{"id":346867,"date":"2026-06-04T19:00:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T19:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/346867\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T19:00:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T19:00:10","slug":"love-island-usa-vasana-montgomery-apologizes-for-racial-slur-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/346867\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Love Island USA’: Vasana Montgomery apologizes for racial-slur video"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A \u201cLove Island USA\u201d contestant says she takes full ownership for the controversial social media videos that cost her a spot<\/a> in the hit reality TV series this week. <\/p>\n

Peacock swiftly dismissed Vasana Montgomery from the Season 8 cast of \u201cLove Island USA\u201d as she faced backlash over recently surfaced social media videos in which she can be seen using a racial slur. In a statement shared to her Instagram stories<\/a> on Wednesday, Montgomery said the videos of her using the N-word were taken during her teen years. \u201cThere is no excuse for it, and I am deeply sorry,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am embarrassed and disappointed by my words,\u201d Montgomery, based in Beaverton, Ore., continued in her post. \u201cI take full responsibility for what I said and understand why it has hurt and upset people.\u201d<\/p>\n

A brief video that circulated on social media last weekend shows Montgomery rapping along to a song and saying the racial slur. She also can be heard saying the N-word while playing a shooting game at an arcade, according to TMZ<\/a> and Variety<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Montgomery is the third \u201cLove Island USA\u201d contestant in two years to face scrutiny for apparently using a racial slur: contestants Cierra Ortega<\/a> and Yulissa Escobar<\/a> also faced consequences over social media posts. <\/p>\n

On Wednesday, Montgomery said she has \u201cgrown a lot as a person\u201d since her teen years and has dedicated time to \u201ceducate myself, listen, learn and better understand the impact that language can have.\u201d She acknowledged that her progress over the years does not undo the mistakes and wrote that she is \u201cnot asking anyone to excuse it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peacock announced last week<\/a> that Montgomery was among the bombshells entering the villa in Fiji for the latest season. On Monday, The Times confirmed that the reality TV series parted ways with Montgomery. A source familiar with \u201cLove Island USA\u201d production said earlier this week that the videos surfaced on social media from a private account and were not published until after the cast announcement. The source also noted that, if the videos were private, they would not have been viewable during Peacock\u2019s vetting process.<\/p>\n

In the cast reveal, Montgomery described herself as \u201cthe full package.\u201d In Wednesday\u2019s statement, Montgomery took a different tone and underlined her belief in accountability but also in \u201cgrowth, learning and becoming better.\u201d She ended her statement: \u201cTo anyone I hurt or disappointed, I am truly sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLove Island USA\u201d Season 8 premiered Tuesday on Peacock, with host and \u201cVanderpump Rules\u201d alumna Ariana Madix back at the helm. The series streams on Peacock at 6 p.m. and airs new episodes daily except on Wednesdays. <\/p>\n