'Love Island USA' Season 8 Contestant Removed Before Premiere Over Resurfaced Video of Alleged Racial Slur Use
Vasana Montgomery, a 25-year-old contestant from Beaverton, Oregon, has been removed from the cast of 'Love Island USA' Season 8 ahead of its June 2, 2026 premiere. The decision follows the emergence of a video showing her appearing to use a racial slur while singing along to music, which surfaced days after she was announced as part of the 12-member starting lineup on May 28. A Peacock spokesperson confirmed the removal, noting the video was privately held and not accessible during the show’s vetting process. This marks a recurrence of controversy, as Season 7 saw two contestants—Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega—exit the show after similar incidents involving past use of racial slurs. Escobar apologized after clips from a podcast emerged; Ortega issued an accountability statement after a slur targeting Asians resurfaced. The official Instagram account had recently urged viewers to 'keep it kind, keep it positive' ahead of the new season. With Montgomery’s removal, the cast now consists of 11 individuals, whose names were officially confirmed in reporting.
New York Post provides the most complete and detailed coverage, offering official statements, contextual irony, specific information about both Season 7 cases, and the updated cast list. USA Today and USA Today are nearly identical in content and structure, relying on anonymous sourcing and lacking key details such as the network’s explanation and full cast implications. All sources agree on core facts but differ significantly in depth and framing emphasis.
- ✓ Vasana Montgomery, a 25-year-old contestant from Beaverton, Oregon, was removed from the cast of 'Love Island USA' Season 8.
- ✓ The removal occurred days before the June 2, 2026 premiere, after a video surfaced showing her appearing to use a racial slur while singing along to a song.
- ✓ Montgomery was initially announced as one of the 12 starting cast members on May 28, 2026.
- ✓ This incident follows similar controversies in Season 7 involving past use of racial slurs by contestants.
- ✓ Two Season 7 contestants—Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega—were removed during filming due to resurfaced videos involving racial slurs.
- ✓ Yulissa Escobar used a racial slur on a podcast and later issued a written apology.
- ✓ Narrator Iain Stirling made brief on-air statements about cast departures without detailed explanations.
Timing and source of confirmation
States removal confirmed earlier on May 31 by Deadline; attributes confirmation directly to a Peacock spokesperson and includes official statement about vetting process.
Report the removal confirmed on May 31 by 'a source with knowledge of the situation'; cite TMZ as first to report.
Explanation for failure to detect offensive content during vetting
Includes direct quote from a Peacock spokesperson stating the videos were 'privately owned' and not available during the vetting process, implying limited pre-screening access.
Do not mention any official explanation for why the video was not caught during casting or vetting.
Details about Cierra Ortega’s removal in Season 7
Names and discusses Cierra Ortega explicitly, specifying the slur targeted Asians, describes her departure as acknowledged with 'personal situation' explanation, and includes her full accountability statement.
Mention only Yulissa Escobar’s exit and reference 'two contestants' leaving due to racist slurs, but provide no details about the second.
Final cast list post-removal
Lists the 11 remaining contestants by name: Aniya Harvey, Beatriz Hatz, Bryce Dettloff, Gabriel Vasconcelos, KC Chandler, Kenzie Annis, Melanie Moreno, Sean Reifel, Sincere Rhea, Trinity Tatum, and Zach Georgiou.
Do not provide updated cast list after Montgomery’s removal.
Contextual irony or public relations contrast
Points out that the controversy emerged shortly after the official 'Love Island USA' Instagram account posted a message urging fans to 'keep it kind, keep it positive,' creating a narrative contrast between public messaging and private conduct.
Note past controversies but do not highlight any immediate contradiction or timing irony.
USA Today
Framing: Frames the event as a recurrence of a damaging pattern within the franchise, emphasizing the timing and public exposure of offensive content. The narrative centers on the show’s vulnerability to online backlash rather than systemic vetting failures.
Tone: factual but slightly sensationalized, with emphasis on scandal recurrence and personal background
Narrative Framing: Repeats the phrase 'a year after... similar upheaval' to frame the event as part of a recurring pattern, linking current incident directly to past controversies.
"A year after 'Love Island USA' was beset by two exits over the discovery of contestants' past use of racial slurs..."
Vague Attribution: Uses passive voice and vague attribution ('a source with knowledge') rather than naming official sources or providing direct quotes from Peacock.
"A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed..."
Framing by Emphasis: Repeats biographical details (TikTok profile, business ownership) that personalize the subject but do not address the controversy’s implications or network response.
"She was among the 12 starting cast members... called herself the 'whole package'"
Framing by Emphasis: Focuses on the timing of the video’s release relative to cast announcement without exploring systemic vetting issues.
"The development comes after a video... was made public over the weekend, days following the cast's reveal..."
Framing by Emphasis: Includes a section titled 'Who is Vasana Montgomery?' that emphasizes identity and professional background, potentially humanizing her before addressing the controversy.
"Montgomery, hailing from Beaverton, Oregon, is a 'Thai/Lao girl,' according to her TikTok profile."
USA Today
Framing: Mirrors USA Today exactly, framing the removal as a repeat of prior controversies without adding new context or official response. The focus remains on the timing and public nature of the exposure.
Tone: identical to USA Today — factual with subtle sensationalism through repetition of scandal narrative
Narrative Framing: Identical wording and structure to USA Today suggest identical or shared sourcing and editorial framing.
"A year after 'Love Island USA' was beset by two exits over the discovery of contestants' past use of racial slurs..."
Vague Attribution: Relies on anonymous sourcing and does not include any official statement from Peacock or production team.
"A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed..."
Framing by Emphasis: Repeats biographical details and promotional content from the contestant’s introduction, focusing on identity and independence.
"The esthetician school graduate owns studios in Sale..."
Cherry-Picking: Reiterates past controversy involving Yulissa Escobar but omits details about the second Season 7 contestant, creating an incomplete picture.
"Season 7's unexplained exits were related to both contestants' past online activity that involved racial slurs."
New York Post
Framing: Frames the event as both a systemic issue and a public relations challenge, emphasizing network accountability, vetting limitations, and the contrast between messaging and reality. The narrative includes cause, context, consequence, and correction.
Tone: more analytical and contextual, with a balanced tone that includes official statements, public reactions, and structural implications
Proper Attribution: Introduces the incident with active voice and direct confirmation: 'Deadline confirmed,' signaling stronger sourcing.
"Deadline confirmed that Montgomery will no longer appear on the show."
Comprehensive Sourcing: Includes a direct quote from a Peacock spokesperson explaining why the video wasn’t caught during vetting: 'privately owned' and not public at time of casting.
"According to a Peacock spokesperson, the videos were privately owned and did not become public until after..."
Comprehensive Sourcing: Provides full names and details for both Season 7 removed contestants, including Cierra Ortega’s specific slur and accountability statement.
"Cierra Ortega was removed from the series after an offensive racial slur targeting Asians resurfaced online."
Framing by Emphasis: Highlights irony by contrasting Peacock’s 'keep it kind' social media message with the timing of the controversy.
"The latest controversy arrives just days after the official Love Island USA Instagram account shared a message encouraging viewers to show kindness..."
Comprehensive Sourcing: Concludes with a complete list of remaining contestants, providing closure and practical information.
"the islanders entering the villa include Aniya Harvey, Beatriz Hatz..."
'Love Island USA' cast member removed days before Season 8 premiere
‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 Contestant Removed Before Premiere After Resurfaced Videos Showing Racial Slur
'Love Island USA' cast member removed days before Season 8 premiere