Love Island USA's Vasana Montgomery Addresses Racism Controversy After Shocking Removal From Show
Vasana Montgomery is breaking her silence following her shocking removal from the cast of Love Island USA season 8.
Montgomery was revealed as one of the new Islanders on Thursday, May 28, but her time with the franchise was cut short just two days later after videos surfaced online showing her using a racial slur.
The 25-year-old was removed from the cast before filming began, meaning she does not appear in any episodes of the hit dating series.
She addressed the controversy for the first time via her Instagram Story on Wednesday, June 3.
"I want to address a couple videos from my teen years that have recently resurfaced," Montgomery wrote. "In those videos, I used a racial slur. I am embarrassed and disappointed by my words."
"I take full responsibility for what I said and understand why it has hurt and upset people," she continued. "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."
"That growth does not erase my mistake, and 1am not asking anyone to excuse it," she added. "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."
The clips in question were found on Montgomery's private social media accounts, meaning producers likely weren't aware during the casting process.
According to TMZ, one clip allegedly showed Montgomery say a racial slur "while rapping along to a song." In another, she reportedly "yells it out while her friend is playing an arcade game."
Love Island USA season 7 faced similar issues when Yulissa Escobar exited shortly after the season began after clips of her using racial slurs on a podcast circulated online.
Cierra Ortega was removed later on in the season, also due to a resurfaced social media post that showed her using a racial slur. Both women issued apologies for their behavior.
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 6:43 PM.