Love Island USA has dismissed a cast member just days before the premiere of its eighth season, following the emergence of videos in which she used a racial slur.
Contestant Removed After Resurfaced Videos
Vasana Montgomery, a contestant on the upcoming season of Love Island USA, has been removed from the show after two private videos surfaced online showing her using the n-word. The incident comes less than a week before the season is set to debut on Peacock on June 2.
Peacock, the streaming platform that airs the series, confirmed the removal in a statement. The network explained that the videos were shared privately and were not uncovered during the initial vetting process for cast members. "These videos were not seen during our standard background checks, but upon learning of them, we took immediate action," a Peacock spokesperson said.
Second Consecutive Year of Similar Incidents
This is the second year in a row that a Love Island USA contestant has been fired before the season premiere due to resurfaced videos containing racial slurs. Last season, Yulissa Escobar was removed from the show for using the n-word. Additionally, Cierra Ortega left the show after a video surfaced in which she used a racist term for Asian people.
The recurring issue has raised questions about the show's vetting procedures and the responsibility of production companies in screening contestants' online histories. Love Island USA has not yet announced a replacement for Montgomery, but the season is expected to proceed as planned.
Fans have expressed mixed reactions on social media, with some applauding the swift action and others calling for more thorough background checks to prevent such incidents in the future.
