Love Island: All Stars has come under fire for casting a married man. Marcel Somerville will be entering the villa alongside other former Love Island UK stars when the All Stars format returns in January 2025.

Fans were left shocked when they learned that 39-year-old Marcel is still legally married to his wife, Rebecca Vieira . The producers defended the casting, with the executive producer Mike Spencer insisting Marcel was a single man and that fans should “give the guy a break.”

Chatting to The Sun, the producer clarified that “He had a wife! Marcel is single. He’s ready to mingle.” He added that Marcel, who was previously in the hip-hop band Blazin Squad, was “a really good guy” who was “looking for love.” Despite Mike’s kind words, fans are still rooted in anger over the casting decision.

Inside Marcel Somerville’s Marriage And Split

Collider reported that Marcel Somerville originally appeared in Season 3 of Love Island, which aired in 2017, and will appear on the All Stars edition with his ex-girlfriend Gabby Allen.

According to The Mirror, Marcel believes his wife Rebecca Vieira cheating on him was “karma” for what he did to his ex Gabby. Eight months after Marcel and Gabby left Love Island, he admitted to cheating on her with a guest staying in the same hotel as the couple in Mexico. She immediately dumped the singer.

The Cast of 2025’s Love Island All Stars

Marcel was left heartbroken when his wife was caught sending messages to rapper Slim Jxmmi. The Mirror revealed the “utterly broken” Marcel had moved out of the family home he shared with their son Roman after Slim’s baby mama leaked messages that Rebecca sent her then-partner.

“I did feel like maybe this is karma,” Marcel told the outlet. “But this was a different relationship. When you’re married you are fully invested. When things happened with Gabby, I made a point of saying to myself, ‘Yes you are in the whirlwind of everything that was going on – because life was crazy at the time – and you messed up, you made a mistake.'”

It made me look at myself and think you are never going do that again. You don’t want to be that person.

He continued, “I grew after that situation and I learned a lot. I went into my relationship with Rebecca thinking that Marcel is gone that I was going to become this new version of myself. So I was a family guy, I was doing DIY around the house… I was doing all of those things.”

The reality TV star admitted he tried to forgive Rebecca, but the shock of her actions was too much for Marcel to forgive. He admitted that Rebecca being younger than him may have been the problem because “she wasn’t in the same place.”

“You do put up walls, you do create new boundaries. It’s hard to put your heart on your sleeve again and trust someone straight away. I always say, ‘I’ll trust you until you show me that I can’t.’”

Fans Criticized Marcel Somerville’s Casting Choice

When the Love Island All Stars lineup was announced, fans immediately criticized casting a married Marcel Somerville, as shown by Reality Tea.

One disgruntled audience member took to Reddit to call out his casting “Marcel coming on this show is just diabolical. Grow up and file for divorce Sir.” Another user agreed with not wanting Marcel on the show, declaring they do “Not want married people going on this show, even if they are going through a divorce. Finish the divorce.”

• A now-deleted Reddit user was very clear about why they do not want Marcel appearing on the Love Island spinoff. “He has a wife and he’s doing Love Island. This is actually diabolical behavior. His wife and son will be watching it from home. I can’t. The sun said he’s not even sure yet if he wants to divorce his wife or not.”

Marcel explained how he broke the news to Rebecca that he might not be around for a few weeks. “We’re going through a divorce. It’s got to get to a point where you have to start moving forward and living your life separately.”

Marcel claims to have not even kissed another woman since his marriage broke down but admits it might be “easier” that it happens on-screen during a Love Island challenge. “Kissing in a game it will just be like ‘Well that’s done! I don’t have to think about that now!’”

Marcel Somerville And Gabby Allen Set To Reunite For Love Island: All Stars

Love Island host Maya Jama admits that “one of her favorites” returning to the villa are Marcel Somerville and Gabby Allen Despite their past cheating scandal, Maya told The Mirror she is hoping they can reconcile and make it work.

“I have to be neutral, but I am very excited about Gabby and Marcel. Just because when I was watching that series I was hooked into everything about their relationship. Now I’ve followed them on the outside I think that would be kind of cute or just to see who they do end up with. I think Marcel is such a cutie.” Maya told the outlet.

Marcel told The Mirror that despite his recent marriage, meeting with Gabby in the villa would be “nice.” He admits he made a mistake and revealed the pair did meet up after their 2018 scandal to end things amicably off-camera. While he believes both have moved and will just “be friends,” Marcel is open to something happening between them.

“You can never say never, but it’s all hypothetical. If she was in there, I think it’d probably be more of a situation of seeing what the energy was like between us and seeing if there was still that spark there.

He concluded, “But it’s been 7 years, the spark might not be reignited because of what’s gone on with our past, so who knows, who knows.”

Love Island: All Stars
premieres Monday, Jan. 13th, 2025, and airs on Peacock in the US on January 15th.