Radio 1 DJ Gemma Cairney supported close friend Caroline Flack when she was victimised for her romance with Harry Styles.
Caroline, 32, received heavy criticism - and was even sent death threats - for her age-gap relationship with 18-year-old One Direction star Harry.
'My jaw was dropped for most of the time,' says Gemma, 27.
'I just couldn't believe that someone could be so vilified.
'It was a very intense period of time but I think it's over and, at the end of the day, Caroline is just a person.'
Gemma reckons it was Caroline's job as a TV host that made people think it was OK to pick on her throughout the 3-month romance, which ended in January.
'I think people feel removed when they see someone on the telly and in magazines and, obviously, she's pretty gorgeous as well, so I think some people see her as a fictional character,' says Gemma.
'But she's just a young woman with emotions and is clever, funny and really amazing at her job.'
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