Love Island has been struck by controversy before the first episode has even hit our screens after images emerged of a contestant blacked up as Mr T.
Photos showing Anton Danyluk dressed up as the A-Team character date back to 2013 and were taken on a night out with friends and workmates in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire.
In the controversial pictures, the gym owner from Airdrie is seen dressed up as Mr T, played by black actor Laurence Turead.
Anton is pictured in the character’s trademark dungarees and clunky jewellery, as well as a fake mohican haircut and darkened skin.
The images were posted to the Facebook page for Anton’s gym, ‘The Ranch’.
Speaking to The Sun, a pal claimed: “Anton likes to be the life and soul of the party and his idea of having fun is having all the attention on him.
“He was proud of the effort he put in to the costume. He just thought it would be a good laugh.”
However, the images have not gone down well with 2017 finalist Marcel Sommerville, who has called for the 24-year-old to be kicked off the show immediately.
The former Blazin’ Squad member is said to be outraged by the images, and has slammed the Scot for his insensitivity.
He said: “Blackface was a form of entertainment that comedians and actors used to do. But we all know it’s just not funny and simply not acceptable any more.
“In my opinion it hasn’t been acceptable for decades, so to hear that someone still thinks it’s OK to make fun of people’s skin colour is absolutely ridiculous.
“It’s racist, and for him to stay on the show now with no repercussions is not OK.”
The 33-year-old rapper has also questioned how Love Island bosses missed the images when doing a thorough vetting of all contestants.
Calls for Anton to be removed from the show, which starts tomorrow, have been backed by sociology expert Professor Ellis Cashmore, who claims blackface “conceals racism”.
The latest incident is not the first scandal to hit Love Island, which is now in its fifth series.
The show has been slammed for its lack of aftercare for contestants, with calls for more mental health awareness, following the suicides of former participants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon.
Mirror Online have contacted ITV for comment.
Love Island series five hits our screens on Monday at 9pm on ITV2.
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