CAROLINE Flack has hit back over claims she snubbed Love Island’s Francesca Allen for calling her a “dirty paedo”. Aftersun viewers accused the host of swerving a hug from the dumped Islander during a frosty exchange last night. It’s after Francesca cruelly tormented 39-year-old Caroline to her face at Wireless Festival seven years ago. But […]
CAROLINE Flack has hit back over claims she snubbed Love Island’s Francesca Allen for calling her a “dirty paedo”.
Aftersun viewers accused the host of swerving a hug from the dumped Islander during a frosty exchange last night.
It’s after Francesca cruelly tormented 39-year-old Caroline to her face at Wireless Festival seven years ago.
But keen to put the drama in the past, Caroline today said: “As you know … I hate commenting on stuff…
“I didn’t snub Francesca .. infact quite the opposite .. made her feel very welcome as soon as she got to the studio.
“I don’t hold grudges.. and the wellbeing of our islanders is important to me. Thought she was a great islander.”
The shocking taunt came shortly after Caroline had split from her much-younger lover, Harry Styles, who was 17 while she was 31.
Ever the professional, Caroline managed to conduct a brief interview with Francesca on the show.
But once it was over, she avoided the customary hug and swerved Francesca in an awkward move.
And viewers rushed to Twitter to point out the cringe moment that left Francesca hanging.
As you know … I hate commenting on stuff… I didn’t snub Francesca .. infact quite the opposite .. made her feel very welcome as soon as she got to the studio. I don’t hold grudges.. and the wellbeing of our islanders is important to me. Thought she was a great islander
— caroline flack (@carolineflack1) July 22, 2019
The Sun Online revealed earlier this month that Francesca called Caroline a “dirty paedo” to her face, according to her best pal.
It was detailed in a 2012 tweet posted by Francesca’s friend, Paigey Banks, who made the claims about her.
The post read: “Highlight of the dayyy seeing Caroline Flack and calling herrr a dirtyy pedo withhhh @francesca_allen hahaha.”
A rep for Francesca told The Sun: “This was a historic tweet that has not come from Francesca directly.
“Francesca can’t reply as she is in the villa but she would be mortified if she was judged based on the actions of a 16 year old friend.
“She has a lot of respect for Caroline and is looking forward to meeting her.”
Caroline wrote about an incident where she was called a “paedophile” while she was dating Harry in her autobiography, Storm In A C Cup.
She wrote: “It began to go wrong when Harry was pictured coming out of my house one morning. And once that was out, it was open season.
“After that, anyone could say anything. In the street people started shouting at me ‘paedophile’ and ‘pervert’.”
Defending their age gap, she added: “I’ve never felt I was much older than Harry. I still feel 18 and I probably act that way half the time.
“Although it was just a bit of fun we decided it was best to keep it to ourselves as we were both working for Simon Cowell.”
Caroline and Harry struck up a relationship through The X Factor, when she was co-host of the Xtra Factor spin-off show and he was in One Direction.
The group, who were signed to Simon’s label, had come third on the show the previous year and were on their way to global stardom.
Before she went in, Francesca, who is the co-owner of a clothing boutique, said she was “fiery”.
She also claimed she was “very positive” – though judging by the taunts she and her friend are accused of making, that remark may now ring a little hollow.