Shocking footage emerges of Love Island ‘thug’ Haris Namani landing a savage punch in street brawl
LOVE Island was plunged into crisis tonight after video footage emerged of hothead Haris Namani flooring a rival in a street brawl.
The violent boxer, 21, who has already been involved in a fiery exchange in the villa with Shaq Muhammad, was filmed fighting after a boozy night out.
In the distressing short clip, his victim is left reeling after being punched in the face before Namani follows up and knocks him down with a second.
Last night, ITV bosses scrambled to investigate their own vetting process as his future on the show hung by the thinnest of threads.
A source revealed the footage – taken last May after a night out in his home town of Doncaster, South Yorks, was first shared on Snapchat.
It shows him squaring up to another reveller with his fists raised in a boxing stance.
The two trade blows before Namani launches his fierce attack.
His victim wobbles on his feet after the first brutal blow as Haris yells ‘I’m not a bully’ and a pal watching on shouts: “Go on Haris.”
Haris throws a second punch whilst yelling: “I’m not a bully, I’m not a f***ing bully.”
He then stands over his motionless victim and, snarling, turns to the camera to continue his rant: “On my mum’s life…”
Over recent years the ITV2 show has tightened its vetting procedures before Islanders enter the villa to include mental health and medical checks.
It followed the shock suicides of previous contestants Mike Thalassitis, 26, and Sophie Gradon, 32.
As part of the process, potential contestants also agree for their social media to be examined by producers.
And this cohort have also received training around mutually respectful behaviour after Women’s Aid were forced to raise concerns over the “gaslighting” of 2022’s batch including Gemma Owen’s ex Luca Bish.
A pal told The Sun: “We were all surprised when we heard Haris was going on Love Island.
“He’s got quite a bit of a temper on him and if someone says something he’s more than prepared to have a fight.
“He’s got an advantage being a boxer and he knows he can cause damage because he trains four times a week.
“He knows what he is capable of because of his training. That kind of stuff has to stay in the ring.
“I’m surprised ITV didn’t do further checks.
“I saw the row between him and Shaq and wasn’t surprised in the slightest. That’s the type of guy he is.
“What you see is what you get.”
The TV salesman sparked controversy before he even entered the villa after he exposed himself as a cruel player in entry interviews.
In an astonishing rant he laid into his ex, bragging: “She was more interested in me.
“She never had the privilege of meeting my family.
“I was just sleeping with her, she was just one of them.”
It came after the girl, Courtney Hodgson, accused him online of dumping her to join the show.
Then days later he was involved in a heated bust-up with Shaq following an X-Rated game of beer pong.
Shaq branded Haris a “s***-stirrer” after the young lad asked bombshell David Salako if he enjoyed his snog with Shaq’s missus Tanya Manhenga.
David instantly made it clear that he felt uncomfortable answering with Shaq sitting nearby.
Shaq replied: “That’s f**king… what’s wrong with you bro? You’re so annoying bro.
“You do this all the time bro, like relax.”
Haris shouted back: “Shut the f**k up man.”
Fuming Shaq retaliated: “You shut the f**k up you f**king p***k.”
A Love Island spokesperson said: “Language and behaviour in the villa is always closely monitored, and Islanders are reminded of what we consider acceptable during their time on the show.
“Extensive duty of care protocols for all Islanders includes video training and guidance covering language and behaviour.”