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

“Love Island” star Austin Shepard is getting actual about his wrestle 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 isn’t any stranger to the highlight, as he was additionally the focal point 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 fairly manipulative, purposeful 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 the whole lot is OK.”

Elsewhere, throughout his look on the podcast, Shepard confirmed like to his co-stars, who observed 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 bought fairly actual with him, simply telling him just about the whole lot. He’s been wishing me love, giving me love. Identical with TJ, Iris. They’ve been sending me love.”

Shepard additionally bought actual concerning the difficulties he is confronted whereas managing his sobriety.

“I understand how this street goes,” he mentioned. “I’ve had loads of pals who will not be right here at present 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.

For Shepard, gaining readability was simply one of many issues that helped him cope with his wrestle. He additionally admitted to searching 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 have to go someplace, medically.’”

The ability 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 current repost that has triggered 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 suppose 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 to 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 provide 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 suppose?”