It’s been two days since the great Sherif Lanre disappearance of 2019, and the way producers have ghosted him from the last two episodes you would think he was never in Love Island. Yet, the question of why he was axed from the show is still on everyones' minds, and if anything, the silence shrouding the subject is making the demands to know all the more deafening.
It could be because literally nothing seems to be happening on the show this week, or because of the ominous ‘breaking the rules’ statement that was released upon Sherif’s exit, but the question has overrun Love Island Twitter for the past few days – the heartland of Love Island content since the actual show is, let’s be honest, pretty boring right now.
In fact, in last night's episode, viewers were so keen to find answers they took to examining Anton's wrist for signs of medical damage - amidst rumours he got into a fight with Sherif. 'Medically I can confirm Anton's wrist isn't broken', former contestant Dr. Alex tweeted to the tune of 6,000 likes. Plus, Google searches for 'why did sherif leave' have continued to peak at 9pm every night since the news broke.
‘Nah Love Island is pissing me off,’ one viewer tweeted, ‘two ex-islanders have committed suicide due to poor mental health, however producers are allowing people to make rumours up about Sherif?! Release a statement, quash the rumours and protect his mental health.’ Receiving near 14,000 likes, the sentiment appears to be shared by many.
However, according to the Sun, protecting Sherif’s mental health is exactly what Love Island producers are aiming to do by not revealing the reason he was told to leave. Fearing another scandal, one source told the publication: ‘There is extra pressure this year and producers have remind everyone taking part to be extra careful. All contestants have been told they can speak to anyone at any time if they are feeling under strain but have also been reminded of the rules they signed up to.’
‘Love Island is a moneymaking machine and ITV aren’t taking any chances in adding fuel to the fire by revealing any scandalous details,’ the source added - a stark reminder that as well as a duty of care to contestants, show bosses also have £25 million in advertising to protect.
With a record number of 5.9million viewers this year, the 16% increase on last year means that Love Island has more money-making potential than ever. According to The Sun, Uber Eats paid double what Superdrug did last year to sponsor the 2019 series, at £5million. Considering they are one of many brands that advertise on the show, with 11 brands partnering with the show last year from Domino’s to Misguided.
Essentially, as ITV2’s most popular show and a huge profit generator for the production company, losing Love Island is not an option. Which may explain why - according to the Sun's report - senior executives have demanded secrecy about Sherif’s exit, even hiring security to stop his family speaking out.
But by remaining so silent, are they fuelling the fire even more? If anything, it’s forced viewers to loudly speculate on the issue and the secrecy only implies it must be a serious rule for them to not want to reveal it. Surely, if Sherif was, for example, caught on his phone or found masturbating, it would be a small bump in a long road of trolling Sherif is bound to receive purely for being famous from this show. So, what kind of scandal are they really trying to avoid?
All of the Love Island rules Sherif could have broken...
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.
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16 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.
17 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.
Love Island have already come under fire this season for the prejudice black contestants face. They’ve allowed Anton to remain on the show despite pictures circulating online that allegedly show him partaking in blackface, and the same too for contestant Molly-Mae, who had racist and homophobic tweets uncovered after she entered the villa. With rumours also circulating that Anton could have been racist towards Sherif, resulting in a physical altercation, this secrecy around his exit only fuels the rumours that the show is working hard to avoid yet another racism row. If Love Island bosses had hoped to keep scandal to a minimum this season, their current strategy of secrecy doesn't seem to be working.
Of course, with the demand for secrecy it seems we will never know what happened, as Sherif will continue to be erased from the series as if he was never there. Expunge him all you want producers, the mystery of Sherif's exit will exist on Love Island Twitter until the end of time.