Ex Love Island star Sherif Lanre has claimed black contestants get “statistically less-air time” in the villa.
Lanre, who was removed from the show last week through the back door, told Victoria Derbyshire that his air time was “disproportionate” to his contribution in the villa during his first TV interview since his abrupt exit.
“I feel like the air-time which contestants of my race and races similar to mine was very disproportionate to our value in the villa,” he told the BBC host. “We did a lot more to keep the villa together and socially than was aired.
“I haven’t kept up with the first few seasons but I do feel, statistically, they [black contestants] do get less air time. That’s down to the people in charge, the producers and whatnot because they want to give the viewers the content they feel they want.”
Lanre also opened up on the reasons surrounding his departure from the villa – which was allegedly after kneeing Molly-Mae Hague in the crotch during a playfight before using foul language – suggesting there was an “unconscious bias” that led to him being removed for using the c-word when other contestants haven’t been in the past.
The 20-year-old said: “I feel that the people in charge of the show have an unconscious bias around the regulations for boys and girls, and maybe different races.
“But with Ellie [Brown, last year] I didn’t even know about it until I came home. I feel like in that instance it was directed at someone and more malicious intent. Mine was kind of a joke but, in hindsight, it wasn’t acceptable and it’s a vile word.”
ITV “strongly refuted” Lanre's claims and reiterated its duty of care.
In a statement the broadcaster said: “Sherif fully accepted and agreed that he broke the rules and he should leave. We have a duty of care to all islanders and as such we wouldn’t make public the details of the breach of the code. We’d strongly refute any accusation of racism and we’re unaware of any other islanders using racist language.
“All of the islanders are treated fairly and in accordance with our duty of care and we would like this to be made abundantly clear.”
Love Island is on ITV2, tonight at 9pm
