Former Love Island star Shaq Muhammad has declared he has 'nothing to hide' as he prepares to enter the All Stars villa, following persistent claims he cheated on his ex-girlfriend and fellow islander, Tanya Manhenga.
An 'Open Book' in the Villa
The personal trainer, who finished fourth with Tanya in the 2023 winter series, has vowed to address any questions head-on. Speaking to The Mirror ahead of the show's launch, Shaq stated he is unafraid of his past being discussed. 'I’m not worried about anything coming up,' he said. 'If anyone wants to know the truth, or what happened, I have nothing to hide. They can ask me.'
He emphasised his desire for transparency, especially with the goal of finding a new relationship on the show. 'If I’m trying to find a relationship, which I am, I don’t want to start it with hard truths or any lies. I'm going to be an open book and see what happens,' Shaq added.
The Source of the Split Rumours
Shaq and Tanya dated for a year after leaving the villa, announcing their split in 2024 with a statement that they had 'parted ways' and wished each other well. However, speculation swirled after Tanya later revealed on a livestream that she felt something was amiss when Shaq returned from a lads' holiday to Miami with islander Dami Hope.
'I had a feeling in my stomach that something was like… I just knew it,' Tanya explained. After questioning him and checking his phone, she concluded, 'The long story short is, everything was on the phone, guys.'
Shaq's Firm Denial and Admission
In response, Shaq took to TikTok to firmly deny allegations of physical infidelity. 'I want to make something abundantly clear,' he stated. 'I did not, while I was with Tanya, I did not have sex with anyone. I didn’t kiss anyone. I didn’t do anything sexual with anyone.'
He did, however, admit to crossing certain boundaries. 'While I was in Miami and on holiday, I did certain things that disrespected her boundaries, and I can hold my hands up to that,' Shaq confessed. He expressed frustration at being 'villainised' and insisted there is no bad blood between the former couple, claiming they are on good terms.
As he returns to TV for Love Island: All Stars, which begins on Monday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX, Shaq says he is ready to settle down. 'I’m mentally ready to settle down, be in a relationship, have marriage and kids,' he revealed, joking that his mother is already scouting wedding venues.
