The question as to why Sherif Lanre was kicked off Love Island became a viral moment this season. In choosing to ignore the demands for an explanation, producers seem to have allowed a number of rumours to be spread, from Sherif masturbating in the hot tub to a huge physical fight between him and Anton. While viewers assumed Sherif would be forced to keep his mouth shut after he left, he has proven us all wrong, giving multiple interviews as to why he was kicked out.
First came The Sun's interview, where he said he was a victim of 'unconscious bias', conflating both sexism and racism as the reasons to which he was unfairly treated in the villa. Stating that the official reason he was kicked out was because he used the term 'c**t punt' when describing a play fight between him and Molly-Mae (that ended with her being accidently kicked in the vagina), he says he regrets using offensive language.
'I have never used the word before and I realise how insulting it is to women,' he told the newspaper, '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.'
Explaining the circumstances of his exit, he said he wasn't even allowed to say goodbye to anyone, and felt like a 'criminal'.
'I think they got me up two hours earlier than everyone else. I think it was abut 12.30pm.There were two directors and they asked me to explain myself,' he said, 'I told them we were just messing around but they said I had broken the code of conduct and it had been decided by someone high up that I had to leave. I was shown a straight red card. I was sent home without the chance to pack my bags or say goodbye to the other contestants. I was treated like a criminal over a simple mistake.'
However, he went on to accuse the ITV2 show of treating him differently to other contestants, who regularly used racist language in front of him. 'There was one guy, who I will not name, who repeatedly used the N-word as he rapped in front of me,' he continued, '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.'
An ITV spokesperson has responded denying Sherif's claims, saying, '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.'
He then stated in the interview that he does think the producers may have acted out of 'unconscious racism'. 'I can’t rule out that racism was a factor here. I think there may have been some unconscious racism,' he said, 'By that I mean, the producers might not have been aware of what they were doing, but they may have had an inherent bias in their minds that caused them to act against me.'
Giving examples as to why he thinks this, he says he was continually pulled aside in the villa for things other contestants weren't. 'I say this because there were so many things I was pulled aside on' he told The Sun, 'The first was calling Amber "lighty", which I know is a poor choice of words but she did not get offended. She said people often used the same word in Newcastle, where she is from.
'The second was my use of the word "rape" even though I had said it in an appropriate way. One of the other contestants was talking about hitting on a girl. I can’t remember exactly what he said, but he was talking about how he keeps going even when they’re not interested. I was like, "Mate, you can’t do that, that’s rape".'
In an extremely worrying allegation, Sherif said the word is banned from use in the villa, 'The producers called me aside and said it was a word I was not allowed to use,' he said, 'I got upset at that moment. I asked them, "Can you give me a list of the words I can use?" They said, "No, but you cannot use that one."'
Again, a spokesperson for Love Island has denied Islander's are treated unfairly based on race. 'We would strongly refute any accusation of racism,' the spokesman said, 'All of the Islanders are treated fairly and in accordance with our duty of care.'
Love Island Rules - Grazia
1 of 17You can’t masturbate
With rumours swirling that Sherif was booted from the villa for masturbating in the shower, The Sun reported that he would 'spend hours' in there - however, he wasn't necessarily masturbating himself. 'When producers told Islanders they have to get ready to film a challenge, Sherif was deliberately spending ages in the shower. He said he couldn't be bothered,' the source said. Avoiding challenges or participating in some healthy self-care? All we know is 2 months without masturbating is a long time to go...
2 of 17You have to shower at certain times
When writing for Grazia Daily, Zara McDermott revealed that she was most shocked to see Islanders showering in the morning. 'We could only use the shower each evening,' she said of last season. Spending all day in the sun without a morning shower? No wonder Amber was worried about smelling when she Michael went to kiss her last night.
3 of 17You can’t talk about your relationship on Saturday's
In a shock revelation on This Morning, 2017 Love Island winner Kem Cetinay revealed the real reason the show doesn't air on Saturday's. 'They give you one day off. You get one day off per week,' he said, 'What happens is, it gives them a day to clean the villa, and you take your mics off, and normally we go to the beach.'But that wasn't the only startling revelation, he also admitted that producers watch Islanders like a hawk because they're not actually allowed to discuss their relationships. Essentially, anything they have to talk about their home lives outside the villa, lest they be scolded for breaking the all important rules.
4 of 17You can only have two glasses of wine or beer on a ‘big night’
They get dressed up, put on a full-face of makeup, film awkward dance sequences, and all for two little glasses of wine or beer. According to 2016 Islander Liana Isadora Van-Riel, 'you're allowed one or two drinks a night, either wine or beer, no spirits.'And while contestants will opt for two drinks on a 'big night', most nights they just have a cup of tea. Wild.
5 of 17You can’t be naked ever, even in the bathroom
Since the villa is technically a public space, there can be no nudity whatsoever as it would be considered public indecency. That means even in the bathroom, islanders can never be completely naked in front of each other.
