Vasana Montgomery issues an apology for using the racial slur in a resurfaced video, writing, “There is no excuse.”

*Love Island USA *drops contestant for using N-word days before season 8 premiere

Vasana Montgomery issues an apology for using the racial slur in a resurfaced video, writing, "There is no excuse."

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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on June 4, 2026 10:39 a.m. ET

Dropped 'Love Island USA' season 8 contestant Vasana Montgomery. Credit:

Courtesy of Peacock

- *Love Island USA *dropped a contestant days before the season 8 premiere.

- The show has cut Vasana Montgomery after videos of her using the N-word resurfaced.

- This marks the second year in a row that a contestant has been pulled from the cast for using a racial slur.

Days before* **Love Island USA* is set to kick off its eighth season, islander Vasana Montgomery has been pulled from the show for using a racial slur.

The reality dating competition has dropped Montgomery, a 25-year-old business owner from Beaverton, Ore., from its cast, ** has confirmed.

Montgomery's removal from the Peacock series comes two days after the season 8 cast was announced. Following the reveal, two videos of Montgomery using the N-word resurfaced online, prompting immediate backlash.

It is unclear if Montgomery had already entered the *Love Island USA* villa to begin filming for season 8 when she was cut from it. EW has learned that the videos appear to be privately owned and, as such, were not available during the cast vetting process.

In a promo reel for the upcoming season, Montgomery described herself as the "full package" and said her friends would "show you the world map" if they were asked to describe her "type."

The 'Love Island USA' season 8 cast.

Montgomery issued a public apology on June 3, writing in an Instagram Stories post, "I want to address a couple videos from my teen years that have recently resurfaced. In those videos, I used a racial slur. There is no excuse for it, and I am deeply sorry. I am embarrassed and disappointed by my words. I take full responsibility for what I said and understand why it has hurt and upset people."

She continued, "Since then, I have grown a lot as a person and taken the time to educate myself, listen, learn, and better understand the impact that language can have. That growth does not erase my mistake, and I am not asking anyone to excuse it. I believe people should be held accountable for their actions, but I also believe in growth, learning, and becoming better. To anyone I hurt or disappointed, I am truly sorry.”

This is not the first time *Love Island USA* has grappled with such a controversy. In fact, Montgomery's exit marks the second year in a row that a cast member has been ejected from the show at the last minute for using a racial slur.

Last year, contestant Yulissa Escobar was set to compete in season 7, but soon after she entered the villa, clips of her using the N-word reemerged online and she was abruptly pulled from the show. A representative for the show confirmed her departure to EW but did not provide a reason.

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Two days after her ousting, Escobar issued an apology for her use of the racial slur, telling fans on Instagram, "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. And the impact of that word is real. It's tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use."

A month later, another season 7 contestant, Cierra Ortega, was removed from the Villa after sparking identical backlash. In two posts from January 2015 and February 2023, Ortega appeared to use a racial slur referencing the Asian community to describe her smile while getting Botox.

Former 'Love Island USA' contestants Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega.

Ben Symons/PEACOCK (2)

After the videos sparked outrage online, she disappeared from the show, with narrator Iain Stirling announcing that she exited due to a "personal situation."

Ortega later issued an apology for the posts, taking "accountability" for "naively using an incredibly offensive and derogatory term." In a lengthy video, she told fans, "I am deeply, truly, honestly so sorry. I had no idea that the word held as much pain, as much harm, and came with the history that it did, or I never would have used it. I had no ill intention when I was using it, but that's absolutely no excuse because intent doesn't excuse ignorance. It just doesn't."

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Days before Montgomery's season 8 exit, a message on the show's official Instagram page asked fans to be respectful to the Islanders while watching the new season.

"The Villa runs on good vibes, and so does this community," the statement read. "We love seeing your reactions, opinions, and debates, but everyone deserves to feel safe and respected."

"This is a space for fun, not negativity," it continued, "so keep it king, keep it positive, and remember: This is *LOVE Island*!"

*Love Island USA* season 8 premieres June 2 on Peacock.

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