Love Island WILL replace axed star after machete arrest, ITV reveal
THE Love Island 2025 launch has been thrown into chaos after Kyle Ashman was removed from the opening line-up.
It was revealed Kyle, 23, was arrested in connection with a machete attack on his dad at a wake in February.
His early exit from the show means Love Island are being forced to replace him in the opening show.
A source said: “It looks like bosses will be replacing him.
“There are a lot of moving parts but once it’s all finalized they will make an announcement about who is taking his place.”
Kyle has since spoken out about being axed saying: “I fully co-operated 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.”
Masked thugs stormed a wake in Stafford and hacked at a dad with a blade in February.
Kyle was one of two quizzed but released with no further action.
Sources said the channel was unaware of the incident and he was not flagged as part of contestant checks.
The victim, 38, nearly lost his arm. He was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment and kept in for around two weeks.
Another mourner was glassed, one struck with a metal pole, and two people run over by a car during the 15 minutes of terror at a social club in Stafford.
A source said: “This was a horrific attack which could have been even worse.
“Ashman may have signed up to one of the biggest shows on TV with this hanging over his head.”