Love Island All Stars contestant Shaq Muhammad has publicly disclosed the true catalyst for his breakup with ex-girlfriend Tanya Manhenga, putting an end to months of speculation and rumour. The revelation came during the first day of the All Stars series, which aired on 16 January 2026.
The Miami Revelation
During a conversation with fellow islander Belle Hassan, Shaq was asked about the length of his single status and the cause of his split from Tanya. He confirmed he had been single for about a year and a half before delving into the details. "It's a long story," Shaq began. "So... I went on holiday to Miami. Got a lap dance."
He admitted to fighting for the relationship afterwards, acknowledging he was in the wrong but believing the couple could move past the incident. However, Tanya's stance was firm. "She was like 'No', which I was like, 'Fair enough,'" he recounted. Belle Hassan responded supportively, telling Shaq his past didn't define him and joking that she would have joined in the stripping.
Contradictory Stories and Fan Reaction
This new account directly contradicted the story Shaq gave in his introductory video tape (VT) for All Stars. In that VT, he claimed the split occurred because he had called another woman "beautiful" while still with Tanya. The shift in narrative did not go unnoticed by sharp-eyed fans.
Many took to Instagram to express their confusion and frustration. One user pointedly asked, "Lap dance or calling someone beautiful which one is it." Another simply commented, "I’m confused, this was different to what was said?" This inconsistency has become a major talking point among viewers of the show.
History of the Relationship and Past Allegations
Shaq and Tanya, who both originally appeared on the 2023 winter series of Love Island, coupled up early and finished in a respectable fourth place. Their relationship lasted just over a year before ending.
Following the split, reports emerged that Tanya had unfollowed Shaq on Instagram due to his "behaviour" during that Miami holiday. Tanya herself later hinted at infidelity. Shaq has consistently denied sleeping with anyone else but has admitted to crossing 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," he stated previously. He described the cheating accusations as "very, very jarring."
For her part, Tanya offered her own perspective on the breakup to fellow All Stars contestant Whitney Adebeyo. She suggested Shaq needed to mature, stating, "I feel like from him, he needed to mature a little bit because guys mature very slowly... it’s at the expense of my feelings that you’re maturing and it’s not good enough."
The All Stars series has now brought these private tensions back into the public eye, with Shaq's latest confession providing a clearer, though conflicting, picture of the relationship's final days.
