‘Love Island USA' Has Its First Season 7 Scandal And, Of Course, It Involves Racism
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The new 'Love Island USA' cast entered the villa this week, but one islander has already made her exit due to a scandal.
On Wednesday, one day after the hit Peacock dating series kicked off Season 7 with 10 new singles, viewers noticed that contestant Yulissa Escobar was oddly absent at one point during Episode 2.
Although Escobar was seen sharing a bed with her castmate, Ace Greene — whom she coupled up with during the premiere — a narrator's announcement 18 minutes into the episode revealed she 'has left the villa.' Her absence was noticed again toward the end of Episode 2 when Greene was declared single among the remaining couples.
Representatives for 'Love Island USA' confirmed Escobar's departure to HuffPost.
No explanation was provided for her sudden exit. However, days before the show returned, 'Love Island USA' sleuths resurfaced clips of the 27-year-old using the N-word on two separate podcasts, TMZ reported.
Some 'Love Island USA' viewers vowed to boot Escobar from the show during Season 7's first fan vote on account of the revelation, but it seems Peacock beat them to the punch. Perhaps to avoid any further scrutiny for an incident that seemed avoidable, as some pointed out that Escobar's racial remarks would've (and should've) come up during the show's allegedly extensive background checks.
Fans flooded Escobar's Instagram comments after the scandalous clips surfaced, and even more so after her exit was announced. Some even took to social media to celebrate:
To the person that found that clip of Yulissa on that podcast. Thank you for your service omg!!! pic.twitter.com/5L6AYveReD
— Film&TV Rants (@FilmTVRants) June 5, 2025
Yulissa kicked off, yall gonna learn to stop saying the n-word one way or another #LoveIslandUSApic.twitter.com/QIY9Ca3Bk5
— Manibaby ⚖️♎️ (@manixxbaby) June 5, 2025
Yulissa thought she was gonna stay in my villa saying the n word LOL. Baby haven't you heard it's Black Island now! 🤭 pic.twitter.com/nGZqd9qSdm
— 𝕃𝔼𝔼 | TRK 💜♠️ (@tiffanyspawn) June 4, 2025
didn't realize Yulissa was gone until Ace said he was single now #LoveIslandusapic.twitter.com/fjvFfWrqJo
— nala🧸 (@midnightxnc) June 5, 2025
Others cracked jokes about how producers ushered her off the show:
how the producers woke Yulissa up to kick her out the villa #LoveIslandUSApic.twitter.com/ZqqYeQZvxy
— KEEKS✨ (@KeyonnaMarisha) June 5, 2025
the producers to yulissa in the still of the night pic.twitter.com/l9GQ03t0GS
— love island usa (@ariiswatching) June 5, 2025
Yulissa when she woke up: #LoveIslandUSApic.twitter.com/DpJsP90Wqc
— CXVIII (@1llicitBuck) June 5, 2025
producers to yulissa in the middle of the night #LoveIslandUSApic.twitter.com/UzS1T6DUiY
— jay 𐚁 despises beyoncé (@NOTMYJOBFLO) June 5, 2025
production kicking yulissa out in the middle of the night: #LoveIslandUSApic.twitter.com/UPOOfW2aj1
— ' (@kozylockez) June 5, 2025
'Welcome to Love Island USA, Yulissa has left the villa' etfhugchyrdx the way no one gave af even the narrator #LoveIslandUSApic.twitter.com/WEdtgifFVk
— Jake from State Farm knows I exist (@SeniTelly) June 5, 2025
The Miami native has yet to address her comments or her departure from 'Love Island USA.' But according to TMZ, one of her friends, Maria, tried to defend her in Instagram comments, writing, 'lol... y'all act like you never said the N word before, stop being so f***ing sensitive.'
This wouldn't be the first time a contestant got kicked off 'Love Island' outside of eliminations.
Before the upcoming Season 12 premiere of the UK installment, ITV confirmed to Deadline that contestant Kyle Ashman would not be entering the villa for 'personal reasons.' Multiple reports suggested it was due to Ashman being allegedly involved in a machete attack incident. Noah Purvis, a contestant on Season 2 of 'Love Island USA,' told E! News that he was eliminated from the show after producers learned he once appeared in pornographic films. Season 3's Leslie Golden got the boot as well for reportedly bringing a cannabis vape into the villa.
However, this appears to be the first time an islander has been ejected for a racist controversy, one that fans weren't going to let up on.
Much like other dating shows, race has long been a contentious issue for the 'Love Island' franchise, particularly in casting decisions. The swift action taken to address Escobar's actions suggests that 'Love Island' is learning to listen to fans and course-correct appropriately. But, hopefully, this doesn't mean this type of behavior will only be punished once fans bring it to their attention.
Reality show audiences have long warned other shows about letting racist incidents slip through the cracks. Matt James' season of 'The Bachelor,' which marked him the first Black bachelor, experienced a similar racial incident when controversial photos of winner Rachael Kirkconnell attending an antebellum-themed college party resurfaced. Previous host Chris Harrison came under fire for defending Kirkconnell amid the controversy. He then stepped aside from his hosting role in the franchise and later made a complete exit.
Now, will this be the last racial incident we ever see on reality TV? Sadly, probably not. However, in this era of accountability, viewers are unlikely to let these matters go unaddressed for long. And they shouldn't.
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