Love Island contestant Gabriel Garland has been removed from the villa by ITV bosses, the show confirmed. Garland's departure comes just days after his arrival at the Casa Amor stage of the competition, following ITV's attention being drawn to a situation in his past. His exit means he will not return to the show.
Garland's arrival at Casa Amor is still scheduled to be broadcast on Sunday night's episode. Reports suggest that his removal is due to an incident from his past that was not identified during official background checks. Comments on the show's official Instagram account, questioning the effectiveness of the background checks, have been linked to Garland's sudden departure.
This incident follows the reported axing of another contestant, George Knight, who was allegedly removed for using offensive language. While ITV stated Knight left for "private reasons," sources claim he was issued a formal warning for "unacceptable language." Knight himself stated his departure was due to a family health concern, a claim that sources say is true but was used to mask the reason for his removal. ITV has maintained that they have a duty of care towards contestants and will not comment further on Knight's situation.
Knight previously spoke about accusations of "microaggressions" during his time in the villa, specifically referencing his comment about contestant Mica's fashion being "exotic." He acknowledged that while viewers see only a small portion of interactions, some moments may not appear favorable in reflection. He stated his belief in authenticity, even if it sometimes leads to self-inflicted setbacks.
Garland's removal highlights the scrutiny contestants face regarding their past and the show's vetting process.