“Love Island USA” Contestant Dropped Before Premiere After N-Word Videos Surface
Love Island USA Season 8 premieres June 2 on Peacock — and it's already down one contestant.
Vasana Montgomery, 25, a business owner from Beaverton, Oregon, has been removed from the cast after videos surfaced online showing her allegedly using the N-word. The announcement came just two days after the Season 8 cast was publicly revealed, leaving the show scrambling to adjust its lineup days before its premiere.
According to TMZ, two videos circulated online after the cast announcement. In the first, Montgomery appears to say "Knock knock, n—" while playing what looks like a shooting game at an arcade. In the second, she is shown in a car rapping along to a song that uses the word — specifically, 6ix9ine's verse on A Boogie Wit da Hoodie's "Swervin." Both videos appear to have originally been posted to private accounts and were not publicly available during Peacock's vetting process, meaning they were surfaced specifically after Montgomery was announced as a cast member.
Montgomery has not issued a public statement. Peacock has not commented beyond confirming her removal.
A Pattern the Show Can't Ignore
This is the second consecutive year that a Love Island USA contestant has been pulled from the show for using the same slur — and the third removal for racial comments in two seasons.
In June 2025, Yulissa Escobar was removed from the villa during the second episode of Season 7 after a clip surfaced of her repeatedly using the N-word. Escobar later issued an apology, saying she had used the word "ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight." She later walked back elements of that apology on social media. Later in Season 7, Cierra Ortega exited after using a racist term for Asian people, claiming she had no idea it was a slur.
Three removals in two seasons for racial slurs represents an uncomfortable pattern for a show that brands itself around inclusivity and connection.
Who Vasana Montgomery Is
Montgomery was announced as part of the Season 8 cast on May 29. She is the owner of Vanity Square Studios, a beauty salon in Salem, Oregon, that offers permanent makeup, lash extensions, facials, tattoos, and bridal services. She launched the business in 2020 after graduating from an esthetics program. In a promo video for the show, she described herself as "the full package" and said her friends would "show you the world map" if asked about her type.
Season 8 Still on Track
Love Island USA Season 8 premieres as scheduled on June 2 at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock, hosted by Ariana Madix and narrated by Iain Stirling. New episodes will air daily during premiere week, followed by daily episodes except Wednesdays for the remainder of the season. The show will proceed with its adjusted cast.
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