Professional footballer George Knight has opened up on his abrupt departure from Love Island, stating his “family comes first”.
The 28-year-old joined the ITV reality programme as a bombshell contestant during Tuesday’s episode, arriving alongside Yasmin Hadlow, 23.
The duo were immediately tasked with a secret mission to dump two of the existing islanders within 24 hours of their arrival.
But two days later it was announced that Knight had left the show for “private reasons”.
He has since addressed his departure in an Instagram post, confirming he will not be going into any “further detail” surrounding the shock move.
Knight shared his promotional image from the show on Friday night, as well as a snap alongside a family member, and wrote: “Family comes first, always.
“Leaving the @LoveIsland Villa was a decision made in order to be with my family. Out of respect for them, I’d prefer not to go into any further detail.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with kind messages and support! It genuinely means a lot.”
Bombshells are contestants who are brought into the villa after the series has begun.
Knight made his entrance on Tuesday’s show, and during his brief stint in the villa he got to know his fellow contestants and spoke about his life and dating preferences.
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He made a move on quantity surveyor Robyn Langton, 21, and asked if she wanted to share a bed with him in the hideaway but she told him the move was “ballsy” and that she needed to think about it, before declining the offer.
The islanders later found out about the bombshells’ secret mission, after it was revealed that the duo picked model Samraj and videographer Ellie to be dumped from the island.
However, it was revealed in last night’s episode that Samraj and Ellie were given another chance at love and, in a shock twist, they were sent on dates with two new bombshells: Priya, 25, and Kavan, 21.
It was also revealed on Thursday that electrician Kavan is the brother of property broker Aidan, 23, who is already in the villa.
In the ITV show a group of contestants looking for love live in isolation from the outside world, where they must couple up with another islander to survive on the show.
The winner is voted for by viewers.
Love Island returns on ITV2 and ITVX on Friday at 9pm.
