James Lock has blasted Priti Patel for "inciting hate" against influencers for travelling to Dubai amid the coronavirus pandemic - after he received death threats.
James Lock
The 'Only Way is Essex' star has been targeted by trolls who have said they hope he dies of coronavirus, and he claimed the "hate has increased 100 per cent" since the Home Secretary hit out at influencers for "showing off in sunny parts of the world".
He said: "We’ve been bombarded with vile abuse.
"We have had death threats. People have said ‘I hope you get Covid and die’, they’ve said ‘I hope your family gets Covid and dies’.
"The hate has increased one hundred per cent after what Priti Patel said in the House of Commons.
"I think it is disgusting she has tried to use influencers as a scapegoat. It is embarrassing the government are trying to pass the blame.
"She has basically incited hate. We’ve been bombarded with hate and death threats ever since then. It’s increased tenfold. It’s been crazy."
The 34-year-old star, who has been working in Dubai as a content creator for live shopping app OOOOO, insisted he "hasn't done anything wrong" after flying to the United Arab Emirates city before the latest lockdown and staying there.
He added to The Sun Online: "I understand some influencers have just been out partying but I’ve been working every day to make money.
"Why would I go home to a lockdown when I can stay here, protect my mental health, earn money and provide for my family?
"We haven’t flown back and forth. I haven’t been spreading it. I have been playing by the rules in Dubai and I will when I go home."
The UAE is now on the UK's red travel list, meaning direct passenger flights from Dubai or Abu Dhabi have been banned.
James insisted he is taking coronavirus seriously after his family had a "personal tragedy due to COVID".
The star has been in Dubai with his 'TOWIE' co-star and girlfriend Yazmin Oukhellou - whose mum is a nurse - but the pair have since split up.
James said this week: "We've broken up. We tried to make it work and we really thought it was going to be different this time but things don't always work out as you'd expect.
"I have a lot of love for Yaz and a huge amount of respect for her but we're just better apart."