Lily Jade is lastly prepared to deal with being branded as “the villain” of the Jersey Shore spinoff Aussie Shore season 1 — and why she determined to make a return for season 2.
“I believe they jumped the gun,” Jade, 22, solely informed Us Weekly forward of the season 2 premiere, referring to the general public's opinion of her character. “Entering into, I assumed, ‘Individuals like me. I'm good. I may be imply right here and there, however that's what you do when it's a must to arise for your self.' As soon as it was airing, the backlash was insane. I've by no means skilled one thing like that earlier than.”
Jade had by no means been on TV — not to mention the highlight — earlier than showing on 2024's season 1, the place she had intercourse onscreen and was accused of not being a “woman's woman.” Whereas being on the receiving finish of an limitless onslaught of on-line feedback, Jade was additionally coping with her first heartbreak.
“I haven't had so many individuals at that quantity telling me they don't like me or they need me to go die or they're gonna come discover me,” she stated. “I used to be so shocked as a result of I'd speak to a few of the different forged members they usually weren't getting the response I used to be getting. I assume I used to be named or branded because the villain of the present. Being slightly 21 yr previous, I used to be a bit like, ‘Wow, everybody hates me.' I truthfully thought my life was over.”
Whereas Jade defined that “90 p.c” of the feedback from her haters have been on social media, she famous that there have been “positively” some in-person interactions.
“After I would exit — even with my household — I'd have younger ladies or ladies my age come as much as me and name me, ‘I'm a bitch, otherwise you're such a bully, you're not a lady's woman,' issues like that,” Jade shared. “On the finish of the day, it's nonetheless only a TV present. I can't management how you concentrate on me, however it's a must to bear in mind it's TV. It's not actual life.”
As she navigated the backlash, Jade launched her OnlyFans and briefly turned off social media accounts earlier than handing over the management to another person — however she nonetheless periodically checked in on what her followers have been saying.
“It's arduous when it's 12 a.m. at evening and also you're curious [about] what everybody's saying,” she stated. “Generally I'd log in or look into the feedback and even look on my faux account. I'd go to my actual account and take a look in any respect the issues. It's arduous to disregard when it was at that quantity of individuals. As a result of the present was airing for 10 weeks, clearly individuals have been speaking about it for 10 weeks, however then the hate continued. It's nonetheless persevering with now, even a yr later.”
In each style of actuality TV, there are villains — and it doesn't matter what else occurs, these individuals are usually essentially the most compelling personalities on their respective exhibits. That truism is the impetus behind E!'s new sequence Home of Villains, which unites essentially the most infamous forged members from exhibits together with Survivor, The Problem, The Bachelor […]
Trying again, Jade admitted she has “no thought” how she bought by means of these days. Whereas her dad and mom supported her, Jade famous that they've “by no means handled a scenario like that earlier than.”
“Individuals can say, ‘Oh, I understand how you're feeling and I'm right here for you.' However they really actually don't till you might be in that place,” Jade stated. “I just about had the entire of Australia telling me I'm a nasty particular person they usually hate me and all a great deal of horrible issues. I positively was letting it get to me slightly bit.”
Regardless of considering she wouldn't return to the present, Jade in the end made the choice that she would reappear on season 2.
“Earlier than I went in, I actually was going forwards and backwards from like, ‘Do I need to change something? Do I need to act nicer for a great edit?' I used to be attempting to consider all these items that I might do to make myself really feel higher,” she stated. “However I don't know. I simply thought to myself, ‘Why ought to I would like to try this for a TV present?' I ought to by no means have to alter how I act or who I'm, as a result of all my household and mates on the skin like me. That's what I ought to actually care about.”
Jade shared that she approached season 2 of the present “weapons blazing” and “wasn't actually holding again,” together with deciding to inform “individuals precisely how [she] was feeling.” As for what viewers can anticipate with the present's second go-round, Jade teased that there's “far more drama.” She added, “There's a lot of love drama, I'd say.”
Aussie Shore season 2 premieres on Paramount+ Thursday, September 25.
