A contestant on Love Island USA has been dismissed from the show just days before the premiere of its eighth season, after videos emerged showing the individual using a racial slur. Vasana Montgomery, 25, from Beaverton, Oregon, will no longer appear on the series, a Peacock spokesperson confirmed.
The spokesperson stated that the videos, in which Montgomery uses the N-word, appear to have been privately owned and were not shared publicly until after her announcement, making them inaccessible for vetting prior to her removal. This marks the third consecutive year that the show has faced a similar controversy.
In 2025, Yulissa Escobar was removed from Season 7 after a clip surfaced of her repeatedly using the same slur. Later that season, Cierra Ortega was also dismissed for using an offensive racial slur against Asians. Both incidents were addressed on air, with Ortega later releasing an 'accountability video' rather than an apology.
The Love Island USA Instagram page recently posted a plea for viewers to 'keep it kind, keep it positive' as the new cast prepares to debut. The remaining islanders for Season 8 include 11 contestants from across the US and one from Birmingham, England. The season premieres on June 2 on Peacock.
