*“Love Island USA” enters its eighth season with a revised cast after resurfaced footage led producers to remove a newly announced contestant.
Vasana Montgomery , 25, of Beaverton, Oregon, will no longer take part in the Peacock reality dating series after videos circulated on social media showing her using the N-word. According to Deadline, the network said producers did not have access to the privately held clips when they selected Montgomery for the lineup.
The situation adds to a growing list of controversies tied to the American version of the popular U.K. franchise. The series faced similar fallout during Season 7, when two islanders exited following separate incidents involving racist language.
In the days leading up to the Season 8 premiere, the official “Love Island USA” Instagram account posted a message urging viewers to “keep it kind, keep it positive” as anticipation built for the new season.
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“Love Island USA” kicked off its eighth season on June 2 with daily episodes during premiere week. After that initial rollout, the series moves to a five-night schedule airing Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 9 p.m. ET. Saturdays are reserved for “Aftersun,” the companion aftershow.
Ariana Madix, who has hosted since Season 6, returns for another season. “I’m the host of the number-one show in all of streaming, scripted or unscripted,” she told PEOPLE in May 2026. “That’s something I’m very, very proud to be a part of.”
Season 8 launched with 11 contestants, though that number dropped by one ahead of the premiere following Montgomery’s removal.
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