Last week, when news of Sherif Lanre being exiled from his Love Island villa due to breaking show rules broke my heart, it ruined my day. I needed to know the reason behind his removal; both Lanre and ITV made such weak statements that it seemed as if he had done something terribly wrong in only 10 days at the villa. “In an instance of bad judgment,” Lanre said when asked why he should leave early; leaving viewers across the country confused and disappointed.
Twitter and the internet quickly picked up on accounts from friends of friends about him being naked inside the spa. He shoved Anna off the edge infinity; in reality, the next day he discovered how to unlock his cell phone and connect to the outside world, though not before smashing Anton’s nose during a fight. Additionally, it transpired that he had recently consumed some coke!
Over the weekend, Lanre revealed his departure from the show in an interview to The Sun on Sunday. He had punched fellow contestant Molly Mae Hague in the stomach during a fight and joked about it being an “c**t punch”. On the following day, show directors got him before everyone else and instructed him to leave without packing his bags or saying goodbye to other contestants.
I was expecting something more intriguing when Sherif Lanre was taken from her home, but the explanation provided for this decision proves to be much less captivating than anticipated. Many consider the phrase “c-word” to be one of the most offensive things you can say to women and men alike when playing a game – both within Love Island villa and worldwide. ITV’s response to Lanre’s words reads like hollow virtue signalling and more like double standard behavior. Do the producers of the show remember when Ellie Brown called Georgia Brown an “ugly c**t” in an attempt to offend them when broadcasting video of it? This year’s show crew have not hidden their new obligations of care policies for the Islanders; however, Lanre’s violation is simply classified under “any other conduct that is considered unsuitable by the producers,” and when you consider how often different rules have been applied depending on who appears on-stage at any given time throughout its history with “c,” it becomes obvious there are different guidelines tailored for different contestants.
“I believe those in charge of the show have unintentionally affected the rules that apply to girls and boys alike – as well as other races,” Lanre declared on Victoria Derbyshire’s* show today. Here we are debating if Love Island is racist or sexist – whether the show allows offensive expressions. Ironically, this debate has arisen out of their efforts to demonstrate that they do not tolerate such remarks. Lanre also admitted to the Sun on Sunday that another contestant, who will remain anonymous, often used the “n-word” while singing Drake’s “Over My Dead Body”, yet received no punishment despite concerns raised by an acquaintance about their use of that slur referring to race. ITV maintains there is no evidence of racist language within their villa – we must trust them on this.
These accusations may seem like mere gossip, but this is an issue that the Love Island crew must own up to. There’s nothing quite like hearing white men use the “n-word” because they believe Drake has given them permission. Conversely, hearing “c**t punt” is something I hope never to hear again; both deserve warnings but not removal from the show.
What’s more, they provide free wireless Internet access!..with these simple yet elegant instructions on using and maintaining your car, you are on your way! Instead of focusing on Sherif’s offensive yet nonaggressive comment and the storm of publicity that has ensued, Love Island producers might be better served to focus their attention on Joe Garratt, 22, a Harry Styles wannabe known for his ability to craft sandwiches but even greater skill at manipulating women. His relationship with Lucie Donlan, whom he chose to get married with upon entering the villa, is being built through emotional abuse. Tommy Fury entered the villa and decided to go out on a date with Donlan even though she could not express anything about it. Garratt expressed his anger towards Lucie by asserting that he couldn’t be trusted, leading her to cry in sorrow. Donlan had in the past felt the need to “have some words” with her for being close to Fury. “On the outside,” he warned Donlan, “I would have an issue with this” and added, “I think you should become closer friends with Fury and her colleagues.” At the end of the discussion, Donlan broke down in tears as we were shown video of him sitting alone on his balcony, sobbing. Through Beach Hut camera, he shared an incredibly touching message about their two week old romance: “I would like to think today is the day she gets up and changes.” A truly touching message!
Though the use of the “c-word” is offensive, Garratt’s actions are far more concerning than Lanre’s. Given Adam Collard’s past allegations of gaslighting Rosie Williams on Love Island, its producers should be more alert to any warning signs of potential violent behavior within the villa. After altering their duty of care procedures to include mental health considerations for contestants, the show’s producers would like to put an end to any manipulative behavior that has been separating Lucie Donlan and frequently making her angry. Lucie’s name had been trending on Twitter due to viewers’ requests for producers to check that she’s okay, so it might have been worth offering Sherif an apology and addressing some of her pressing concerns. Unfortunately, Love Island’s revisions in duty of care protocols seem solely designed with promotional purposes in mind; Sherif Lanre is likely the first victim of this mismanagement.