6 of 17You can’t read a book or magazine
We knew about the no phone rule, which makes sense given they don't want Islanders reading about themselves online or hearing updates from the outside world, but no books or magazines?! No wonder half of them end up stir crazy, with 2017 contestant Montana admitting the villa is really boring day to day.
7 of 17You have to eat at certain times
According to Montana, contestants can make their own breakfast but lunch and dinner is always catered. In fact, food is brought through a secret door. 'In the larder there's another door that goes out the back that they lock,' she said, 'That's how they deliver food.'It's long been a question why we never see the Islanders eating, but Montana stated that's when producers come in and charge the contestants microphones, insisting 'everyone wants that good because it's so yum.'
8 of 17You can’t take your mic off ever
One of the most serious rules in the villa, contestants aren't allowed to take their mic's off apart from on Saturday's, their off day. If you're caught doing it more than once, you'll be axed from the villa immediately, according to The Mirror.
9 of 17You're not allowed to know the time
You essentially have to become a full Girl Guide in the villa if you want to know the time, telling it through the sun. Because, Islanders aren't allowed to know themselves and all of their phones are set to different times. 'You never know what the time is,' 2017 contestant Montana told The Independent, 'They'll wake you up by putting the lights on or a voiceover will say "Islanders, it's time to get up".'
10 of 17You can’t smoke in the villa, even in the garden
Last year, Love Island stopped showing scenes where contestants were smoking after complaints they were all partaking in the habit too much. Now, Islanders aren't allowed to smoke on the premises at all, even in the garden.
11 of 17You can't have unprotected sex
With rumours Kem and Amber got in trouble last year for having unprotected sex, this rule seems to be even more integral this year. Discussions around sex on Love Island have snowballed massively as the seasons become more and more popular each year. While early seasons saw Islanders getting busy almost every night, in the same room with scenes often aired every episode, sex has become much more taboo - when it comes to airing it at least. Last year, producers decided to stop airing sex scenes, as well as the Islanders smoking. Given the slut-shaming many female contestants receive upon doing the completely natural act it's unsurprising.
12 of 17You have to go for scheduled chats
And they must be juicy. According to Montana, when she and fellow 2017 contestant Camilla were talking about hymms they like, producers intercepted and told them to spice it up ('that's not interesting', they said). In fact, producers will also intervene to ensure certain people talk, but the conversation itself is not necessarily staged. 'They might be like, "Camilla, pull Montana aside and ask how she's feeling about Alex"', Montana admitted.
13 of 17You’re not allowed to get waxes
It's long been wondered how the contestants keep up with their beauty routines in the villa, with not a bumpy bikini line or stubbly chest in sight. Do contestants have waxers brought in to the villa? Absolutely not, according to Montana. While the women in her season requested wax strips to do it themselves, they 'all had bruising' and so resorted to shaving, with Montana insists 'most people' do.
14 of 17You absolutely cannot have drunken sex
A huge villa no-no, drunken sex is completely off the cards for Love Island contestants. Given that they're allowed two wines or beers on big nights and most of them sip on tea all night, we're not sure that's a huge risk, to be honest.
15 of 17No inappropriate language or behaviour
One of the actually non-weird rules, contestants are completely prohibited from 'innapropriate language or behaviour'. While it's quite a broad, and subjective, phrase, the rulebook applies it to racial slurs, homophobia and aggressive language. Plus, sexual harassment and physical violence is included in this rule.One of the biggest swirling rules about Sherif's ban is that he and Anton got into a heated argument. Given that the only other villa removal we've seen because of rule-breaking was when Malia Arkian punched Kady McDermott back in season two, it's high on the list of likely reasons Sherif was banned.
16 of 17They need to keep the complete rule book at all times
All of these rules must not only be obeyed at all times, but contestants must also keep the rule book in their possession too - just in case they forget about the whole no masturbating thing.
17 of 17No discriminating against staff
Another non-weird rule, contestants aren't allowed to be rude or discriminatory to staff or else they will be booted off.
Sherif then went on to say male and female Islanders are also treated differently, saying, 'I mean, my bum was slapped in there. I don't mind it, but if a guy did that to a girl then people would have had more of a problem.' Of course, it goes without saying that because of the difference in power dynamics, and you know the existence patriarchy, these incidents would be treated differently.
After his extremely telling interview with The Sun, Sherif appeared on BBC Two's The Victoria Derbyshire Show, where he further spoke about the racism he feels he experienced, and the lack of airtime black contestants get on the show.
'I’m not gonna point any fingers but in the casting they expect you to couple up with certain people based on what you’ve said or what they think is the norm,' he said, 'The air time which contestants of my race and similar was very disproportionate to our value in the villa. We did more to keep the villa together and socially. I do feel statistically they do get less air time, why that is is down to the people in charge. They want to give the viewers what they feel they want.'