«Breaking News» Megan McKenna makes a rare appearance following her ex Mike Thalassitis' death

Megan McKenna made a rare appearance on Monday following her ex-boyfriend Mike Thalassitis' tragic death more than a week ago. 

The former TOWIE star, 26, stepped out to get pizza with a friend as she visited a local supermarket in her hometown of Essex amid claims her late ex was 'struggling' over their split. 

Megan wore an all-black ensemble and a pair of oversized sunglasses as she made a phone call outside the shop. 

Rare appearance: Megan McKenna made a rare appearance on Monday following her ex-boyfriend Mike Thalassitis' tragic death more than a week ago

Megan's ex-boyfriend Mike was found hanged in woodland near his Edmonton home on Saturday 16 March.

The late Love Island star's manager and friend Dave Read has now claimed that Mike was left 'struggling' over their split as the reality star was his 'first proper girlfriend'. 

Dave told New! magazine that Mike was reportedly 'hit really hard' by their summer break-up and even turned to therapy. 

He told the publication: 'He openly admitted that he had really fallen for her. She was his first proper girlfriend and, although he'd dated other people in the past, it was the first time he'd fallen in love.'

'Struggling': Mike's manager, Dave Read, has now claimed the late star was 'struggling' over their split as Megan was his 'first proper girlfriend' and he even turned to therapy (pictured in July 2018) 

Support: The former TOWIE star, 26, stepped out to get pizza with a friend as she visited a local supermarket in her hometown of Essex

Dave added: 'He was quieter than usual and I suggested he needed to see someone to get help.'

The late star's former manager went on to claim how Mike had seen happier in recent months and insisted he had no money woes, despite reports claiming he was 'struggling with debts'.  

He also claimed that Mike loved being in the public eye and his reality television appearances, which included Love Island and Celebs Go Dating.

Grieving: Megan wore an all-black ensemble and a pair of oversized sunglasses as she made a phone call outside the shop

Upsetting: Megan released a statement on Twitter two days after the shock news to offer her condolences to his family

Dave said: 'Mike loved his experience on Love Island. In fact, he enjoyed all the reality TV he did... I think he enjoyed life in the public eye. He wasn't the loudest person in the room, but he was one of those men who everyone noticed.' 

MailOnline has contacted Megan's representative for comment.  

Megan released a statement on Twitter two days after the shock news to offer her condolences to his family.  

She wrote: 'Sorry I haven't been on social media but I'm in complete shock and trying to come to terms with this.

Heartfelt: She wrote: 'Sorry I haven't been on social media but I'm in complete shock and trying to come to terms with this.

Paying tribute: 'I can't believe I'm even writing this post. My thoughts and prayers are with Mike's family. Rest in peace Mike x,' she added

'I can't believe I'm even writing this post. My thoughts and prayers are with Mike's family. Rest in peace Mike x' 

Mike and Megan dated on and off throughout 2018, but ended their relationship for good in August.

The High Heeled Shoes hitmaker previously defended the reality star, insisting that he was not a 'nasty' person and there was no other explanation for their break-up other than being at 'different points in their lives.'

Supportive: The reality star's friend also wore a similar outfit as she supported her grieving pal and accompanied her to the supermarket

Ex: Mike and Megan dated on and off throughout 2018, but ended their relationship for good in August

Just weeks before his passing, Megan became emotional when speaking about her relationship with Mike, while looking for love on Celebs Go Dating. 

In an episode of the E4 dating show that aired in February, the former TOWIE star began to cry before saying she did not want to discuss it further.

Megan said: 'I think my last relationship, I was kind of... I think I definitely fell in love.' 

Split: The singer previously defended the reality star, insisting he was not 'nasty' and there was no other explanation for their break-up other than being at 'different points in their lives.'

Past romance: They were first romantically linked in February 2018 when they jetted off to spend Valentine's Day together in Amsterdam

Low profile: Megan was later spotted in the driver's seat of her car after driving to her local supermarket  

She continued: 'I don't really want to talk about it, sorry. But I feel that's all I want, I want that love back.' 

Mike and Megan dated for seven months on and off but ultimately confirmed their separation in August 2018.

They were first romantically linked in February 2018 when they jetted off to spend Valentine's Day together in Amsterdam. 

Speaking out: On why they ended things, Megan previously said: 'We just feel like we're both at different point in our lives.'

She added: 'We both respect each other and we didn't want it to get nasty or messy. There is only so much you can do in a relationship and when it's not working you've got to take separate routes.'

Breaking her silence: Megan released a statement on Twitter two days after Mike's shock death to offer her condolences to his family

On why they ended things, Megan previously said: 'We just feel like we're both at different point in our lives.

'We both respect each other and we didn't want it to get nasty or messy. 

'There is only so much you can do in a relationship and when it's not working you've got to take separate routes.'

Heartbreaking: Mike and Megan dated for seven months on and off but ultimately confirmed their separation in August 2018 (pictured in February 2018) 

Tears: Just weeks before his passing, Megan became emotional when speaking about her relationship with Mike, while looking for love on Celebs Go Dating 

Megan's rare appearance comes after Mike's parents shut down a £25,000 fundraising page to raise money for his funeral fees over fears fraudsters could try to claim the money.

Nearly £5,000 of the target was raised in just one day by friends and supporters after his death more than a week ago. 

But on Sunday a message appeared on the page saying it would be shut and the money given to a mental health charity to avoid other fraudulent accounts being set up by fraudsters. 

