Former Love Island star Kaz Crossley has spoken publicly for the first time since being detained in the UAE after a leaked 2020 video showed her sniffing a white substance in Dubai.
The 28-year-old reality TV star said she “won’t let my past define me” and admitted she had made “a lot of mistakes”.
“It was me in the video. Nobody made me do it,” she said.
Crossley was detained at Abu Dhabi airport while traveling to Thailand earlier this month and spent several nights in a cell.
Speaking about the incident on Instagram, Crossley said the video was taken in secret and leaked.
“It completely destroyed my mental health,” she said.
“My family was so worried about me. I wasn’t in a good way, being trolled online every day. I had to do a lot of healing.”
Although the incident was widely publicized, she said she had not spoken directly to any media about it.
Crossley said: “It was a time in my life where I definitely didn’t love myself, probably, and that’s reflected in what I was doing with my body and those around me.
“I’ve made mistakes, I’ve made a lot of mistakes. But I’m not going to let my past define who I am now because I’m really falling in love with myself and the person I’m becoming.
“It’s been a long and crazy journey, but now I’m surrounding myself with people who have made me feel so seen, so safe.
“I’m so excited to really now fully step into my power and take control of my life and take responsibility and move forward because I’m so blessed to be here.”
Click to subscribe to Backstage wherever you get your podcasts
Fellow Love Islanders Zara McDermott and Laura Anderson, who starred in the same series of the show in 2018, were quick to offer their support in the comments section of their post.
McDermott wrote: “There is no adult human being on this planet who hasn’t made a single mistake, yet people are so quick to judge and it’s something I will never understand.
“You’ve done amazing work with so many kids and changed lives; we’ve all seen it and you have a wonderful heart!
“A mistake doesn’t define you, it’s the value you add to the world; and that’s a lot.”
Anderson added: “My girl… We also know that honesty is the best policy that has freed you from any mistakes.
“I love you and knowing you these past 5 years has been a pleasure watching you grow.”
Crossley joined the fourth grade of ITV program as a new competitor when the infamous Casa Amor was introduced.
She and fellow contestant Josh Denzel finished third in the final, behind Anderson and Paul Knops, and Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham.