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Jungle celebrity Maura Higgins ‘ friend has issued a desperate five-word plea to the public following her publicised drunken kiss with married McFly star Danny Jones.

The star has jetted off to Los Angeles for a photoshoot amidst the controversy surrounding her alcohol-fuelled encounter.

Friends of Maura have described the past week as “horrendous”, as she’s been bombarded with “horrific” online trolling. They added: “People need to calm down”.

The close friend said how Maura was in a “bad way…. and really struggling”. They said: “Maura is a tough character but the reaction to events of the last week has been utterly relentless, and it’s fair to say it’s taken its toll. She has found all of this very difficult to navigate. She appreciates she’s in the public eye and there is extra interest around her, but the abuse is off the charts, and people need to calm down”.

Maura was seen looking despondent at Los Angeles International Airport late last week.

The friend added: “She is trying to treat things as business as usual, but it’s hard”.

The backlash began after a video surfaced showing Danny, 38, and Maura, 34, sharing a brief intoxicated kiss at a BRIT Awards afterparty around 3am. They were later spotted leaving the London event together, all smiles, reports the Mirror.

A second video then appeared, showing them together at another afterparty at the Nobu Hotel in Marylebone.

An onlooker previously revealed: “Danny and Maura seemed to be enjoying their night of partying. They were knocking back wine at the Nobu from 4am and seemed keen to carry on. They weren’t seen leaving before 6am”.

A source confided in the Mirror last week that Danny’s recent actions have been a bitter blow to his wife Georgia, 38, a former Miss England. The insider remarked: “She has been an incredible partner so this feels very unfair”.

The couple, who tied the knot in 2014, share a seven year old son. Today she broke her social media silence by posting a pic of him.

A person close to Danny’s circle disclosed that the McFly star is locked in crisis talks with his spouse in hopes of salvaging their union. The informant continued: “Maura is getting a lot of the backlash, and Danny seems to be getting away with his actions”.

As she departed the country, Maura teased her followers with an airplane window shot on her Instagram story, captioned: “Exciting shoot” along with a plane emoji.

Her path crossed with Danny when they both joined ITV1’s ‘ I’m A Celebrity ‘ in November. Danny once expressed his devotion to Georgia in the 2012 McFly autobiography ‘ McFly – Unsaid Things… Our Story’, stating: “Georgia’s amazing for me. The old Danny, the kid in the sweetie shop every time pretty girls were around, is gone. I don’t want anybody else but her”.

South Korean singer Wheesung was found dead at his residence, his management said Tuesday, with police reportedly planning to conduct an autopsy to determine the 43-year-old’s exact cause of death.

Wheesung, who had a string of hits in South Korea including a popular cover of British star Craig David’s “Insomnia”, was found unconscious in his apartment at 6: 29 pm Monday &nbsp, by emergency responders after his mother called for help, local media reported.

Police told local media they had found no signs of foul play but warned that “a significant amount of time” had elapsed since he died, with an autopsy requested.

“Artist Wheesung has left us”, his management agency Tajoy Entertainment said, adding agency staff and colleagues were “in deep sorrow”.

He was scheduled to perform alongside singer KCM in the southeastern city of Daegu this coming Saturday.

In his final message on social media, Wheesung announced the upcoming concert and wrote: “Weight loss completed. See you on March 15”.

Since his singing debut in 2002, Wheesung had been popular in the South with numerous hit songs, including chart-topping “With Me”, and was well-regarded for his soulful performances.

But his music career took a hit in 2021 when he was convicted and handed a suspended jail sentence for use of propofol — a surgical anaesthetic that is sometimes abused recreationally.

An overdose of the drug was cited as the cause of pop star Michael Jackson’s death in 2009.

South Korean singers and fans mourned Wheesung’s sudden death.

Rapper Verbal Jint paid tribute on Instagram, saying: “Every moment we spent together was an honour and I’m thankful. You’ve worked so hard. Rest in peace, Wheesung”.

Another rapper, Paltoalto, thanked the veteran singer for fond memories, mentioning he went to see his first concert.

“It’s shocking and sad. I’m thankful for the music that accompanied me through the good memories of my youth”, he wrote on Instagram.

In a heartfelt comment on the artist’s last social media post, a fan said: “At your concert on December 23 last year, you told us to expect a lot from you, singing until you’re 60. I never thought that would be the last time I hear your voice… Goodbye, my idol, Wheesung”.

Last month, another South Korean actor, Kim Sae-ron, was found dead at her home aged 24.