Deaf charity issues vital advice in response to 'shocking' treatment of Love Island star Sam by trolls

A charity supporting deaf people has responded to the ‘unacceptable’ comments Love Island 2026 contestant Sam Workman is receiving online.

The hit ITV2 dating show is back, serving up even more drama this year as the Islanders make flirty connections.

Sam is one of the OG boys and says he has been called ‘tonic’ in the past, but is ‘confident in what I have to offer’.

The 25-year-old from Dudley is a tradesman, working as an electrician in the West Midlands.

He experienced hearing loss at a young age and has worn hearing aids since the age of four.

Love Island previously had a deaf contestant, model and dancer Tasha Ghouri who received a cochlear implant after she was born deaf.

However some viewers have used social media to troll and post cruel messages about him. A lot of comments have been directed at his hearing aids.

Some cruel jabs have said no one wants to get to know him on a ‘sexual level’, citing that this was due to ‘hearing aids’.

Another post on social said it was ‘cruel putting this Sam guy on Love Island’.

Sam has worn hearing aids since he was four (ITV)

Charities and influencers are now speaking out about the way viewers have responded to Sam. This includes the RNID, the national hearing loss charity, that has issued a statement and offered tips advice for ensuring people who are deaf are treated with respect, just like anyone else.

“We are shocked and disheartened by the negative comments Sam is receiving online and any trolling about his hearing loss or use of hearing aids is completely unacceptable,” Crystal Rolfe, director of health at RNID, tells Tyla.

“While we don’t know how Sam is feeling inside the villa, we do know that negative attitudes can have a big impact, leaving deaf people and people with hearing loss feeling excluded, lonely and isolated.

A charity supporting the deaf has spoken out (ITV)

Rolfe emphasised that creating a more inclusive society for deaf people often starts with simple, everyday actions, explaining: “Inclusion doesn’t have to be complicated. Small changes in how we communicate can make a huge difference in all areas of life, whether that’s dating, in our social lives or at work.

“Simple actions like politely getting someone’s attention, making sure they can see your lips when you’re speaking and not being afraid to repeat yourself, can all help break down these barriers.

Speaking about the impact of media visibility for the deaf community, the organisation stressed the importance of authentic representation on mainstream television, saying: "Representation of people who are deaf or have hearing loss on prime-time programmes like Love Island is incredibly important, they help to improve public understanding and challenge misconceptions.

"We hope to see further representation of hearing loss on our screens, so that everyone feels included.”