Strictly's Tasha Ghouri breaks down as she recounts 'hardest year of her life'
Tasha Ghouri broke down in tears as she spoke about her battles with online trolls and how they nearly drove her to quit being in the public eye. The former Love Island and Strictly Come Dancing star spoke to Fleur East on Hits Radio about how "tough" last year was for her.
As part of an International Women's Day special, Fleur asked Tasha how she coped with being in the public eye. Tasha said: "It's tough. Last year was actually the hardest year for that." As she started to cry, she added: "I don't want to get emotional...sorry. It still gets to me."
The star also said that she "lost" herself amid trolling last year. She said: "I've been three years in the industry and it still gets to me. I see comments of ableism to this day - I still get that. Last year was the hardest, I lost myself completely. I was in the depths and it got to the point where I stopped loving what I was doing.
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"Then to go through such hardship, going through a public break up - it was tough," she continued, pointing to her split for Love Island co-star Andrew Le Page shortly after her 2024 Strictly stint.
"I had to really try and find my happiness again - which I have now - I've got an amazing partner, Cam and I truly feel like I'm radiating from inside because I had to go through that battle with trolls online. Kindness is free and I think people forget that."
Tasha competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2024. She was partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec and was one of the highest scoring celebs on the series. Whilst on the show, she opened up about the ableism she faced when she first came to fame via Love Island in 2022.
She revealed that she received a series of cruel comments that made her feel like she had let down "the whole deaf community". The model was the show's first. deaf contestant.
"When I left the show, I remember my dad sat me down and he looked at me straight and said 'Tash, there is a lot of horrific stuff that was written about you, especially on social media,'" she said on Strictly. "There are videos made about my voice and the way I speak, it became a trend at one point."
She added that though she went on the show to find love, she also wanted to provide "representation" for her community. "I wanted to go on for representation and I feel like I failed, not just myself but, the whole deaf community," she said.
Tasha was born deaf and uses a cochlear implant. A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device that bypasses the inner ear to provide sound sensations to the auditory nerve.
After Icons Week on Strictly, Tasha's dad, Tarek, hit out at trolls who again left unkind comments for Tasha on social media. He said underneath a photo of himself and his daughter: "Even last night, despite Tasha's heartfelt video sharing with the nation how mentally damaging social media comments can be, some chose to still abuse her (and many other contestants, Pros and judges!) on Facebook and X with horrid unnecessary hurtful comments.
"She isn't on many social media platforms for this reason but friends and family are. When I read them I think it says more about the person typing it than it does about Tasha. What was motivating last night was how many people 'got the message' and bit back at the trolls. This is what gives Tasha the energy and commitment to speak out for anyone suffering.
"In a way you give her fuel, but you damage the engine. Be kind. Be respectful. It's not difficult to be nice and if you feel like being otherwise you don't have to take to the keyboard.
"Lastly a MASSIVE THANK YOU to anyone that has complimented her for being brave or who enjoyed her dance or who perhaps felt a little stronger after hearing how you can overcome. #bekind."
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