Love Island has been hit with more than 1,500 Ofcom complaints after bombshell Danny Bibby‘s entrance in the villa last week.
The plumber, 25, from Manchester has been this series’ most controversial contestant to date with viewers calling for him to be removed from the show after a historic Instagram comment where he used a racial slur was unearthed.
And now Danny’s father Richard has quit Instagram after 1,081 viewers complained to Ofcom about the episode on July 15, in which the islander entered the villa.
Love Island has been hit with more than 1,500 Ofcom complaints after bombshell Danny Bibby’s entrance in the villa last week
The plumber made his debut on Thursday evening’s show as a bombshell, however soon after the episode aired, fans delved into his Instagram and sourced the comment made in 2019.
Danny apologised for his actions from the villa, saying he ‘meant no offence’ and has ‘learnt from his mistakes’.
Three days later, the show sparked 426 complaints, after they played Kanye West and Jay-Z’s song N****s In Paris at the start of the episode after ignoring viewers’ calls for Danny to be axed.
Several viewers shared their amazement over the music choice on Twitter, with some saying that it was a ‘disrespectful’ and others being left in shock.
Backlash: The plumber, 25, has been this series’ most controversial contestant to date with viewers calling for him to be removed from the show after a racist comment was unearthed
One viewer fan: ‘How ironic that @LoveIsland choose to use the song ‘N****s in Paris’ for that Danny boys intro that was a massive disrespect to all of us! Just wow.’
While another wrote: ‘I still can’t believe Love Island started last nights episode with N****s in Paris.’
And someone else tweeted: ‘love island really started off with n****s in paris as background music… the audacity.’
Danny has also come under fire for how he reacted when Aaron tried to kiss Lucinda in front of him.
Viewers were worried he was showing several red flags after mimicking the blonde bombshell and the seriousness in which he confronted her for ‘mugging him off’ after only a day f being in the villa.
The plumber could be seen in the background looking shocked and was quick to pull Aaron aside – after branding him a ‘snake’.
Shocking: The comment in question, written 85 weeks ago, sees an Instagram account which appears to be Danny’s responding to a fellow Twitter user, who greets him with: ‘Champ’. In response, the tattooed hunk’s account replies: ‘My n****’
Not acceptable: Another message, dated 26th November 2019, has also been circulated, in which the account uses the same offensive term
He told him: ‘Lad, it’s my first night, yeah. I’ve just recoupled with her, and then you go and try and slap this on her.
‘You just look like a mug and she’s gone and mugged you off in front of everyone.
‘Do you not feel like an idiot? Like, do you not think I deserve a bit of respect?’
Richard had made an Instagram page to support Danny during his time in the villa with the handle @dannybibbysdad, but has since turned it to private after inundated with hate messages.
He wrote in his last post: ‘The fuse has blown. Too much hassle this. Was gonna be a bit of fun but… bye.’
Awkward! Danny has also come under fire for how he reacted when Aaron tried to kiss Lucinda in front of him
Danny’s father had previously jumped to his son’s defense and apologised on his behalf after the historic racial slur was unearthed.
Richard said at the time: ‘Danny does not have a racist bone in his body and there were no racist intentions to this post. I absolutely apologise on his behalf for the offence this wording may have caused.’
The comment in question, written 85 weeks ago when Danny was 23, sees an Instagram account which appears to be Danny’s responding to a fellow Twitter user, who greets him with: ‘Champ’.
In response, the tattooed hunk’s account replied: ‘My n****’.
Oops! Moments after the new couples were announced, Aaron made his move in front of new boy Danny’s eyes, causing Lucinda to completely swerve Aaron and leaving Danny fuming
Shock: Three days later, the show sparked 426 complaints, after they played Kanye West and Jay-Z’s song N****s In Paris at the start of the episode
Reacting to the uncovered comment, viewers assumed the comment was sent by Danny and made their feelings abundantly clear, with one writing: ‘We demand that the racist islander Danny is taken off the show immediately.’
While another shared: ‘Danny is in fact a racist who previously used the n word on Instagram. @itvstudios @LoveIsland I assume you will be acting on this?’
‘Sorry but new boy Danny is racist and they are making our queen KAZ GO ON A DATE WITH HIMMMMM???? Sorry but throw the casting crew and directors in the bin’ tweeted a third.
This isn’t the only time Love Island has been caught up in a racism storm.
In the 2020 winter series, the show was hit with 272 complaints in the first episode after Siânnise Fudge compared her partner Nas Majeed – the only Asian contestant – to Aladdin.
Other fans of the show were left outraged because of the inclusion of big game hunter Ollie Williams in the line up.
Love Island continued on ITV2 at 9pm.
Cruel: Danny’s father had made an Instagram page during his time in the villa with the handle @dannybibbysdad, but has since turned it to private after inundated with hate messages