Love Island USA Cuts Vasana Montgomery From Premiere

Vasana Montgomery, 25, has been removed from Love Island USA season 8’s premiere on Monday, June 2, after two resurfaced videos allegedly show her using the n-word. Her casting was unveiled May 28, and the decision comes as fans push for tighter vetting after

When Love Island USA season 8 is set to hit Peacock on Monday, June 2, Vasana Montgomery won’t be walking into the villa.

The 25-year-old was cut from the premiere after two resurfaced social media videos where she is seen using the n-word. In one clip, she’s purportedly singing along to a song that contains the slur. In another, she allegedly says “knock knock, n*****” while playing an arcade game.

The videos had not been vetted by Love Island producers before her casting because both were privately owned. They later leaked publicly after her inclusion was announced as part of the official cast on Thursday. May 28. prompting a wave of fans calling for her removal from the Peacock dating competition.

Vasana’s abrupt exit lands amid growing scrutiny of how the show handles resurfaced language controversy. Love Island USA faced two similar scandals in 2025.

In season 7. narrator Iain Stirling announced in the second episode that islander Yulissa Escobar “left the villa” after podcast clips of her allegedly using racial slurs circulated online. Yulissa, 28, later addressed the incident in an Instagram post dated June 6, 2025. She apologized for using a word she “had no right” to use. writing that podcast clips from years ago had “recently resurfaced. ” and that she used the slur “ignorantly. not fully understanding the weight. history. or pain behind it.” She added that “intention doesn’t excuse impact. ” and said the impact of the word is tied to “generations of trauma.”.

A separate case followed the next month involving Cierra Ortega. She exited Love Island over resurfaced posts where she allegedly used an offensive term for Asian people. Cierra, 26, later insisted she was not aware the term she used was offensive. In an Instagram video on July 9. 2025—about 48 hours after she returned to the U.S.—she said she wanted to speak “without being highly emotional” because she is “not the victim in the situation. ” and apologized to “the entire Asian community.” She also said she was “very naively using an incredibly offensive and derogatory term. ” and told viewers. “I am deeply. truly. honestly. so sorry.”.

For Vasana Montgomery, the timing is particularly sharp. She was introduced as part of the cast unveiled May 28. and in a pre-release teaser she boasted. “I think I am the full package.” She added. “I own a business; I live alone; I have a dog. ” and said that if friends described her type. they’d “show you the world map.” In the days leading up to the announcement. Love Island also shared a statement asking viewers not to engage in “negativity” about the cast. saying the Villa “runs on good vibes” and that the community should keep the conversation kind and positive.

Now, as Love Island USA prepares to premiere Monday, June 2, Peacock has been reached for comment.

The sequence of these cases is hard to miss: each time, resurfaced audio or posts have become public after casting, and the show’s timeline has left viewers and fans reacting quickly—then demanding answers about how vetting works before someone arrives at the villa.

Love Island USA Vasana Montgomery season 8 Peacock June 2 premiere n-word slur controversy Yulissa Escobar Cierra Ortega Iain Stirling