Love Island star dramatically axed from 2025 series after 'arrest over machete attack'

Love Island 2025 star Kyle Ashman has been sensationally axed from the ITV2 show.

The 23-year-old water operative from Stafford was due to appear on the new series, which kicks off on Monday (June 9). He'd been announced as part of the line-up on Tuesday (June 3).

However, it's said he's already been pulled from the show and sent home from Majorca by ITV bosses. Confirming his exit, an ITV spokesman said: "For personal reasons, Kyle will not be entering the Love Island Villa as planned."

According to The Sun, he was axed after ITV bosses found out he was arrested on suspicion of a machete attack earlier this year. He was one of two quizzed about the attack but released with no further action.

The 38-year-old victim, a dad, nearly lost his arm in the attack at a wake in Stafford and was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment and kept in for around two weeks.

It is not suggested that Kyle was involved in the attack. Police told the publication that after the matter had been investigated the pair were released with no further action.

Sources claim ITV were unaware of the incident and that he was not not flagged as part of contestant checks. A source told the outlet: "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."

In a statement, Kyle said: "I fully cooperated 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."

He previously told ITV that he was looking for "someone that's fun, confident and just themselves" during his stint on Love Island. Asked if host Maya Jama would hire or fire him on his flirting skills alone, Kyle said: "I'd say I’d be hired.

He added: "I just go with it, find something to compliment a girl on and go from there."