Love Island star Sherif Lanre has accused the series of having ‘double standards’ for not axing new contestant Danny Bibby over his use of the N-word.
Danny, 25, entered the villa as a bombshell last week and chose to go on a date with Kaz Kamwi. However, hours later, it emerged that Danny had used the N-word in a social media post.
The islander was permitted to release a statement from the villa apologising for the slur while also being allowed to keep his place on the dating series.
Sherif, who briefly appeared in the 2019 series of Love Island, has now hit out at ITV for removing him from the villa when he accidentally kicked Molly-Mae Hague in the groin and called it a ‘c**t punt’, but not taking action against Danny.
Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Sherif said: ‘ITV have shown complete double standards when it comes to racism. They don’t seem to care.
‘A white guy has been allowed to apologise from inside the villa for using the N word and carry on filming, whereas I was removed for play fighting and doing something by accident.’
The former reality star continued: ‘The N-word shouldn’t be used and this contestant should be removed from the house like I was, especially after the England football team were racially abused this week. ITV needs to set an example.
‘I think Love Island have milked this racism scandal to gain more exposure as people aren’t watching this series.’
Love Island’s ratings are reported to be lower than last year’s series, with figures from BARB (broadcasters audience research board) showing that the premiere attracted 2.47million viewers.
The numbers are impressive enough for a channel like ITV2 – which isn’t one of the main terrestrial channels – but they fall short of Love Island 2020’s ratings, which saw an estimated 4.8m tune in for the premiere. However, ITV confirmed that the Love Island launch was the most-watched digital channel programme of the year so far for 16 to 34-year-olds.
Sherif also claimed he witnessed another contestant, who he refused to identify, use the N-word several times while rapping a song in front of him.
However, an ITV spokesperson refuted this and told Metro.co.uk: ‘We monitor the islanders 24/7 and we have no recording of the use of this alleged language. At no point did anyone use that language in rap lyrics or any other time. We do have clear rules on the use of language in the villa.’
Sherif also claimed to have not received further duty of care since leaving the series two years ago.
The series’ spokesperson responded: ‘Welfare and duty of care towards our contributors is always our primary concern, and we have extensive measures in place to support the islanders before, during and after their participation on the show. Sherif was offered full support having left the Villa.’
In his statement addressing his racist language, Bibby said: ‘I’d like to take the time to apologise to anyone that may have taken offence to my inappropriate remark.
‘I never meant anything malicious by this comment at all. I am not a racist person and it’s unacceptable language and ignorant. I meant no offence and feel like I have really learnt from my mistakes and will never use that word again.
‘I am a kind loving person and hopefully you get to see that in the show.’
In a now-deleted post from November 2019, Danny responded to a friend, who was white, who commented on a picture of him in Dubai.
The original comment read: ‘Champ’, to which Danny replied: ‘My n***a.’
As viewers called for Danny to be removed from the villa, ITV instead issued a statement from his father, who apologised for any offence caused and insisted that his son did not use the slur ‘maliciously’.
His dad Richard said: ‘Danny does not have a racist bone in his body and there were no racist intentions to this post. Although it was not done maliciously, it was a mistake.
‘I absolutely apologise on his behalf for the offence this wording may have caused. That would never have been his intention.’
Love Island returns tonight at 9pm on ITV2.
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