The program “Love Island USA” removed participant Vasana Montgomery from the list of contestants for season 8, days before the premiere. The decision comes after the release of a video in which the businesswoman apparently uses a racist term, generating immediate repercussions on social media and among fans of the reality show.
A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed Montgomery’s departure on Sunday, May 31, 2026, with the season premiere scheduled for Tuesday, June 2. The cast’s withdrawal occurred over the weekend, shortly after Peacock announced the 12 participants on Thursday, May 28th.
Vasana Montgomery removed from the show before premiere
Businesswoman Vasana Montgomery, 25, was formally removed from the program “Love Island USA” after the repercussions of a video. The images, which circulated online over the weekend, show Montgomery apparently singing a song that contained a racist term. Esta controversy erupted at a critical time, just days after the official cast reveal and impending release of the eighth season.
The TMZ portal was the first to report the participant’s removal, highlighting the agility with which such information is disseminated. USA TODAY, a wide-reaching media outlet, sought contact with representatives of Peacock, the broadcaster responsible for showing the reality show, to obtain an official position on what happened. Montgomery’s departure marks a troubled start to the show’s new season, which has faced similar challenges in previous editions.
Perfil from businesswoman Vasana Montgomery
Natural of Beaverton, Oregon, Vasana Montgomery was one of the 12 selected to compose the initial cast of the 8th season of “Love Island USA”. On her profile on the TikTok platform, the participant described herself as a “Thai/Lao girl”, highlighting her ethnic origins. Sua’s inclusion in the program promised to bring cultural diversity to the dynamics of the reality show.
Durante his presentation for “Love Island”, Montgomery highlighted his personal and professional qualities. Ela called herself “the complete package”, mentioning owning a business and living independently. The beautician, trained in the area, owns studios located in the city of Sale. Esses establishments house a variety of specialized professionals, including tattoo artists, eyelash extension technicians, makeup artists and other specialists in cosmetic treatments, reflecting its entrepreneurial spirit.
In his introduction video, Vasana Montgomery also commented on his relationship preferences. “If you asked my friends what my type was, they would show you the world map,” he said, indicating a wide range of interests and an open mind to different cultures and people profiles. Expectations surrounding his participation were high, considering his personality and professional background.
Histórico of racial controversies in Love Island USA
Vasana Montgomery’s removal is not an isolated incident in the history of “Love Island USA”. The 7th season, aired between June and July 2025, had already been marked by similar events that resulted in the departure of two participants. Previous controversies involved the discovery of the use of racist slurs by cast members in their past online activities, sparking discussions about the selection of participants and their expected behavior.
In general, each season of the program usually sees part of the cast leave for various reasons. Contudo, the withdrawals without detailed explanations in Season 7 were directly linked to racist posts and comments. The recurrence of such incidents, now in season 8 with Vasana Montgomery, raises questions about participants’ background check processes and the program’s stance on discriminatory speech.
Season 7 Casos: Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega
In Season 7, two contestants were removed from “Love Island USA” due to controversies involving racist terms. The departures were treated with little mention in the episodes, leaving viewers without many details.
The dynamics of removals included:
- Yulissa Escobar:Integrante from the initial cast, his departure occurred without ceremony and with little explanation from the production. Narrator Iain Stirling informed viewers only that “Yulissa has left the house.” Antes Even from the show’s debut, Escobar faced significant criticism. Diversos excerpts from a podcast in which she had used a racist term came to light, resulting in strong negative repercussions. Posteriormente, she published a written apology, acknowledging the error and stating that she had no right to use the word in question.
- Cierra Ortega:Semanas After Escobar’s affair, Cierra Ortega, who formed one of the season’s most popular couples with Nic Vansteenberghe, was also removed from the show. Iain Stirling explained Ortega’s departure as “due to a personal situation.” Contudo, in the week leading up to his departure, screenshots of supposed recent posts on Instagram surfaced. Nessas publications, the participant, then 25 years old, allegedly used a racist term aimed at people of Asian descent, making a negative reference in their eyes. Poucos Days after leaving the house, Ortega recorded a nearly five-minute “accountability video” in which he publicly apologized to “the entire Asian community.” Ela stated that he was unaware of the pain and harm the word carried, stating that he would never have used it if he had known of its history and impact.
Season 7’s experiences highlight a recurring pattern of controversies involving participants’ past behavior. Esses incidents continue to guide discussions about the responsibility of reality shows in selecting their casts. The program’s production remains attentive to the public repercussion and the impacts that such situations can generate on the image of the television attraction.
Diretrizes of the program and repercussions
Vasana Montgomery’s removal reaffirms “Love Island USA’s” stance regarding behavior considered inappropriate or offensive, especially in a scenario of increasing social sensitivity. Embora The show has not issued a detailed official statement regarding Montgomery’s departure to date, the removal action reflects a zero-tolerance policy for discriminatory speech as seen in previous seasons. Communication of such decisions is often brief, prioritizing program continuity.
The agility in “Love Island USA”‘s response to this new controversy suggests an attempt to mitigate damage to the reality show’s image. The production seeks to prevent events such as Montgomery or those of the 7th season, with Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega, from damaging public perception. The program is shown by Peacock and seeks to keep its audience engaged, while dealing with the demands of an audience increasingly attentive to social and ethical issues.