Love Island bosses have responded to claims made by Sherif Lanre about another contestant using the n-word during his time on the show.
Last week, producers and Sherif mutually agreed that he should leave the villa, following an inappropriate comment he made about a moment of accidental physical contact with another contestant.
Speaking to The Sun after his exit, Sherif has now suggested there could be double-standards at play, claiming an unnamed Islander “repeatedly” used the n-word while rapping a Drake song in the villa.
“There was one guy, who I will not name, who repeatedly used the N-word as he rapped in front of me,” Sherif said. “He said it two or three times and he was not pulled aside even though the code forbids racist language.
“The same rules did not seem to apply to the other contestants.”
However, ITV has denied Sherif’s allegations following a review of footage from the villa.
A spokesperson said: “We monitor the islanders 24/7 and we have no recording of the use of this offensive language.
“And, at no point, does anyone use that offensive language in rap lyrics or any other time. We do have clear rules on the use of language in the villa.”
The show was initially criticised by viewers for failing to address the reasons for Sherif’s exit.
Explaining what actually went on, he later said: “I did kick Molly-Mae in the groin area but it was an accident and she 100 per cent was not injured afterwards.
“She did appear to be in pain at first but then she stood up and seemed fine and we started laughing about it.”
Sherif added that after this, he referred to the incident as a “c***-punt”, which he acknowledged was “wrong”.