Shut down: Megan's rare appearance comes after Mike's parents shut down a £25,000 fundraising page to raise money for his funeral fees over fears fraudsters could try to claim the money 

Fundraising: Nearly £5,000 of the target was raised in just one day by friends and supporters after his death more than a week ago 

The fundraising page came after Mike's grieving friends paid tribute to the late Love Island star by holding an emotional vigil on Friday in the woodland where his body was found hanged.  

In pictures and videos posted to social media by a pal called Michelle, it saw the late reality star's grieving friends cover a tree trunk in sentimental pictures, flowers and candles.

While different uploads saw his heartbroken loved ones light and set loose several floating lanterns into the sky. 

Tribute: The fundraising page came after Mike's grieving friends paid tribute to the late Love Island star by holding an emotional vigil on Friday in the woodland where his body was found hanged

Vigil: In pictures and videos posted to social media by a pal called Michelle, it saw the late reality star's grieving friends light and set loose several floating lanterns into the sky   

Other social media posts saw Mike's friends write heartfelt letters accompanied with throwback pictures of the two together over the years. 

Accompanying the posts, his friend Michelle captioned them with: 'Goodnight @MikeThalassitis Catch those lanterns in the Sky,' followed by a series of emotional emojis.

The friend also shared that Mike's loved ones had been gathering in the woodland throughout the week, leaving flowers and paying their respect.   

Heartbreaking: Other social media posts saw Mike's friends write heartfelt letters accompanied with throwback pictures of the two together over the years

Since Mike's death, Love Island bosses have now confirmed that they have been working on overhauling their reality show aftercare policy after former star Sophie Gradon was also found dead, aged 32, in June last year. 

In a lengthy statement released just days after Mike's death, producers confirmed they would change policies to ensure that all Islanders are offered support before, during and after their time on the show, as well as social media and finance management training.

In the message it also revealed that they would be changing the outlying policy towards mental care of all contestants, after many former stars hit out at producers for the lack of aftercare.

If you have been affected by this story, call The Samaritans at any time, from any phone for FREE, on 116 123. 

LOVE ISLAND STATEMENT IN FULL 

Everyone at Love Island is so shocked and absolutely devastated with the tragic news of Mike Thalassitis.

The Mike we knew was a remarkable and charismatic young man who made a huge impression both on the Love Island team and on viewers of the show. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

When something so awful happens it is natural to enter a period of soul searching and ask whether anything could have been done to help avoid something so terrible happening. It is not for us to speculate on the reasons behind this tragedy and what is so heartbreaking is that we simply cannot know.

Our show put Mike in the spotlight with all the ups and downs that brings. Mike’s TV career took off with Love Island and he went on to take part in other reality shows as his career grew.

Since the terrible news there have been a lot of people questioning Love Island’s processes and aftercare. Many of the things that have been said about them bear no relation to the support we offer. We want to outline our care processes.

As the show has grown ever more popular and our Islanders get increased attention in an ever changing landscape, each series we evolve the support we give them.

Our duty of care is a continuous and ongoing process for each Islander. This follows three key stages; pre-filming, filming, and aftercare. We work with both an independent GP and a psychological consultant to provide an assessment of the physical and mental health of each of the shortlisted cast members and their suitability for inclusion on the programme.

The medical team also contacts each Islander’s GP to check they feel that person is able to take part. We ask for full disclosure from potential cast members to these health professionals so that so that we can support them appropriately. As TV producers, we rely on medical experts to assess both mental and physical health to ensure that each candidate is suitable for inclusion.

Care continues whilst the Islanders are in the villa. We have a medical team on location which includes a psychological consultant. They not only look after Islanders’ healthcare needs, but also monitor them to check that there are no emerging signs of any problems developing whilst they are in the villa. Additionally, several of our senior team, who monitor the cast around the clock, have been trained in mental health first aid.

When the time comes for each Islander to leave the show, our aftercare process kicks in. Every Islander has a series of debrief meetings on location with the executive team and the medical team, including the psychological consultant. After this, they are told how to access after care support as well as information on seeking professional representation. They also meet with the press team the day after leaving the villa and are briefed and advised on their press coverage whilst in the villa.

We have had requests for help from former Islanders, and have provided this.

We have always recognised that this should be an evolving process and six months ago we engaged Dr Paul Litchfield, an experienced physician and a Chief Medical Officer, to independently review our medical processes on Love Island. He has extensive experience of working with large companies and Government in the area of mental health.

This review has led us to extend our support processes to offer therapy to all Islanders and not only those that reach out to us. And we will be delivering bespoke training to all future Islanders to include social media and financial management.

The key focus will be for us to no longer be reliant on the islanders asking us for support but for us to proactively check in with them on a regular basis.

Having said all of this about Love Island we must not lose sight of the wider issue which is the importance of the conversation on mental health. Across ITV we have worked with a number of charities including CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) on Project 84 and with Samaritans and CALM on Coronation Street, tackling the issue of male suicide. 

Conversations about mental health have never been more important. 

 

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/26/megan-mckenna-makes-a-rare-appearance-following-her-ex-mike-thalassitis-death/
Main photo article Megan McKenna made a rare appearance on Monday following her ex-boyfriend Mike Thalassitis’ tragic death more than a week ago. 
The former TOWIE star, 26, stepped out to get pizza with a friend as she visited a local supermarket in her hometown of Essex amid claims her late ex wa...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

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