Kerry Katona suggests Caroline Flack is the victim of SEXISM after shocking assault charge

Embattled former Love Island host Caroline Flack is the victim of sexist double standards, according to Kerry Katona, who has thrown her support behind the presenter amid her shocking assault charge.

Former Atomic Kitten singer Kerry, 39, has revealed that she empathises with 40-year-old Caroline’s fall from grace – triggered after she was charged with assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27, last month – after publicly battling her own demons.

She told The Sun: ‘It makes me angry at how this industry works. No one knows what went on behind those closed doors. I am not going to judge Caroline at all.’

Suggesting that a different standard is set for women in the industry, Kerry compared Caroline’s situation to Ant McPartlin’s break from TV, after he entered treatment following a drink-driving conviction. 

She said: ‘I applaud Ant McPartlin. I adore him. He’s done f***ing amazing to pull it all back. But I think it is different for a man than it is for a woman. Within eight months of him crashing his car under the influence, into another with a little girl in it, he is winning awards.

‘Then there’s me on This Morning, slurring my words due to mental health medication. I am still to this day crawling back up that ladder. I think with Caroline it’s different because she’s a woman. When we mess up, we have a hard time with it.’

Caroline is currently in Los Angeles spending some time away from the limelight after she was charged with assaulting her beau Lewis.

During her time in America the star is thought to have ‘avoided celeb haunts’ and decided to make plans for her big return to the UK, reports Closer Magazine.

A source told the publication that Caroline wants to ‘reinvent herself’ and swap ‘parties for dog walking and quiet nights in front of the TV’.

The source said: ‘Caroline has been avoiding the usual celeb haunts. She’s been … taking care of herself with spa treatments, healthy food and lots of sleep.

‘She admits she’s a party girl, but the truth is she’s been desperate to settle down and have a family for a long time now.’

The insider added that Caroline’s twin sister Jody is married with three children and the presenter would also like to have a family. 

MailOnline has contacted Caroline’s representatives for a comment.

It comes after Caroline broke her social media silence to wish her Love Island replacement Laura Whitmore ‘good luck’, hours before the winter series kicks off.

She wrote: ‘Massive good luck to Laura, Iain [Stirling] and the team for tonights launch show… the first one always the best one. Caroline x’ [sic]

The presenter stood down from being the face of the show in December as she was charged for common assault following a fight with her boyfriend Lewis.

In late December, Caroline appeared in court over the incident with her beau – where a judge heard she hit the former tennis player over the head with a lamp while he slept – days after news of her replacement broke.

The court was told she read texts on Lewis’ phone that made her think he was cheating on her before the alleged attack. 

Caroline – who pleaded not guilty at Highbury Magistrates’ Court – was released on bail until her trial on March 4.

Following the hearing, the media personality insisted she won’t ‘not be silenced’ in a bold social media post shared on December 24. 

Uploading an old image of herself on the red carpet, she wrote: ‘Been advised not to go on social media … but I wanted to say happy Christmas to everyone who has been so incredibly kind to me this year.

‘This kind of scrutiny and speculation is a lot to take on for one person to take on their own… I’m a human being at the end of the day and I’m not going to be silenced when I have a story to tell and a life to keep going with.

‘I’m taking some time out to get feeling better and learn some lessons from situations I’ve got myself into to.I have nothing but love to give and best wishes for everyone.’ [sic] 

Bosses recently confirmed the ‘door is still open’ for the former X Factor host to return to Love Island amid her charge.

Love Island commissioning editor Amanda told The Mirror: ‘We are continuing to talk to Caroline. We are in constant contact and the door is open.’ 

An ITV spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline: ‘ITV has a long standing relationship with Caroline and we understand and accept her decision. We will remain in contact with her over the coming months about future series of Love Island.’