Earlier this week Sherif Lanre was suddenly ejected from the Love Island villa with no explanation. A spokesperson for the show simply said the 20-year-old Londoner had 'broken the villa rules' and that his exit had been 'mutually agreed'. Of course rumours for Sherif's departure immediately started circulating, with fake messages between the reality TV star and an alleged friend claiming he'd been in a physical fight with co-star Anton Danyluk doing the rounds on Twitter. Others claimed he'd been caught pleasuring himself in the villa.
Sherif has finally put the rumours to rest, explaining that he was kicked out after a play fight with Molly-Mae Hague went wrong. He claims he accidentally kicked the Instagram model in the groin, then joked that it was a 'c**t punch' to co-star Tommy Fury in the moments that followed.
“I did kick Molly-Mae in the groin area but it was an accident and she 100 per cent was not injured afterwards," he explained to The Sun. "She flinched and bent over to protect herself. Then she stood up and seemed fine and we started laughing about it. I turned to Tommy Fury and said, ‘That was a c*** punt.’"
He apologised for his actions, telling the newspaper, "I have never used the word before and I realise how insulting it is to women. As someone raised by a strong and loving mother, I want to say that I would never intentionally offend women. I was completely wrong and I apologise.”
While Sherif, who has now returned to London and is living with his mother Diana, has accepted responsibility for his actions and apologised, he claims the reason for his removal from the villa was unconscious racism and sexism.
'I was the only black man in the villa and I was kicked out after ten days," he said. 'In my opinion, what happened was unconscious racism... I feel I wouldn’t have been given that red card if I was a white woman."
We miss you, Sherif!
Read more about this year's Love Island contestants
Love Island line up 2019
1 of 20DUMPED Yewande Biala
Age: 22From: Dublin, IrelandOccupation: scientist Celebrity crush: Anthony Joshua
2 of 20DUMPED Lucie Donlan
Age: 21From: NewquayOccupation: surferClaim to fame: The last guy I was with was Charlie [Frederick]from last year's Love Island. We got together a few weeks after he came out of the villa.
3 of 20Amber Gill
Age: 21 From: NewcastleOccupation: beauty therapistHow would you rate your looks on a scale of one to ten: You have to say ten because you have to back yourself! You've got to love yourself. What's the point if you don't?
4 of 20LEFT Amy Hart
Age: 26 From: Worthing, SussexOccupation: air hostess / cabin crew managerCelebrity crush: Liam Hemsworth, he's fit. Ashley Banjo from Diversity is really fit.
5 of 20Anna Vakili
Age: 28 From: LondonOccupation: pharmacist What's your definition of girl code? This is really difficult because the island isn't a normal place, the real world is different. I don't know how close I can get to a girl in a few weeks. If a guy likes me, I'm there for love at the end of the day, not girls.
6 of 20Anton Danyluk
Age: 24 From: Airdrie, ScotlandOccupation: gym owner Will you be loyal or do you have a wandering eye? That's a medical condition that I have… a wandering eye! I've never really been loyal in any of my relationships.
7 of 20Tommy Fury
Age: 20 From: ManchesterOccupation: boxerWhat's your claim to fame? It's probably my brother, Tyson, but I'm my own man and I've said it throughout my whole boxing career. I don't want to be labelled as his little brother.
8 of 20DUMPED Joe Garratt
Age: 22 From: South East LondonOccupation: catering company ownerWhat song sums up your love life? How Am I Supposed to Live Without You by Michael Bolton.
9 of 20Michael Griffiths
Age: 27 From: LiverpoolOccupation: firefighterHow would you rate your looks on a scale of one to ten? I'd rate myself ten out of ten, I would have said nine but I'm a hero so it bumps it up.
10 of 20KICKED OFF Sherif Lanre
Age: 20From: LondonOccupation: chef and semi-pro rugby playerWill you be loyal or do you have a wandering eye? I can have a wandering eye but I am pretty loyal. That would be an absolute must on the show.
11 of 20DUMPED Callum Macleod
Age: 28 From: South WalesOccupation: aircraft engineerWhat song sums up your love life? I Just Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Bublé.
12 of 20Curtis Pritchard
Age: 23 From: ShropshireOccupation: ballroom and Latin dancerWhat's your claim to fame? I would say my claim to fame is that I'm on Dancing with the Stars Ireland andAJ Pritchard from Strictly Come Dancing is my brother.
13 of 20Molly-Mae Hague
Age: 19From: ManchesterOccupation: social media influencer.Celebrity crush? Channing Tatum.
14 of 20DUMPED Danny Williams
Age: 21From: Hull Occupation: modelRates himself… seven out of 10.
15 of 20Maura Higgins
Age: 28From: Country Longford, IrelandOccupation: ModelCelebrity crush: Chris Hemsworth
16 of 20Jordan Hames
Age: 24From: ManchesterOccupation: modelRate yourself out of 10: 9.8. My hair, jawline and laid-back attitude are my best features.
17 of 20DUMPED Tom Walker
Age: 29From: ManchesterOccupation: modelBest trait? Being nosey. I enjoy asking questions and getting to know people. I get on with everyone.
18 of 20DUMPED Arabella Chi
Age: 28From: LondonOccupation: modelHer favourite features: eyes and bum
19 of 20Francesca Allen
Age: 23From: EssexOccupation: boutique owner Her biggest turn off: 'I think bad shoes. If I see bad shoes, I think 'oh no.' Sometimes it shows how they take care of themselves.'
20 of 20Chris Taylor
Age: 28From: LeicesterOccupation: development manager What he's looking for: 'Curvy, naturally pretty and someone who gives as good as they get'