Peacock removes contestant from upcoming season after old clips surface showing the 25-year-old using inappropriate language.
Love Island USA has removed one of its original cast members just days before the Season 8 premiere. Vasana Montgomery, a 25-year-old salon owner from Beaverton, Oregon, got kicked off the show after old videos showed her using a racial slur.
The videos appeared online on May 30, only two days after Peacock announced the lineup of 12 contestants. One clip shows Montgomery rapping along to a song that contains the offensive word. Another video catches her at an arcade, where she yells the slur while a friend plays a shooting game.
Production sources confirmed that the videos were privately held before the cast announcement. The show’s vetting process did not find them because they were not public when background checks happened.
The Salem Business Owner’s Background
Montgomery runs Vanity Square Studios in Salem, Oregon. The salon specializes in tattoos, lashes, brows, and permanent makeup. She started her first business in 2020 after graduating from Spectrum Advanced Esthetics in 2019 as a two-time honor roll student.
She later attended tattoo school before opening her current studio. In 2025, her business won Best of the Willamette Valley. Outside of work, Montgomery built a following on TikTok under the handle “Vasanaeats,” where she posts restaurant reviews and food content.
In her Love Island USA introduction video, Montgomery called herself the “full package.”
“I think I am the full package. I own a business; I live alone; I have a dog. If you were to ask my friends what my type is, they’d show you the world map.”
Her social media profiles describe her as a “Thai/Lao girl.” She has not yet responded publicly to her removal from the show.
How The Videos Came To Light
An Instagram page called The Reality Rundown posted the videos on May 30. Within hours, backlash spread across social media platforms. Fans called for the show to take action, and production moved quickly to cut ties with the contestant.
One video shows Montgomery in a car, singing along to a track. Another clip captures her at an arcade saying, “knock, knock, (expletive).” Both clips contain the same racial slur.
TMZ was first to report her removal from the cast. A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed on May 31 that Montgomery would no longer appear on the show.
It remains unclear if Montgomery had already entered the Love Island USA villa in Fiji before the videos surfaced. The show shoots in real time, with episodes airing about two days after filming.
Second Straight Year Of Similar Issues
This marks the second year in a row that Love Island USA has removed a contestant for using racial slurs. During Season 7, which aired in summer 2025, two cast members left under similar circumstances.
Yulissa Escobar, an original Season 7 cast member, got removed after podcast clips showed her using the N-word. The show’s narrator simply told viewers, “Yulissa has left the villa.” She later posted a written apology, saying she used a word she had no right to use.
Weeks later, Cierra Ortega left the show after old social media posts resurfaced. Those posts showed her using a racial slur against the Asian community. Ortega posted a nearly five-minute accountability video after leaving the villa.
“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.” – Cierra Ortega’s apology
Despite these controversies, Season 7 became Peacock’s most-watched original series. It gathered 18.4 billion minutes of watch time over six weeks.
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What This Means For Season 8
Love Island USA Season 8 is scheduled to premiere on Peacock on Tuesday, June 2. The show has not confirmed whether Montgomery will be replaced before the launch.
Another Season 8 contestant, Kenzie Annis, also faced criticism after photos surfaced. The pictures showed her posing with people wearing MAGA clothing and standing near a Trump flag. Her father, Tim Annis, told TMZ that neither his daughter nor the family supports President Donald Trump.
Ariana Madix returns as host for the new season. The show follows the usual format where contestants pair up or risk elimination. Cameras roll nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Public voting helps decide who stays, and the winning couple receives $100,000.
The Love Island USA production team released a statement on Instagram 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. This is a space for fun, not negativity.”
Montgomery’s removal leaves the show with one fewer bombshell as it heads into the Season 8 premiere. Peacock has not provided additional details about the casting change.
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