After being perceived as Love Island season 8’s villain character, former rugby star Jacques O’Neill has changed the direction of his career after admitting he ‘hated himself’
Love Island star quits showbiz for completely different career after hitting ‘rock bottom’
Love Island star Jacques O’Neill has turned his life around and begun a new career after leaving the showbiz world behind for something more fulfilling. The former rugby lad was regarded as season 8’s villain after his ‘toxic’ behaviour towards his partner Paige Thorne, causing backlash from fans of the ITV reality dating show.
But Jacques has found himself after hitting ‘rock bottom’ following his stint on Love Island, revealing that he’s discovered his true calling. The former bad boy is now a carer, who has formed a brotherly bond with a young man with disabilities.
He spoke about his new career, crediting the lads he looks after with ‘saving’ him. The influencer shared on social media. “Everything only started to change when this boy came in to my life, Denum, now my best friend and little brother who I love so much.”
Jacques is now a carer to young people with disabilities
The former Love Island star says the lads he supports have ‘saved’ him
Jacques, 26, now supports multiple disable clients, adding: “I started caring for these lads 4x a week, they gave me a reason to show up again. They saved me.”
The star opened up on his journey, sharing photos with fans alongside which he admits he developed a problem with drinking and put on weight because of lifestyle. He wrote: “I’m Jacques 26 and I’m starting my life again. This is the part of my story you never saw.
“Since I was a kid, rugby was all I ever knew. It was all I ever wanted to do. I didn’t care about much more other than rugby. Discipline. Hard work. Respect. That was my whole identity as a man.
“As my career just started to get going…Injuries started, one after another, knee, hamstring, back, I felt like I couldn’t catch a break and each one took a piece of me that | didn’t realise at the time. When Love Island called, I said ‘yes’… but for all the wrong reasons I wasn’t ready for it, mentally, emotionally, maturity, I was just a lost boy who was so angry at the world.”
The star admits he hit ‘rock bottom’
Jacques admitted he felt ‘lost and empty’ after leaving Love Island
Jacques went on: “But instead of working on myself, I got caught up in everything what came after the show, what I also wasn’t ready for, on Instagram it looked like I was living the dream, the car, the apartment. The travelling… hanging out with people who I thought I’d never even be in the same room as, working with brands that I wore since a kid it was all a bit crazy.
“In reality, I felt more lost and empty than ever, this wasn’t the real me. I actually ended up hating myself so much I had to drink to get myself through week by week but that came with consequences.”
On another photo, Jacques could be seen looking more unfit than he did on Love Island, plus another of him drinking. He added: “Rock bottom was looking in the mirror and not knowing who I was anymore. How had I gone from professional athlete to this.
“To someone who couldn’t even take himself serious anymore, I was embarrassed of myself. I knew I needed to change, I couldn’t carry on living my life like this anymore.”
Having found a new reason to keep going, he added: “From starting to care for them lads, I rebuilt my body, my mind, and my standards. I’m now a man that will never lose himself again. I’m resilient.
“This is who I am now. If you are rebuilding yourself too, this next chapter is for you.”
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