SOUTH AFRICA WORLD CUP SQUAD DELAYED AFTER VISA ISSUES, SET TO DEPART MONDAY AHEAD OF OPENING MATCH IN MEXICO CITY . (PHOTO).
A “Love Island USA” cast member has been removed from the upcoming Season 8 lineup before the show has even premiered, following the resurfacing of controversial videos online.
After the reality dating series revealed its new cast on Thursday, social media users began reviewing the contestants’ past online activity. Two videos soon began circulating that appeared to show cast member Vasana Montgomery using the N-word on camera — once while singing and another time while reacting during an arcade game.
By Friday, just days ahead of the season’s scheduled premiere, Montgomery had been dropped from the cast. Montgomery did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The streaming platform confirmed Montgomery will no longer appear on the show, stating that the videos in question had only resurfaced online after the cast announcement was made.
“Love Island USA” follows a group of singles living together in a villa over several weeks as they form romantic connections and compete to stay coupled up. New arrivals, often referred to as “bombshells,” are introduced throughout the season, adding new dynamics and tension.
The U.S. version of the British dating format is filmed in real time and airs multiple nights per week. Once a relatively niche series, it surged in popularity in 2024, with its seventh season becoming the platform’s most-watched original season on record, drawing billions of minutes viewed.
With that growth has come increased online attention and scrutiny, as fans closely examine contestants’ behavior, backgrounds, and personal lives. Islanders are isolated during filming without access to social media, but often face intense reactions once they exit the villa.
Concerns over online harassment have escalated in recent seasons, prompting public reminders from the show’s platform encouraging respectful behavior from viewers. Despite those messages, online commentary has continued to intensify around cast members.
Montgomery’s removal comes after previous seasons saw contestants taken out of the show following resurfaced videos and posts involving the use of racial slurs. In earlier cases, cast members were removed after old podcast clips and social media content prompted backlash.
As of Sunday, the show had not publicly commented further on Montgomery’s exit or announced a replacement for the Season 8 cast.
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