LottoStar has withdrawn as the main sponsor of M-Net's reality dating show Love Island South Africa.

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, the LottoStar director said on Twitter: "LottoStar has taken the decision to respectfully withdraw its sponsorship of Love Island SA. We wish the show and its contestants every success."

A spokesperson for the company didn't want to elaborate and say why it has cancelled its sponsorship or when it first became aware of the firestorm that had engulfed Love Island SA.

LottoStar is also the sponsor of The Bachelorette South Africa, which is produced by the same production company, Rapid Blue, and broadcast on M-Net (DStv 101).