The Love Island All Stars 2026 villa, usually a sun-soaked haven for romance and reality TV drama, has descended into chaos this week as multiple bombshell contestants have quit the show, citing relentless arguments and a hostile atmosphere. As ITV’s flagship dating series edges closer to its finale, the production has been rocked by an exodus of new arrivals who were meant to inject fresh excitement but instead chose to walk away before even stepping foot inside the villa.
According to The Sun and corroborated by Daily Mail, five bombshells who were lined up to enter the villa have abruptly pulled out. The reason? The environment inside has shifted from playful banter to what some are calling a “war-zone,” dominated by explosive rows and personal feuds. One source laid it out bluntly: “Love Island All Stars is explosive this season – and there’s only two women getting all the headlines. It’s hard for last minute bombshells to enter that kind of chaos.”
The source continued, “They’re not going to stand a chance really getting a connection with someone so close to the end, and it’s unlikely they will get any real airtime with all of this kick off between Belle and Lucinda.” The reference is to Belle Hassan and Lucinda Stafford, whose ongoing feud has become the centerpiece of villa drama, overshadowing nearly every other storyline this season.
Some bombshells had been waiting in a holding villa, ready to join the main cast in South Africa, but the relentless arguments gave them cold feet. “One was asked to fly to South Africa to go into the villa but turned it down because of all the drama. It’s a headache for ITV but luckily, they have so many on standby they do have options. But it’s difficult when the people they want to send in have turned around and refused,” the source told The Sun. ITV has yet to comment publicly on the sudden departures, but reports suggest the production team has been left scrambling to find replacements willing to brave the turmoil.
The drama has been so intense, in fact, that even Olivia Hawkins – a former Islander and recent participant on Celebs Go Dating – confirmed she was approached to return as a bombshell but declined the offer. Speaking to The Sun, Olivia explained, “There were talks about it, but from my side, it’s just I did it last time, I’ve just done Celebs Go Dating. I’d like to do something else now. So it just wasn’t the right timing.” Her decision echoes the sentiments of many would-be bombshells this season: the timing, and perhaps more importantly, the atmosphere, just isn’t right.
So, what exactly has been going on inside the villa to cause such a mass exodus? The answer lies in a series of escalating confrontations, most notably between Belle Hassan and Lucinda Stafford. The feud began when Lucinda stole Sean Stone from Belle, prompting a heated confrontation. Not to be outdone, Belle then made a play for Scott, who was already coupled up with Leanne Amaning. This love triangle quickly spiraled into a full-blown war of words, culminating in a massive row involving five Islanders.
Viewers watched as Belle pulled Scott for a private chat in the Secret Garden, despite his ongoing romance with Leanne. Lucinda, feeling slighted, took Belle aside, but the conversation quickly devolved. Belle ended up shouting at Lucinda to “fk off” and to “keep her nose out of her business.” The argument didn’t stop there: Belle stormed out of the villa, lay on the floor, and was later seen sobbing in the dressing room, comforted by co-stars Whitney Adebayo and Samie Elishi. The incident, which aired over February 12-13, 2026, sparked a flurry of complaints to Ofcom from fans who felt the show had crossed a line from entertainment into genuine distress.
As if that wasn’t enough, the drama spilled over into the next recoupling, where new bombshells Jessy and Harrison made their entrance. In a twist, the girls were given the first pick of the boys, adding fuel to already simmering tensions. During the recoupling speeches, Lucinda took a thinly veiled shot at Belle, declaring, “There’s been some people in here that explored connections that hasn’t been genuine and some double standards that I’ve had to watch…” Belle, never one to back down, fired back: “Why is this f***g speech about me?” The two continued to spar, with Belle ultimately telling Lucinda, “I don’t want to speak to you, my issues I’ve dealt with – they’re none of your business.”
The discord didn’t end there. Jessy Potts, another newcomer, confronted Lucinda about her comments during the recoupling, leading to yet another heated exchange. Jessy asked, “I’m a bit confused about the comments in the recoupling speech. What was going on with your mindset?” Lucinda replied, “I got scrutinised. The last person I thought that would do the exact same is Belle, especially not to someone like Leanne… when I do it, I get screamed and shouted at…” Jessy wasn’t convinced, accusing Lucinda of “rage baiting,” and telling her, “I think that you’re a smart girl and you’re underestimated.” Lucinda, standing her ground, retorted, “I’m not here to explain the way I am…” The rest of the villa watched in shock as tempers flared yet again.
The ripple effects of this ongoing feud have not only driven away potential new contestants but also left ITV producers in a bind. While the show is no stranger to dramatic twists and heated arguments, this season’s relentless conflict has reached new heights, prompting some to question whether the format can withstand such volatility without losing its core audience. Complaints to Ofcom suggest that some viewers are finding the atmosphere less entertaining and more uncomfortable, a fine line that reality TV often walks but rarely crosses so publicly.
Despite the headaches for producers, the show has managed to keep a steady stream of content for its loyal fans, who tune in night after night for the latest developments. But as the finale approaches, the question on everyone’s mind is: Who, if anyone, will be brave enough to enter the villa next? With five bombshells already gone and the remaining Islanders locked in a cycle of arguments and shifting alliances, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion – if ITV can find anyone willing to join the chaos.
For now, the Love Island All Stars villa remains a pressure cooker, with tempers running high and the promise of romance increasingly overshadowed by the threat of another explosive showdown. It’s reality TV at its most unpredictable – and, for better or worse, viewers can’t seem to look away.