Joel Dommett paid an emotional tribute to Caroline Flack throughout a fundraising gig for a psychological well being charity.
The Masked Singer host stated he had spoken to the TV presenter simply weeks earlier than she was discovered lifeless on the age of 40 at her residence in east London on Saturday, after taking her personal life.
Nevertheless, he stated she had not replied to a message he had despatched her on Thursday.
Flack, who was described as “weak” by her administration, had pleaded not responsible to assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton at her former flat in north London in a courtroom listening to in December.
Showing on stage at Comedy Towards Dwelling Miserably, the place comics waived their price to lift funds and consciousness for psychological well being charity Calm (Marketing campaign Towards Dwelling Miserably), Dommett stated: “It’s so f****** unhappy man, and I actually didn’t wish to come into work at present however I knew it could be hypocritical of me to not are available to a gig known as Comedy Towards Dwelling Miserably as a result of I used to be f****** depressing.”
He added: “I simply needed to speak about it with you as a result of I didn’t wish to do a gig about psychological well being with out addressing what I feel in our trade is the maddest factor to occur in a f****** very long time, it’s so unhappy.”
Flack was arrested and charged with assault by beating after police have been known as to her flat in Islington on December 12.
Highbury Nook Magistrates’ Courtroom heard that, within the aftermath of the alleged incident, Flack advised police “I did it” after which warned she would kill herself.
Dommett stated: “Like lots of people, in December I despatched her a message to see if she was OK and she or he replied and we talked backwards and forwards for a bit.
“We all the time used to exit and see one another on nights out on a regular basis and we might all the time weirdly stumble upon one another in LA and Ibiza, we might all the time go on the similar time, and we might hang around and have espresso martinis, that was our factor.
“I hadn’t heard again from her since perhaps the top of January and I messaged her on Thursday asking if she was OK and I didn’t consider seeking to see if she had replied or not.
“She didn’t reply so I didn’t see it come up on my telephone and it wasn’t till yesterday once I heard the information that I checked out my telephone and I realised that she hadn’t replied however that is what f****** kills me, there was a little bit bit beneath it that claims ‘seen’.
“I stated, ‘Hope you’re OK, hope you’re doing alright’ and she or he noticed it. All of us really feel like perhaps we should always have achieved extra, however she had individuals round her and I feel that’s actually nice, and I’m simply actually unhappy.
“But it surely’s not about me and that’s the purpose, I don’t wish to make it about me, saying ‘I messaged her on Thursday’, I simply really feel like we should always all be nicer to one another, we’re all accountable and I feel that’s the drawback.”
Earlier than studying out a pattern of abusive tweets he had obtained prior to now week, he added: “All of us must take a f****** take a look at ourselves and be higher individuals and simply be higher and simply be nicer to everybody and simply strive.”
Flack stepped down from presenting the present winter collection of Love Island after the alleged assault.
The ITV programme didn’t air on Sunday night time, however will probably be again on Monday with a tribute to Flack.
Ambulance crews have been known as on Friday night time to a property in Clapton, north-east London, the place Flack was thought to have not too long ago moved.
The shock information prompted a flood of tributes from celebrities. But it surely additionally introduced questions in regards to the choice to stick with prosecuting Flack for the alleged assault on her boyfriend, and in regards to the pressures confronted by TV celebrities from the press and social media.
Her administration firm criticised the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for urgent forward with what it known as her “present trial” even after her boyfriend stated he didn’t help it.
Legal professionals have stated prosecutors might have pressed forward with assault costs towards Flack attributable to excessive public concern round home violence.
Former director of public prosecutions Lord Ken Macdonald advised the PA information company there would usually be “a powerful presumption” that bringing costs in any home violence case can be within the public curiosity.
He stated: “There’s a excessive public curiosity presumption in favour of prosecution in home violence instances as a result of home violence is such a standard crime and it’s a harmful crime.
“Now we have about 170 or 180 individuals yearly, primarily ladies, who’re killed throughout home violence incidents. There’s a big quantity of public concern about these offences.
“Usually, there can be a powerful public curiosity presumption in favour of prosecuting a home violence case the place there’s sufficient proof to take action.”
The tragedy has put the highlight again on the pressures which include TV superstar.
Flack is the fourth particular person linked to the ITV2 relationship programme to have killed themselves.
Sophie Gradon, who was a contestant in 2016, was discovered lifeless at her residence in 2018 on the age of 32.
Her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, who had discovered her physique, killed himself three weeks later. He was 25.
Mike Thalassitis, who appeared within the 2017 collection, was 26 when he was discovered lifeless in a park in March final yr.
Downing Avenue stated Caroline Flack’s demise was a “tragedy”.
A Quantity 10 spokesman stated: “Caroline’s demise was a tragedy and our ideas are along with her household and associates at this very troublesome time.”
Comedy Towards Dwelling Miserably will air on Dave within the spring.
Individuals can donate to Calm at https://www.thecalmzone.internet/donate.