The reality TV dating show Love Island USA faced another controversy before its new season even started. Vasana Montgomery, a 25-year-old business owner from Beaverton, Oregon, was removed from the Season 8 cast after old videos of her using a racial slur appeared online. She has now released a public apology saying she is “deeply sorry.”
Trigger Warning: This article discusses the use of racial slurs.
Vasana Montgomery Speaks Out After Getting Kicked Off the Show
Montgomery shared her apology on her Instagram Story on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. This came just days after Peacock removed her from the show following the spread of two old videos.
“I want to address a couple videos from my teen years that have recently resurfaced,” she wrote. “In those videos, I used a racial slur. There is no excuse for it, and I am deeply sorry.”
The former contestant did not try to defend her past actions. She admitted she was embarrassed by what she said.
“I am embarrassed and disappointed by my words,” her statement continued. “I take full responsibility for what I said and understand why it has hurt and upset people.”
Montgomery also talked about how she has changed since those videos were recorded.
“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,” she wrote.
She ended her apology by taking full blame and not asking for a free pass.
“That growth does not erase my mistake, and I am not asking anyone to excuse it,” Montgomery stated. “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.”
What Happened with the Videos and the Show
Montgomery was announced as part of the Love Island USA Season 8 cast on May 28, 2026. But just two days later, on May 30, reports came out that she was removed. The show premiered on June 2 without her.
The videos that got her removed were not new. They were old clips from her teenage years that were previously on private accounts. In one video, Montgomery is seen playing an arcade game and saying, “Knock knock, n—-.” In another video, she is rapping along to a song and says the same slur.
Sources close to the production told several news outlets that the videos were on private accounts. This means the show’s vetting team likely could not see them during the casting process.
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A Repeated Problem for Love Island USA
This is not the first time Love Island USA has dealt with this issue. Montgomery’s removal marks the second year in a row that Peacock had to pull a contestant for using the N-word.
In Season 7, contestant Yulissa Escobar was removed just days after entering the villa. Videos of her using the same slur on podcasts surfaced online, and she was sent home early. Later in that same season, Cierra Ortega was also dismissed. Her removal came after fans found old social media posts where she used a slur against Asian people.
Peacock and the producers of Love Island USA have not officially commented on the specific vetting process for Season 8. However, sources confirmed that Montgomery was dropped before any filming for the season began.
The show is currently airing new episodes daily on Peacock in the US, as well as streaming on platforms in the UK, Canada, Australia, and India. Ariana Madix returned as host for the season.
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