Domenica Calarco has candidly opened up about her mental health struggles following criticism from Bachelor star turned podcaster Abbie Chatfield.
The backlash arose after Calarco and fellow MAFS bride Ella Ding hosted controversial groom Jack Dunkley on their podcast, Sit With Us.
Taking to Instagram on Sunday morning, the former MAFS bride shared a concerning post revealing how she was taking time out to visit a mental health retreat,
‘Over the last month, I have been struggling with some deep issues that have left me emotionally, physically and psychologically drained,’ she began.
‘Everyday, I am trying to be the strong, independent and bubbly person that you all know me to be, but the reality is that I am not okay and the recent social media discourse has forced me to realise that I am at the end of my tether.’
Domenica Calarco has candidly opened up about her mental health struggles following criticism from Abbie Chatfield
She continued: ‘As someone who has dealt with mental illness for 15 years, I have come to the realisation that I need to put my health, both physically and mentally, as the number one priority and have decided to enter a mental health retreat.’
The controversy erupted after Domenica and Ella faced criticism for their interview with Jack Dunkley, who previously sparked outrage by telling co-star Jonathan McCullough to ‘muzzle’ his wife Lauren Dunn during a dinner party.
The interview prompted a heated response from Abbie, further intensifying the scrutiny on the podcast hosts.
Taking to Instagram on Sunday morning, the former MAFS bride shared a concerning post revealing how she was taking time out to visit a mental health retreat
Domenica previously broke her silence in a series of TikTok videos, in which she revealed to fans she’s been feeling extreme anxiety.
In one clip, the brunette admitted she was struggling to leave the house due to the stress, and had even started picking at her skin as a reaction to the anxiety.
‘It’s a really unhealthy thing to be doing,’ she said, showing a series of self-inflicted scratches on her arm.
‘It’s scary that this stress, this anxiety, this pressure, this feeling of failure and this feeling of ‘I’m not good enough’ and this feeling of ‘I’ve f**ked up is manifesting itself in this way of wanting to do that to myself, wanting to run away, being really scared,’ she lamented.
‘I just wanted to make this little video. I’m not doing it for f**king sympathy at all because that’s not what I’m after here. I’m just putting this out there to say I am human, I’m human,’ she continued, adding that her self-esteem is ‘literally at an all-time low’.
Domenica and Ella found themselves in the firing line last week after they spoke to Jack (pictured) about the controversial moment he told co-star Jonathan McCullough to ‘muzzle’ his wife Lauren Dunn at the dinner table
Domenica also shared a video of herself reapplying her makeup after crying in her bedroom.
‘So, this is how I bring myself back after having a cry and pretty much hating myself,’ she said, painting on a new layer of concealer, blush and lipliner.
Her posts have since been inundated by comments from fans asking her to address the podcast controversy.
Domenica has since broken her silence in a series of TikTok videos, in which she revealed to fans she’s been feeling extreme anxiety
While Domenica chose not to provide a statement, she did assure several fans that she and Ella will be responding to the backlash ‘very soon’.
‘In the light of our society at the moment we cannot give misogynist men an inch. Not one. Women must speak up against it,’ one user commented.
Domenica responded: ‘Obviously upon reflection we wish we had done things differently. We will be addressing this very soon.’
Her posts have since been inundated by comments from fans asking her to address the podcast controversy. While Domenica chose not to provide a statement, she did assure several fans that she and Ella will be responding to the backlash ‘very soon’
Elsewhere, another user wrote: ‘Maybe you should sit this out out babe. Might be a good excuse to take some time to reflect on your behaviour and how dangerous it is to support misogynistic men [sic] and excuse that behaviour.’
‘Thanks for your feedback,’ Domenica replied, adding: ‘We will be addressing all of this very soon.’
It comes after Abbie unleashed on Domenica and Ella during this week’s episode of It’s A Lot with Abbie Chatfield.
It comes after Abbie (pictured) unleashed on Domenica and Ella during this week’s episode of It’s A Lot with Abbie Chatfield
‘I don’t think those girls even know why the muzzle comment was wrong. I think that’s the biggest issue,’ she claimed.
‘I didn’t think at this point that they were malicious. I thought they just didn’t understand feminism or patriarchy fully…they had an entry level understanding of feminism,’ she added.
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Abbie continued: ‘I thought that was what it was, and they were actually trying their hardest, by having this loser on.
‘And then they thought that what they did was enough, but I was like; ‘It actually isn’t enough and it’s really damaging to post this.”
The former Bachelor contestant also stated that her fellow reality dating show were ill-equipped to have conversations about misogyny and feminism.
‘I think the first step would be, because you aren’t equipped to have these conversations, would be to not have him on at all,’ the FBoy Island host said.
‘And say, ‘I’m not going to platform misogynist if I can’t call him out.’ Another thing you could do is if you are going to platform him, stand your ground and question him on why he thinks this is okay and also understand why the muzzle comment was wrong.’