The Block contestant Paige Beechey has revealed the vile ‘death threats’ she received following her shock exit from the Channel Nine show.
Forced to delete Facebook entirely and turn off the comments on her Instagram page, the 27-year-old said she started receiving online hate from the first episode.
Paige said her partner Jesse Maguire has to go through her messages to delete the ‘violent’ messages from trolls, reported Yahoo Lifestyle on Tuesday.
‘I’ve had a lot of death threats, I’ve had a lot of violent threats, I’ve had a lot of people just say nasty things that I could never even conceptualise,’ she said.
‘I started receiving hate pretty much episode one, and then I think everyone got really comfortable with the idea of harassing me online so that really ramped up.’
She added: ‘Jesse actually has my Instagram account on his phone so he can monitor all the requests so I won’t see them.’
Paige also said she ‘deleted Facebook like six or seven weeks ago so I don’t see all that vitriol there’, limiting strangers’ access to her online.
While she revealed Channel Nine has paid for her counselling and various mental health services, the real support has come from Jesse and her parents.
The Block contestant Paige Beechey, 27, (pictured) has revealed the vile ‘death threats’ she received following her shock exit from the Channel Nine show
She said ‘being around grounded people’ has helped her avoid taking the vitriol of haters too personally.
Paige also added that her co-stars have been a great help post-show, as she often calls up Brad and Kylie for ‘a laugh’ after each episode.
The Block producers are said to be in hot water over their mental health procedures after Paige and Jesse suddenly quit the program.
The engaged couple, who were dubbed the 2024 ‘villains’, exited last Monday after producers were forced to intervene during an explosive argument between the pair.
After seeking professional help, they cited mental health stress and gave up their place on the competition, prompting questions about the show’s care policies.
Forced to delete Facebook entirely and turn off the comments on her Instagram page, the 27-year-old said she started receiving online hate from the first episode
Paige has since hit out at producers about her ‘horrific’ experience on the show, while a 2023 contestant on The Block has taken aim at the program’s aftercare.
In light of the controversy, it has now been claimed that Channel Nine are reviewing their mental health policies across the board to prevent another dramatic incident.
‘After Monday’s episode of The Block an unexpected chain of events kicked off after a mental health warning featured prior to the show starting,’ a source exclusively told Daily Mail Australia.
‘The network wants to know your story and if you don’t speak up some practices may never be properly addressed.’
The source claimed that many former contestants on The Block felt ‘triggered’ watching Jesse and Paige’s exit, which saw them advised to speak to a professional.
Paige said her partner Jesse Maguire (left) has to go through her messages to delete the ‘violent’ messages from trolls, reported Yahoo Lifestyle on Tuesday
Former stars of the show are said to have been reflecting on the alleged lack of support during their season.
Some ex-contestants are believed to have asked Channel Nine over the years to pay for their psychologists’ assessments after appearing on the program.
‘It was mainly the former Block contestants that were triggered by the episode on Monday night,’ the source added, noting there had not been an influx of viewer complaints.
Producers are said to be ‘looking back through their process’ to improve Nine’s mental health plans on reality TV shows like The Block and Married At First Sight.
A Nine spokesperson said: ‘Nine and Cavalier Television takes its obligations in respect to the health and wellbeing of the participants of this program extremely seriously.
Paige recently hit out at producers about her ‘horrific’ experience on the show, while a 2023 contestant on The Block has taken aim at the program’s aftercare
‘Nine has a service for all participants should they like or need individual and confidential psychological support.
‘This service gives participants access to clinicians who have been specifically engaged to support those involved in the program in relation to their experiences.
‘This service is available to all participants during filming, broadcast and once the program has ended for as long as they need it, it does not end.’
Following her sensational exit, Paige took to TikTok last Wednesday to break her silence on the drama, admitting she was ‘annoyed’ with her edit on the show.
She furiously slammed producers for her ‘horrific’ experience on the series and accused the show of editing her scenes to make her look ‘crazy’.