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When Love Island winner Cacherel Mirjah Mercer, better known as Cach, broke down in tears on the show, it became one of the most talked-about moments of the series. His current partner, Toni Laites, who he won the show with, had decided to couple up with Harrison Luna during a recoupling, leaving Cach single. He was open and honest with Toni about how the situation made him feel. “That was one of the most embarrassing things I’ve been through in my entire life… You knew what decision you wanted to make, you were just waiting for the go ahead from someone else," he told her at the time. "I can’t respect that. Good luck with your endeavours," he said as he was seen walking away after giving her a hug. He was later seen catching up with fellow Islander Ty Isherwood on the terrace, as he broke down in tears as he became overwhelmed with emotion. In an emotional moment, Ty was seen wiping Cach's tears, as he admitted he was embarrassed. "No man, don’t be. This is no reflection of you, it’s them," Ty said as Cach told him he hadn't cried in years. "This is real though, it’s you. Better to let stuff like this out then bottle it up. Doesn’t make you any less of a man, in fact more of a man," Ty said in emotional scenes. Millions watched as the usually composed dancer showed raw emotion during the scene, something rarely seen on reality TV, especially from young men. Now, he’s embracing that vulnerability rather than hiding from it. The 24-year-old has partnered with mental health charity Young Minds to help young people particularly young men feel comfortable talking about mental health. “Prior to Love Island , I knew it wasn’t really a thing for men to be vulnerable. I didn’t mean to have the iconic moment," Cach told The Mirror . “It opened the door for conversations to happen, showing young men it’s okay to speak to your friends about how you’re feeling.” Cach hadn't realised how much that scene resonated with viewers, but after speaking with his parents, he understood the impact and was determined to change the narrative that men can’t be emotional. Following his win earlier this year, Cach could’ve taken the usual post-villa route with brand deals and endorsements. Instead, he knew his first big move had to be something more meaningful. “I’m really happy it’s one of the first things that I’m doing. I’d rather do something powerful, giving back to the community," he told us. The 24-year-old knows first-hand the impact mental health struggles can have. He previously battled with anxiety and understands how hard it can be to open up. Cach explains that it was during university when he first noticed he was struggling. He said: “When me and my friends would walk into crowds, like a lecture, I’d feel this really uncomfortable feeling - my chest got a bit tight. I could walk into a room with a group of people still feeling a bit uncomfortable. But when it came to walking into a group standing by myself, I could just not do it.” Over time, that fear began to creep into his own family gatherings and that’s when he realised it was actually anxiety. What truly helped, he says, was opening up and being honest with himself about how he was feeling. That mindset was put to the test on Love Island, where Cach’s emotional vulnerability became one of the most talked-about moments of the series. It changed things not only for him, but for many viewers who saw it as a turning point in how men express emotion. For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp , for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. But that vulnerable moment didn’t come without discomfort. The scene aired during The Grafties and his tears were awarded 'Most Emotional Moment'. During The Grafties, Cach brushed off the clip by joking that it was AI something many saw as deflection. But since leaving the show, he’s chosen to own that moment. “Like in that moment of time, yeah, I was feeling it, boy. For it to be so talked about after made me feel uncomfortable, but it shows how real I was, I’ve got to own my thing.” he said. “When I first watched it back, I joked because I felt uncomfortable. But my mum and dad told me, ‘don’t make it a joke.’ They reminded me that being vulnerable isn’t the norm for men, and people resonated with it for a reason.” In a bid to help young men and boys get comfortable in their vulnerable moments, Cach visited a school as part of his YoungMinds launch - an experience he says reaffirmed his purpose. He explained that seeing students open up about their feelings was “a really beautiful moment" and as especially moved by how many of the boys admitted they struggled to talk to their dads. “I told them, just be willing to have the conversation and don’t be afraid of looking soft to your pops,” he recalled. Since that day, Cach has had schools reaching out about assemblies and culture-day talks, and he plans to do more. For him, the goal is to keep breaking the cycle, because, in his words, showing emotion isn’t weakness - it’s growth. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
