Peacock\/Ben Symons” src=https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/1eSPKmDbojcZEs7LUqN0pg–\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MzE-\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/the_huffington_post_584\/094cc530b9386d40341ee2693ddc5bb8 data-src=https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/1eSPKmDbojcZEs7LUqN0pg–\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MzE-\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/the_huffington_post_584\/094cc530b9386d40341ee2693ddc5bb8><\/p>\n
“Love Island USA” Season 7 contestant Yulissa Escobar was abruptly removed from the Peacock series during Episode 2. Peacock\/Ben Symons<\/p>\n
This article includes material from HuffPost\u2019s weekly culture and entertainment newsletter, The Culture Catchall. Click here to subscribe<\/a>.<\/p>\n The new \u201cLove Island USA\u201d cast entered the villa this week, but one islander has already made her exit due to a scandal.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Although Escobar was seen sharing a bed with her castmate, Ace Greene \u2014 whom she coupled up with during the premiere \u2014 a narrator\u2019s announcement 18 minutes into the episode revealed she \u201chas left the villa.\u201d Her absence was noticed again toward the end of Episode 2 when Greene was declared single among the remaining couples.<\/p>\n Representatives for \u201cLove Island USA\u201d confirmed Escobar\u2019s departure to HuffPost.<\/p>\n No explanation was provided for her sudden exit. However, days before the show returned, \u201cLove Island USA\u201d sleuths resurfaced clips of the 27-year-old using the N-word on two separate podcasts, TMZ reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some \u201cLove Island USA\u201d viewers vowed to boot Escobar from the show during Season 7\u2019s 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\u2019s racial remarks would\u2019ve (and should\u2019ve) come up<\/a> during the show\u2019s allegedly\u00a0extensive background checks<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fans flooded Escobar\u2019s Instagram comments after the scandalous clips surfaced, and even more so after her exit was announced. Some even took to social media to celebrate:<\/p>\n Yulissa thought she was gonna stay in my villa saying the n word LOL. Baby haven\u2019t you heard it\u2019s Black Island now! \ud83e\udd2d pic.twitter.com\/nGZqd9qSdm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 \ud835\udd43\ud835\udd3c\ud835\udd3c | TRK \ud83d\udc9c\u2660\ufe0f (@tiffanyspawn) June 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Others cracked jokes about how producers ushered her off the show:<\/p>\n The Miami native has yet to address her comments or her departure from \u201cLove Island USA.\u201d But according to TMZ, one of her friends, Maria, tried to defend her in Instagram comments, writing, \u201clol… y\u2019all act like you never said the N word before, stop being so f***ing sensitive.\u201d<\/p>\n This wouldn\u2019t be the first time a contestant got kicked off \u201cLove Island\u201d outside of eliminations. <\/p>\n Before the upcoming Season 12 premiere of the UK installment, ITV\u00a0confirmed to Deadline<\/a> that contestant Kyle Ashman would not be entering the villa<\/a> for \u201cpersonal reasons.\u201d Multiple reports<\/a> suggested it was due to Ashman being allegedly involved in a machete attack incident. Noah Purvis, a contestant on Season 2 of \u201cLove Island USA,\u201d\u00a0told E! News<\/a> that he was eliminated from the show after producers learned he once appeared in pornographic films. Season 3\u2019s Leslie Golden got the boot as well for reportedly bringing a cannabis vape into the villa<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, this appears to be the first time an islander has been ejected for a racist controversy, one that fans weren\u2019t going to let up on.<\/p>\n Much like other dating shows, race has long been a contentious issue for the \u201cLove Island\u201d franchise, particularly in casting decisions. The swift action taken to address Escobar\u2019s actions suggests that \u201cLove Island\u201d is learning to listen to fans and course-correct appropriately. But, hopefully, this doesn\u2019t mean this type of behavior will only be punished once fans bring it to their attention.<\/p>\n Reality show audiences have long warned other shows about letting racist incidents slip through the cracks. Matt James\u2019 season of \u201cThe Bachelor,\u201d which marked him the first Black bachelor, experienced a similar racial incident<\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n