Love Island USA Removes Another Contestant Over Racial Slur Controversy
Alannah Keyser becomes the second Love Island USA contestant this season to be removed from the villa following the surfacing of old social media posts containing a racial slur.
Love Island USA Ousts Second Contestant Over Historic Racist Posts
Reality dating series Love Island USA has removed yet another participant from its villa after past social media content resurfaced, showing contestant Alannah Keyser apparently using a racial slur. Her exit marks the second removal of this kind during the current season, raising fresh questions about the show's vetting procedures.
What Led to Keyser's Removal?
Keyser entered the Love Island USA villa as part of the show's signature mid-season shake-up known as Casa Amor — a segment in which new contestants, dubbed "bombshells," arrive to test the loyalty of existing couples. She had been part of the cast since Sunday before her abrupt departure on Thursday.
The footage and screenshots that triggered her exit reportedly originated from a private social media account. The material — which included a video of Keyser appearing to lip-sync the n-word in a song, along with an Instagram comment and a Snapchat message containing the same slur — was not publicly accessible prior to her joining the show. As a result, it was not caught during broadcaster Peacock's standard background screening process, according to sources cited by outlets including Variety.
Keyser had only a brief presence in Thursday's episode, appearing in conversation with a male contestant during the first 20 minutes, followed by two short non-speaking appearances. Shortly after, the show's narrator confirmed her departure with the simple announcement: "Alannah has left Casa Amor." She has yet to publicly address the situation.
A Recurring Issue for Love Island USA
Keyser's removal is not an isolated incident. Earlier this season, Vasana Montgomery was pulled from the lineup before she even set foot in the villa, after videos emerged showing her using the same racial slur on two separate occasions. Montgomery subsequently issued a public apology via Instagram, stating: "In those videos, I used a racial slur. There is no excuse for it, and I am deeply sorry. I am embarrassed and disappointed by my words. I take full responsibility for what I said and understand why it has hurt and upset people."
Season Seven Saw Similar Controversies
The pattern extends beyond the current season. During Love Island USA's seventh series, two contestants were also removed under comparable circumstances.
Yulissa Escobar was asked to leave after recordings from a podcast surfaced in which she used a racial slur. In a TikTok post following her exit, Escobar acknowledged her wrongdoing, saying: "I get it. I said a word that I should have not said. I wish I would have never said that. I am sorry that I said that word."
Also during that season, Cierra Ortega departed the villa after using a racist term directed at Asian people. Ortega later offered a public apology, claiming she "genuinely had no idea" the term she had used was considered offensive.
Ongoing Questions About Vetting Standards
The repeated nature of these removals has drawn attention to the challenge of thoroughly screening contestants, particularly when offensive content is hidden behind private accounts or resurfaced only after a person gains public visibility. As Love Island USA continues to grow in popularity, the pressure on production teams and broadcasting partners like Peacock to implement more rigorous vetting methods is likely to intensify.
The show has not made an official statement addressing the systemic nature of these incidents or whether changes to its screening process are planned.
