Austin Shepard Relapsed While Filming ‘Love Island’ Spin-Off

“Love Island” star Austin Shepard is getting actual about his battle with dependancy. 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 newest season of “Love Island” after netizens known as him out for reportedly sharing offensive content material.

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, practical addict till it turns into so unmanageable—like the way it acquired. However I can bullsh-t for some time.”

Shepard likened himself to a “salesman,” including that he tends to “wave and fake all the pieces is OK.”

Elsewhere, throughout his look on the podcast, Shepard confirmed like to his co-stars, who seen the truth 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 acquired 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 acquired actual in regards to the difficulties he is confronted whereas managing his sobriety.

“I understand how this highway goes,” he mentioned. “I’ve had loads of associates who will not be right here at the moment which have sadly handed from it and it’s both loss of life or an extended lifetime of distress.”

“That was my second of readability, lastly,” he mentioned.

For Shepard, gaining readability was simply one of many issues that helped him take care of his battle. He additionally admitted to searching for skilled assist at one other level throughout his journey.

“There was one night time 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 power Shepard checked into gave him wonderful care, he mentioned, including that the help of his members of the family has helped strengthen him.

In keeping with a earlier report from The Blast, Shepard 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 hearth all through his keep within the “Love Island” villa, as eagle-eyed social media sleuths known as the truth 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 properly 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 in your understanding and for holding me accountable.”

Days earlier than his apology, Shepard made headlines after responding to a social media person who branded the Michigan alum a “racist bigot.”

“I’m going to offer this consideration just one time as a result of that is, like, loopy,” Shepard mentioned in response. “Are you f-cking dumb? Like, truthfully, are you dumb? Do you not assume?”