ITV bosses officially removed newly announced Love Island contestant Gabriel Garland from the upcoming lineup on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
The sudden decision arrived just 48 hours after the network unveiled the 24-year-old model as part of the new Casa Amor cast.
Production executives opted to terminate his contract immediately after historical court documents linked him to a previous high-profile stabbing investigation.
The emergency casting shake-up took place as the Season 13 contestants prepared to film the highly anticipated Casa Amor villa split.
After all legal researchers and investigative journalists uncovered public police records detailing Gabriel’s past involvement in a serious violent assault case.
According to the official court records, local authorities previously questioned Gabriel regarding his presence during a violent altercation that resulted in a stabbing.
While the legal proceedings ultimately concluded without a criminal conviction for the model, television executives decided that the severe nature of the incident breached the strict safety and behavioral standards required for the reality dating program.
Producers moved quickly to isolate Gabriel from the remaining cast members and arranged for his immediate flight back to the United Kingdom from the production base in Majorca.
The sudden departure of a contestant creates a significant logistical challenge for the ITV production team, who spent weeks coordinating the mid-season villa shake-up.
The original format required six incoming men to enter the secondary villa to test the loyalties of the original female contestants.
To maintain the competitive balance and narrative structure of the show, casting directors are currently reviewing backup contestants who completed the initial medical and psychological screening processes.
Production insiders confirm that the network intends to introduce a replacement bombshell during the upcoming broadcast window to ensure the planned Casa Amor dynamics remain intact for the remaining islanders.