it was 'tough' to open up about the dark period in his life (©INPHO/Bryan Keane)But while Greg admits Love Island was tough, he says competing in the Olympics was even tougher. The star was part of Ireland's Rugby Sevens squad for the Tokyo 2020 team. "It's just it's not even comparable, the Olympics is just years and years of craft," he said before adding: "People forget that the Olympic sports are amateur sports, people aren't getting paid to do amateur sports. There are some athletes there who get sponsored but that doesn't mean their sport is professional.
"You're grinding away 24/7 every part of your life has to go towards your training, your sleep, your nutrition, your social life, and everyone around you to get you to the top of the sport. And once you get there, it's the most elation you've ever had because you've achieved a lifelong goal and any billionaire in his world couldn't even buy the Olympic status."
Speaking about his mental health last year, Greg appeared on Dorieann Garrihy's podcast and said: "I remember one time I was back in Dublin and I was driving around and it got really, really bad. It got overwhelming at one stage, I was behind the wheel of the car and I was like, 'alright this is going one of two ways'.
"I don't want to get too dark on the podcast but it was basically a decision of, alright, either this is all over, or bring yourself to the doctor right now." Greg thankfully drove himself to his doctor and asked for help. After opening up about his mental health, he was placed on "pretty heavy medication", which didn't work, leading him to double the medication.
He has now teamed up with Omaze for their Million Pound House Draw MajorcaGreg recently teamed up with Alzheimer's Research UK and Omaze for their Million Pound House Draw – a cause close to his heart after watching his beloved gran battle the disease, before tragically passing away. "I felt like I kind of owed her something because I wasn't there for her funeral," he said.
He later went on to raise £17,000 for Alzheimer's Research UK after running the London Marathon. He said: "Unfortunately, the UK UK doesn't have and the world doesn't have a cure for dementia right now. Which is why we need to get more funds for Alzheimer's Research UK and things like Omaze will allow that to happen."
The star continued: "Dementia is the biggest killer in the UK of people. 75,000 people died in 2022 from it which is 5000 people more than in 2021 and I think one in two people will be affected by dementia in some way. Either you get it or you're caring for someone with this. That's what upset me, seeing how much pressure it put on my family - my aunts and mum, everyone was getting really stressed out of pure love trying to take care of my grandmother.
"The biggest thing that got me was just seeing my grandmother deteriorate over a really short space of time. She had dementia and then she had a stroke and then she just completely deteriorated in a few weeks and like from her minding me as a kid to me minding her and flipping that in reverse is just so sad."
Greg O'Shea is promoting the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, Mallorca - a new prize draw raising vital funds and awareness for Alzheimer's Research UK. Enter before midnight on January 28, 2024, on their website.
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If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch.
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