Who is Danny Bibby? Love Island 2021 contestant who apologised for using racial slur in Instagram post

The newest Love Island contestant to enter the villa is Danny Bibby.

Here’s who he is, who he’s coupled up with, and why there has been controversy around his stay in the villa.

Who is Danny?

Danny Bibby, 25, is the newest Islander to enter the villa.

The 25-year-old from Wigan is a plumber and the owner of a clothing brand, which he set up with a friend during lockdown. He’s covered in tattoos, some of which he said are inspirational quotes, and also include his “lucky number” 13.

Danny describes himself as an “alpha male”, as well as “a good laugh” and “quick with the chat”.

He said: “The guys need an alpha male and I feel like that’s me. The girls have Faye who says it how it is but the lads are all like little sheep. There is no way I would have sat back and let Hugo cry.”

Who is Danny coupled up with?

Danny chose to couple up with Lucinda at the latest recoupling, as seen in Sunday night’s episode.

The recoupling was followed by a tense moment after Aaron, who had also been interested in getting to know Lucinda, tried to kiss her in front of Danny.

Danny later confronted Aaron about his actions, telling him: “I deserve some respect.”

Danny had previously been on a date with both Kaz and Sharon – but he did not choose either of them to couple up with.

Prior to going into the house, Danny said: “Lucinda is my type – nice eyes and tanned. Sharon is nice. I like Kaz’s vibe. Kaz is bubbly like me so I think we’d get on like a house on fire. I think me and Kaz will vibe.”

Kaz was chosen by Aaron to be in a friendship couple, while Sharon was not chosen and became the latest person to leave the villa.

Why is there controversy around Danny?

Danny’s arrival in the villa sparked controversy on the outside, as social media users found an old post of his in which he used a racial slur, leading to calls for him to be axed from the show.

Social media users found a comment on a post on Danny’s Instagram profile from 2019, in which he used the n-word in response to a comment from a friend.

Danny has since issued a statement from inside the villa, which said: “I’d like to take the time to apologise to anyone that may have taken offence to my inappropriate remark.

“I never meant anything malicious by this comment at all. I am not a racist person and it’s unacceptable language and ignorant. I meant no offence and feel like I have really learnt from my mistakes and will never use that word again.

“I am a kind loving person and hopefully you get to see that in the show.”

Danny’s father Richard came to his defence and issued a statement in response to the backlash, saying his son made a “mistake”.

“Danny does not have a racist bone in his body and there were no racist intentions to this post,” his father has said. “I absolutely apologise on his behalf for the offence this wording may have caused. That would never have been his intention.”

Love Island continues on ITV2 tonight at 9pm. Catch up on past episodes on ITV Hub.