Love Island USA has been hit with another racism scandal as a contestant was axed only days before the season eight premiere. Vasana Montgomery, 25, will no longer appear on the reality dating show after videos recently resurfaced of her allegedly using the N-word.
In a clip, she allegedly could be heard saying the racial slur while rapping to a track, and in a separate occurrence, Montgomery said it with a friend who was playing a game, according to TMZ. Sources close to the production told the outlet that the business owner was pulled from the show.
Insiders also told TMZ that the social media videos had been private, which is why the production did not see the clips while screening Montgomery before she was cast on the new season. Daily Mail has reached out to NBC for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Season Eight Premiere and Cast Reveal
The eighth season of Love Island USA, hosted by Ariana Madix, is set to premiere on Peacock on June 2. Earlier this week on Thursday, the 12 cast members were unveiled ahead of the premiere. In a teaser, Montgomery had expressed, 'I think I am the full package. I own a business; I live alone; I have a dog.' She added, 'If you were to ask my friends what my type is, they'd show you the world map.'
Love Island USA also released a statement on its Instagram account encouraging positivity ahead of the cast reveal. 'The Villa runs on good vibes, and so does this community. We love seeing your reactions, opinions, and debates, but everyone deserves to feel safe and respected.' The message concluded with, 'This is a space for fun, not negativity - so keep it kind, keep it positive, and remember: this is LOVE Island!'
Previous Racism Scandals on Love Island USA
The reality series was hit with similar situations last year. Contestant Yulissa Escobar was notably removed from the show over her past use of racist slurs. She was released off-camera during the second episode, before the rest of the contestants woke up. Clips of Escobar using the N-word while discussing ex-boyfriends resurfaced, and fans were irate, commenting on her Instagram that they would vote her off at the first opportunity.
Escobar later apologized on Instagram in a post captioned: 'Owning my mistakes, speaking my truth.' She wrote: 'First, I want to apologize for using a word I had no right in using. Podcast clips from years ago have recently resurfaced, and I want to address it directly. In those clips, I used a word I never should've used, a racial slur. I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it. I wasn't trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn't excuse impact.' She added that the impact of that word is real, tied to generations of trauma, and not hers to use. She shared that she has taken time to reflect, learn, and grow, and has changed a lot since then.
Another contestant, Cierra Ortega, was also removed from the show last year after multiple racist posts from her Instagram were uncovered by Love Island fans, in which she used a slur offensive to Chinese people on two separate occasions. Ortega's parents broke their silence after their daughter was removed from season seven for past derogatory social media posts. They shared a statement on her Instagram stories about 'the most painful weeks of our lives.'
'We've seen the posts, the headlines, the hurt and the hate. And while Cierra hasn't seen any of it, we have. And so have people who love her,' the statement began. Her parents continued, 'We're not here to justify or ignore what's surfaced. We understand why people are upset, and we know accountability matters. But what's happening online right now has gone far beyond that. The threats. The cruel messages. The attacks on her family, her friends, even her supporters, it's heartbreaking. It's uncalled for. And no one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistake they've made.'
Ortega's loved ones added that they 'know her heart' and believed she would 'face this with honesty, growth, and grace.' In conclusion, they asked for 'compassion,' 'patience,' and 'basic human decency.' Past Instagram posts surfaced of Ortega using a racial slur towards Chinese people in two separate instances many years apart. One post from January 2015 showed a snap of her at the top of a mountain, using a version of the slur to describe how she smiles. There was also an Instagram story post from February 2023, showing her getting Botox treatments, again using the slur to describe her smile. Many fans were furious and called for her immediate removal from the island.
