“Love Island” star Austin Shepard is getting actual about his battle with habit. Throughout a podcast look, the 27-year-old opened up about relapsing whereas filming the present’s spin-off, “Past the Villa.”
Austin Shepard is not any stranger to the highlight, as he was additionally the focus throughout the latest season of “Love Island” after netizens known as him out for reportedly sharing offensive content material.
Austin Shepard Relapsed Whereas Filming The ‘Love Island’ Spin-Off
Peacock | Ben Symons
Shepard revealed that he was 11 days sober on the “Beforehand On” podcast by TMZ. The “Love Island” alum shared that earlier than reaching that time, he relapsed through the use of opioids whereas filming season 2 of the present’s spin-off, “Past the Villa.”
“Nobody knew,” he shared. “I’m a reasonably manipulative, useful addict till it turns into so unmanageable—like the way it bought. However I can bullsh-t for some time.”
Shepard likened himself to a “salesman,” including that he tends to “wave and faux all the pieces is OK.”
Austin Shepard Revealed His Co-Stars Seen A Change In His Conduct
Elsewhere, throughout his look on the podcast, Shepard confirmed like to his co-stars, who seen the fact star’s demeanor had modified whereas filming “Past the Villa.”
“Charlie began reaching out within the final month and was like, ‘Bro what’s happening?’” he mentioned. “I simply bought fairly actual with him, simply telling him just about all the pieces. He’s been wishing me love, giving me love. Similar with TJ, Iris. They’ve been sending me love.”
Shepard additionally bought actual concerning the difficulties he’s confronted whereas managing his sobriety.
“I understand how this highway goes,” he mentioned. “I’ve had loads of buddies who usually are not right here in the present day which have sadly handed from it and it’s both loss of life or a protracted lifetime of distress.”
“That was my second of readability, lastly,” he mentioned.
Austin Shepard Sought Skilled Assist
For Shepard, gaining readability was simply one of many issues that helped him cope with his battle. He additionally admitted to looking for skilled assist at one other level throughout his journey.
“There was one evening the place I used to be sitting there, I used to be simply going loopy,” he mentioned. “I hadn’t slept in 4 nights. I used to be very sick. Simply puking. It was horrible. I used to be like, ‘I must go someplace, medically.’”
The ability Shepard checked into gave him glorious care, he mentioned, including that the help of his relations has helped strengthen him.
Shepard Confronted Backlash After Sharing Controversial Posts
You completely can not predict what he’s about to say. #LoveIslandUSA pic.twitter.com/R7HV3qQ8UO
— Nick (@aftersunfilm) July 4, 2025
In keeping with a earlier report from The BlastShepard confronted backlash from the “Love Island” viewers in the summertime of 2025 after he reportedly shared offensive content material on his social media channels.
“I wish to take a second to handle my latest repost that has precipitated offense to a few of you,” he wrote on-line. “As you all know, I’ve a really dry humorousness, and I genuinely didn’t assume earlier than sharing that content material.”
Shepard had been underneath fireplace all through his keep within the “Love Island” villa, as eagle-eyed social media sleuths known as the fact star out for his earlier posts earlier than becoming a member of the forged.
“I acknowledge that my selection of content material didn’t resonate nicely with everybody, and for that, I sincerely apologize,” Shepard shared. “I’m dedicated to studying from this expertise and to being extra aware sooner or later. Thanks to your understanding and for holding me accountable.”
Days earlier than his apology, Shepard made headlines after responding to a social media consumer who branded the Michigan alum a “racist bigot.”
“I’m going to present this consideration just one time as a result of that is, like, loopy,” Shepard mentioned in response. “Are you f-cking dumb? Like, actually, are you dumb? Do you not assume?”
One other ‘Love Island’ Star Walks Again Controversial Put up
Peacock | Ben Symons
Shepard wasn’t the one “Love Island” star in sizzling water. A earlier report from The Blast states that Yulissa Escobar, who additionally appeared in season 7 of the competitors sequence, was booted from the present throughout the second episode after outdated clips of her utilizing a racial slur resurfaced.
On-line, Escobar tried to come clean with her errors, sharing that she beforehand used the N-word whereas “not totally understanding the burden, historical past, or ache behind it.”
Escobar went on to say that whereas she meant no hurt, she started to know how severe her phrases had been after being dismissed from the sequence.
“I’ve modified rather a lot since then, not simply in how I converse, however in how I present up, how I carry myself, and the way I honor the experiences of others,” Escobar continued. “Development means recognizing whenever you had been fallacious, even when it’s uncomfortable, and selecting to maneuver ahead with humility and accountability.”