Gabriel Garland, a 24-year-old contestant on Love Island, has left the show after it emerged he was connected to a stabbing incident in London. He appeared briefly on Sunday's episode before his departure was confirmed by ITV.
Departure confirmed by ITV
An ITV spokesperson stated: "Gabriel has now left the villa and will not be returning." The broadcaster declined further comment, citing a duty of care to participants. Garland was one of six male contestants introduced as part of the Casa Amor twist.
Connection to stabbing case
Garland was named in court documents related to the conviction of Vitor Mazzer, who was found guilty of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent over a New Year's Eve incident in 2019 in south-east London. According to the documents, Garland had an altercation with the individuals stabbed by Mazzer. Garland was 17 at the time and was not charged with any offence. The judgment made no finding of wrongdoing against him, which may explain why ITV's background check did not flag the matter.
Mazzer's sentencing and appeal
Mazzer was sentenced to 42 months in prison, and his appeal against conviction was refused in April 2024. Garland's mother provided a character statement for her son during the proceedings.
Social media reaction and previous exits
News of Garland's appearance prompted social media users to question ITV's vetting process. The show is produced by Lifted Entertainment, part of ITV Studios, and WPP Media Motion Entertainment. This is not the first departure this series: George Knight left on 4 June for private reasons related to a family member's health. Additionally, two Love Island USA contestants, Alannah Keyser and Vasana Montgomery, were removed after historical social media posts containing racial slurs surfaced. Keyser apologised in a TikTok video, and Montgomery issued an apology on Instagram.
