{"id":328942,"date":"2025-12-22T00:27:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T00:27:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/328942\/"},"modified":"2025-12-22T00:27:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T00:27:10","slug":"love-island-star-quits-showbiz-for-different-career-after-hitting-rock-bottom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/328942\/","title":{"rendered":"Love Island star quits showbiz for different career after hitting ‘rock bottom’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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’\"LoveLove Island star quits showbiz for completely different career after hitting ‘rock bottom’<\/p>\n

Love Island<\/a> star Jacques O’Neill<\/a> has turned his life around and begun a new career after leaving the showbiz world<\/a> 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<\/a>, causing backlash from fans of the ITV<\/a> reality dating show.<\/p>\n

But Jacques has found himself after hitting ‘rock bottom’ following his stint on Love Island<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"JacquesJacques is now a carer to young people with disabilities\"TheThe former Love Island star says the lads he supports have ‘saved’ him<\/p>\n

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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2019m Jacques 26 and I\u2019m starting my life again. This is the part of my story you never saw.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince I was a kid, rugby was all I ever knew. It was all I ever wanted to do. I didn\u2019t care about much more other than rugby. Discipline. Hard work. Respect. That was my whole identity as a man.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs my career just started to get going\u2026Injuries started, one after another, knee, hamstring, back, I felt like I couldn\u2019t catch a break and each one took a piece of me that | didn\u2019t realise at the time. When Love Island called, I said \u2018yes\u2019\u2026 but for all the wrong reasons I wasn\u2019t ready for it, mentally, emotionally, maturity, I was just a lost boy who was so angry at the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe star admits he hit ‘rock bottom’\"JacquesJacques admitted he felt ‘lost and empty’ after leaving Love Island<\/p>\n

Jacques went on: \u201cBut instead of working on myself, I got caught up in everything what came after the show, what I also wasn\u2019t ready for, on Instagram<\/a> it looked like I was living the dream, the car, the apartment. The travelling\u2026 hanging out with people who I thought I\u2019d never even be in the same room as, working with brands that I wore since a kid it was all a bit crazy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn reality, I felt more lost and empty than ever, this wasn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo someone who couldn\u2019t even take himself serious anymore, I was embarrassed of myself. I knew I needed to change, I couldn\u2019t carry on living my life like this anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having found a new reason to keep going, he added: \u201cFrom starting to care for them lads, I rebuilt my body, my mind, and my standards. I\u2019m now a man that will never lose himself again. I\u2019m resilient.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is who I am now. If you are rebuilding yourself too, this next chapter is for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok <\/a>, Snapchat <\/a>, Instagram <\/a>, Twitter <\/a>, Facebook <\/a>, YouTube <\/a>and Threads <\/a>.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: \u2018I got an Apple iPad for \u00a359 as I put Wowcher\u2019s refurbished tech to the test\u2019<\/a>