Love Island's Harrison Solomon hit back at 'harsh' Women's Aid criticism and insisted 'I was just following my heart' after his explosive exit while appearing on Thursday's instalment of Lorraine.
The 22-year-old appeared on the ITV show alongside co-star Lauren Wood, 26, to chat to step-in host Christine Lampard, 46, about his experience in the iconic villa.
During his stint on the programme, Harrison ruffled feathers after getting involved in a number of complicated love triangles - including Toni Laites, 24, and Lauren, as well as Toni and Helena Ford, 29. His treatment of Toni and Lauren was condemned by viewers, as well as Women's Aid, who criticised his actions by releasing a damning statement claiming his behaviour 'reinforces a culture that excuses and trivialises violence against women and girls.'
Christine mentioned the backlash from the domestic abuse charity, to which Harrison said: 'It's never nice to see those things written about me. Obviously, I've got a family back home.
'So it wasn't nice to hear, obviously I expected a little bit of backlash coming off the show based off how I navigated getting to know two girls, I didn't handle the situation in the best way.
Love Island's Harrison Solomon hit back at 'harsh' Women's Aid criticism and insisted 'I was just following my heart' after his explosive exit while his appearance on Thursday's Lorraine
The 22-year-old appeared on the ITV show alongside co-star Lauren Wood, 26, (pictured) to chat to step-in host Christine Lampard , 46, about his experience in the iconic villa
Christine (pictured) mentioned the backlash from the domestic abuse charity, to which Harrison said: 'It's never nice to see those things written about me. Obviously, I've got a family back home...'
'So I was expecting a little bit of backlash but I think the comments were a little bit harsh about obviously sexist opinions and stuff like that.
'I feel like everyone in the villa, I was very close with all the girls. They know me. They know what I'm like and I'm not those things.
'I feel like everyone that knows me knows that I'm not those things.'
Christine asked: 'More importantly, do you know it, Lauren?'
Lauren: 'Of course, obviously, he's been portrayed this way on TV and it's unfortunate because everyone that knows Harrison knows that he's not that type of boy.
'He would never intentionally hurt anyone, he's a lovely boy, he's just made a wrong decision.'
Christine added: 'Well he left the villa, didn't he?!'
Harrison added: 'There was no like malicious intent from my side of things.
Harrison said: 'I feel like I was following my feelings, I am a very indecisive person. Like I was going and having conversations with both girls. I was just following my feelings'
'I feel like I was following my feelings, I am a very indecisive person.
'Like I was going and having conversations with both girls. I was just following my feelings.
'I was trying to be honest, obviously I know that I didn't act the right way in there, but I feel like I was just following my heart.'
Christine was keen to know what the 'official status' of their relationship is.
Harrison confirmed: 'We're exclusive. We're dating. I've only got eyes for Lauren, but we're not officially boyfriend and girlfriend.'
Viewers were left fuming as they branded Harrison 'disgusting' after he appeared to have sex with Lauren before later crawling back to Toni, who did not know the full extent of Harrison's intimate actions.
Women's Aid have spoken out on his behaviour as they insisted the ITV reality show is continuing to reinforce misogyny and sexism.
Communications Manager at Women's Aid Jessye Werner said that while production companies have been making steps to call out toxic behaviours more must be done.
The footballer was originally in a love triangle with Helena Ford (pictured) and Toni, until he decided to be with Toni
Harrison got to know Toni during his time in the villa, and the pair became very close
She told The Tab: 'Despite these positive steps, we still see unhealthy patterns of behaviour on these shows, showing just how steeped in misogyny and sexism our society still is.
'Women are often lied to, slut-shamed and manipulated, as well as laughed at behind their backs. Misogyny and sexism lay the foundation for the tolerance of abuse and violence – it reinforces a culture that excuses and trivialises violence against women and girls.
'More must be done to educate contestants on sexism and misogyny, and it is a great credit to viewers who take to social media, continuing to call out these behaviours as soon as they see them.'
At the end of the instalment Lauren was left sobbing after Toni chose to recouple with Harrison after he expressed his desire to give things another go despite appearing to have taken things to the next level with Lauren.
Yet ITV has highlighted they carry out extensive duty of care protocols during, before and after filming.
These include suspending social media, training in language and behaviour and ongoing support and welfare sessions.
Their guidelines state: 'All Islanders will complete video training and guidance across a range of topics to include mutually respectful behaviour in relationships, behaviour patterns associated with controlling and coercive behaviour and language around disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, and microaggressions before they meet their fellow Islanders.'
Harrison entered the villa on day eight as a bombshell and picked Toni and Malisha Jordan, 24, to go on a date with him.
He hit it off with Toni and they ended up coupling up together.
But during the early stages of their relationship, Harrison was keen to get to know Helena, leaving Toni very confused.
The footballer decided that Toni was the one for him and things were going well between the two until Casa Amor hit.
Harrison ended up leaving the villa (pictured) to be with Lauren after she was brutally dumped from the show
The sister villa twist saw Harrison grow close to Lauren and he decided to bring her back to the main villa, while Toni decided to couple with with a Casa Amor bombshell herself - Cach.
When Harrison got back to the villa, he carried on flirting with Toni behind Lauren's back and Toni shocked the rest of the Islanders when she decided to pick Harrison over Cach during a recoupling ceremony.
Toni was then left shocked that just days before Harrison confessing he wanted to be with her, that he had sex with Lauren twice.
Lauren was brutally dumped on day 27 when new girl Angel Swift, 26, picked her man Ty Isherwood, 23.
The dog walker was in a friendship couple with Ty after Toni picked Harrison in the ceremony.
Lauren begged Harrison to leave the villa with her, and after 24 hours, Harrison quit the show.
Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV from 9am.
