Love Island viewers were left shocked after Casa Amor bombshell Gabriel Garland suddenly disappeared from the villa, with ITV confirming he had exited the show shortly after making his debut.

The 26-year-old entered Casa Amor during one of the biggest twists of the series, but his time on the ITV dating show proved to be short lived, with producers confirming he would no longer be taking part.

At the time, ITV did not provide a detailed explanation for Garland’s departure, simply confirming that he had left the programme.

A spokesperson for the broadcaster said:

“For personal reasons, Gabriel has left the villa.”

The brief statement prompted widespread speculation among viewers, with many questioning why the contestant had been removed so quickly after arriving in the villa.

Hours later, further details emerged, with reports claiming ITV had become aware of Garland’s alleged connection to a past stabbing case before deciding to remove him from the programme.

According to reports, the incident dates back several years and Garland was never charged or convicted over the matter.

The case relates to an incident in which another man was stabbed following an altercation.

Garland was reportedly arrested during the police investigation but no charges were ever brought against him after detectives concluded there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

The Crown Prosecution Service did not pursue the case and Garland has never been convicted of any offence in relation to the incident.

Following the emergence of the reports, ITV reportedly decided Garland would no longer continue his Love Island journey.

The broadcaster has not publicly confirmed whether the reports surrounding the past investigation were directly linked to his exit beyond its original statement confirming he had left the villa for personal reasons.

The news quickly sparked debate online, with viewers divided over whether Garland should have been removed given that he was never found guilty of any offence. One person commented:

“I mean if he wasn’t charged or convicted then what’s the issue? The UK really be doing too much man.”

Another wrote,

“If he hasn’t been found guilty in a Court of Law, then he sure shouldn’t be ‘charged’ and punished by Love Island/ITV. Crazy. Can kill someone’s mental health, with now all the scrutiny and false accusations. Ugh.”

Others argued ITV had acted appropriately by taking precautionary action after becoming aware of the reports, while some questioned whether contestants should undergo more extensive background checks before entering the villa.

The latest development comes as Love Island continues to dominate headlines, with Casa Amor once again proving to be one of the most dramatic points of the series.

While Garland’s departure has now been confirmed, ITV has not released any further statement beyond confirming he had left the villa, and no additional details have been officially provided by the broadcaster.

Garland has not been charged or convicted in connection with the reported stabbing case.