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Love Island USA always promises fans a heavy dose of drama between its cast members. As emotions and tensions run high on the dating reality TV show, there’s always something new to follow among its stars.
In the most recent season, however, a very different type of drama has just unfolded. In the middle of Season 7, fans noticed that one cast member, Yulissa Escobar, suddenly disappeared from the episodes—and now we’ve figured out the reason why.
Yulissa Escobar Was Removed From Love Island For Using Racial Slurs
It turns out that Yulissa was unceremoniously pulled from the show when it was discovered that she’d previously said a racial slur several times during a podcast appearance. Though the podcast was recorded prior to Yulissa’s appearance on Love Island, producers removed her from the show once clips of it resurfaced and drew widespread criticism.
Clips from Yulissa’s podcast appearance show her using the N-word multiple times while having a conversation about romantic relationships. She only appeared at the very start of Season 7 before being removed, and her absence going forward was only briefly addressed by the show, with the announcer simply noting that she had left the villa.
It wasn’t long before news about the reason why Yulissa was ousted from the show reached the internet, and viewers were understandably upset to hear about her poor past behavior. Yulissa took to her personal Instagram page to share a formal apology. In her note, she explained that she wasn’t aware of the “weight” behind her word choice at the time:
First, I want to apologize for using a word I had no right in using. Podcast clips from years ago have recently resurfaced, and I want to address it directly. In those clips, I used a word I never should’ve used, a racial slur. I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it. I wasn’t trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn’t excuse impact. And the impact of that word is real. It’s tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use.
“I’ve changed a lot since then, not just in how I speak, but in how I show up, how I carry myself, and how I honor the experiences of others,” Yulissa said. “Growth means recognizing when you were wrong, even if it’s uncomfortable, and choosing to move forward with humility and accountability,” she added.
Fans Are Accusing Yulissa Of Faking Her Apology
Despite Yulissa’s official apology, it seems that some fans aren’t entirely satisfied. For one, some have pointed out that her apology almost feels too formal—that is, they question whether Yulissa actually wrote it herself, or whether it was written by someone else or, worse still, by AI entirely.
Some of Yulissa’s followers also pointed out that, based on how brashly Yulissa spoke on the podcast, they didn’t buy the sincerity of her words now. “You used it confidently and you are not forgiven,” wrote one follower. “You did know the history. You’re old enough, 27. No excuses,” shared another.
“Girl at your grown age you don’t know the weight of it? the history behind it? bye 😭” added yet another. Trying to reclaim her narrative, Yulissa doubled down, noting in the later paragraphs of her statement that her words were truly her own:
There have also been fake statements circulating, things written or said by others that don’t reflect me or my heart. I want to clarify that this is my voice and my words. I don’t need anyone to speak for me. I’m choosing to speak for myself because I take full ownership of my actions. Do not listen to the fake statements. This is my official statement. This is me, speaking directly to you.
The majority of fans don’t seem ready to let Yulissa off the hook just yet. Some of them even took the opportunity to poke fun at her apology. “I know ChatGPT when I see it,” commented one user. “[Your] apology was longer than ur stay at the villa 😂😂” teased another. Others also pointed out inaccuracies in her statement; while Yulissa claimed her inappropriate remarks were from “years ago,” the podcast clips are actually dated from late 2024.
Though Yulissa’s time in the villa has come to an end, things are just getting started for the rest of the cast members. Season 7 kicked off on June 3rd, and the hopeful singles will continue to participate in challenges and see if they’re successful in finding love and fighting for the $100,000 prize money at the end of the journey.
