Vasana Montgomery has apologized after being removed from Love Island USA before Season 8 even premiered.
The 25-year-old former contestant posted a statement to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, June 3, addressing resurfaced videos from her teenage years in which she used a racial slur. People reported that Montgomery was pulled from the cast three days before the new season launched on Peacock.
“There is no excuse for it, and I am deeply sorry,” Montgomery wrote, according to People.
The apology arrived one day after Season 8 premiered without her, turning what could have been a normal cast introduction into the show’s first major controversy of the season.
Montgomery Said She Takes Full Responsibility
Montgomery said the videos were from her teen years and acknowledged that her words caused harm.
“I am embarrassed and disappointed by my words,” she wrote in the statement. “I take full responsibility for what I said and understand why it has hurt and upset people.”
She said she has grown since the videos were filmed and has tried to educate herself about the impact of language.
Montgomery also wrote that growth does not erase the mistake and that she was not asking anyone to excuse it.
The Videos Surfaced After the Cast Announcement
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Montgomery had been announced as part of the Season 8 cast before the controversy reached the public.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the Peacock series parted ways with Montgomery days after unveiling its new Islanders. The outlet described her as a beauty technician based in Beaverton, Oregon.
The Times reported that one video showed Montgomery rapping along to a song and saying the slur. The outlet also reported, citing TMZ and Variety, that another video appeared to show her using the slur while playing an arcade game.
A source familiar with production told the Los Angeles Times that the videos appeared to come from a private account and were not published until after the cast announcement. The source said that if the videos were private, they would not have been visible during the show’s vetting process.
Love Island USA Had Already Asked Fans to Keep the Season Respectful
The controversy landed after Love Island USA had already posted a message asking viewers to keep the season positive.
People reported that the show shared a statement on Instagram before the cast announcement, telling fans that the villa and the community should be spaces where people feel safe and respected.
The message asked viewers to keep reactions, opinions, and debates positive as the new season began.
That request now sits next to a familiar problem for the franchise: old social media behavior changing the cast before viewers even meet someone onscreen.
This Is Not the Show’s First Racial-Slur Controversy
Montgomery’s removal follows similar controversies from Season 7.
People reported that Yulissa Escobar was removed during Season 7 after videos surfaced of her using the same slur in podcast clips. Cierra Ortega also exited later that season after past use of a racial slur aimed at Chinese people came to light.
The Los Angeles Times described Montgomery as the third Love Island USA contestant in two years to face backlash over apparent use of a racial slur.
Season 8 is now moving forward without Montgomery. People reported that the show airs Thursdays through Tuesdays on Peacock, with Ariana Madix returning as host.
For Montgomery, the public step is the apology. She said there was no excuse for the language she used, said she takes responsibility, and said she is sorry to anyone she hurt or disappointed.