A Full Breakdown of Every ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 Controversy So Far
What To Know
- The Love Island USA Season 8 cast was announced on May 28, before the June 2 premiere.
- Vasana Montgomery was removed from the Love Island USA Season 8 cast.
- Several cast members have faced additional backlash ahead of the premiere.
Love Island USA fans wasted no time diving into the backgrounds of the Season 8 Islanders. Between the cast announcement on May 28 and the new season’s premiere on June 2, several controversies have arisen, most notably leading to the removal of one cast member before filming.
As many Love Island USA viewers know, it’s not the first time an Islander’s past social media posts have come back to haunt them. During Season 7, Yulissa Escobar was dismissed after one day in the villa for using racial slurs in resurfaced podcast clips. Weeks later, Cierra Ortega was the next to be removed for a past social media post using racist language.
Below, we’ve rounded up the backlash surrounding multiple Season 8 cast members ahead of the season premiere.
Vasana Montgomery was dismissed after using a racial slur in videos
On May 30, Peacock revealed that Love Island USA had dropped Vasana Montgomery from the show. Two videos of Montgomery, a salon owner from Oregon, using the N-word were shared online after the casting announcement was made. It’s unclear if Montgomery will appear in the first episode of Season 8 or not, though Love Island USA typically has a two-day turnaround. She also has yet to make a public statement via social media.
Season 8 Islanders’ political affiliation controversy
Most of the other controversies so far are over alleged political affiliation. There’s been speculation from Love Island fans that Kenzie Annis, a recent nursing school graduate from Georgia, is a MAGA supporter. Old photos circulated of Kenzie seemingly wearing Make America Great Again merchandise.
Her father, Tim, told TMZ that his daughter and their family were not supporters of President Trump. Her brother, Alden, reiterated their dad’s sentiments in a May 30 TikTok video.
“Me and my family are very against the Trump administration,” he said. “We have never voted for Donald Trump. It’s really just been weighing down on me, the things I have seen people online saying about my sister just from short… two pictures, three pictures or something. Today, she is not… She’s an amazing woman. She’s a huge role model to me. So, it’s just really hard to hear these false accusations.”
@ald.en #LoveIsland #kenzie ♬ original sound – Alden
Gabriel Vasconcelos, a Miami-based, Brazilian-born model, has also faced similar criticism online because he follows Trump on Instagram.
Some also assumed that his castmate, Pennsylvania-based Sean Reifel, is a Trump supporter because he used to be a police officer. His sister said that their family “are not Tr*mp supporters” in a May 29 TikTok video.
Love Island USA, Season 8 Premiere, June 2, Peacock
