Kyle Ashman dropped from Love Island UK after machete attack allegations surfaced ahead of season 12.

Just days before Love Island UK was set to launch its sizzling 12th season, scandal has struck – and one islander is already out. Kyle Ashman, 23, has been dropped from the show before even stepping foot in the villa, following revelations of his connection to a violent machete attack earlier this year.

Ashman, a water operative from Stafford, was part of the much-hyped new cast unveiled by ITV2 – but within hours of the announcement, he was axed. Producers made the decision swiftly after a troubling incident from Ashman’s past was flagged by The Sun, involving a brutal assault at a wake in Stafford.

In a brief but firm statement, ITV confirmed the move: “For personal reasons, Kyle will not be entering the Love Island Villa as planned.” The network has not publicly elaborated, but Deadline reports that the producers only became aware of Ashman’s links to the incident after the press raised the alarm.

The February attack was described as a horrifying ambush, where a group of masked men stormed a memorial gathering and unleashed chaos. One victim, a father, was nearly dismembered with a machete. Another man was glassed, a third struck with a metal pole, and two others were run down by a car. The carnage left the community in shock – and Ashman’s name in police reports.

According to The Sun, Ashman was arrested and questioned as a suspect. However, in a statement issued after news of his removal broke, he strongly denied any wrongdoing: “I fully cooperated with this police investigation and made it very clear that I had no involvement in this incident. I am not a violent person, and any suggestion otherwise is a mischaracterisation.”

Despite his protestations, the optics were too damaging for ITV to ignore. With Love Island already under increased scrutiny over contestant vetting and mental health support, the network appears to be taking no chances. Insiders suggest the decision to cut ties with Ashman was made as soon as executives learned of the incident, fearing a PR nightmare.

This latest scandal adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding Love Island, which has faced intense pressure in recent years to clean up its casting process. ITV has implemented stricter background checks and mental health protocols following the deaths of former contestants and public backlash over its handling of contestants’ past behaviour.

Fans had not yet seen Ashman in action – filming had not begun, and none of the cast had entered the Mallorca villa when the news broke. As such, the show’s format remains unaffected. ITV confirmed that the rest of the lineup will go ahead as planned, with the premiere set for Monday, June 9 in the UK and Thursday, June 12 in the US on Hulu.

Host Maya Jama is expected to address the new season’s drama during the premiere, but for now, all eyes are on ITV’s response and whether other contestants will face renewed scrutiny in the wake of Ashman’s abrupt dismissal.

For now, one thing’s clear: Love Island hasn’t even started – and the fireworks are already flying.