Love Island Star Axed After Machete Attack Arrest

Love Island contestant Kyle Ashman was removed from the show after The Sun revealed his prior arrest for an alleged machete attack. The incident happened in Staffordshire, England, in February. A 38-year-old man was injured, nearly losing his arm. Ashman was arrested and questioned by Staffordshire Police but released without charge last month. ITV confirmed they were unaware of Ashman's past. An ITV spokesperson stated, "For personal reasons, Kyle will not be entering the Love Island villa as planned." A show source added that ITV's background checks did not flag the incident because Ashman was not charged. Ashman maintains his innocence, stating that he fully cooperated with the police investigation and had no involvement in the attack. He is now returning to the UK to share his side of the story. The incident highlights the challenges of background checks for reality TV shows and the impact of media reporting on participant selection.