Love Island USA contestant Yulissa Escobar is leaving the show after podcast clips of her using racial slurs circulated online.
Escobar, 27, exited during the Wednesday, June 4, episode of the Peacock reality show, which did not explain the reason for her abrupt departure. Nearly 20 minutes in, Love Island narrator Iain Stirling announced that “Yulissa has left the villa.”
The Miami native has stirred controversy since she was added to the cast of 10 young singles vying for a $100,000 cash prize. Recently, TMZ posted footage of Escobar using the N-word several times during podcast appearances.
Love Island viewers left numerous messages on Escobar’s Instagram last week, vowing to vote her off the island. “You’re out of here! Immediately!!” one viewer wrote, while another warned, “Don’t get [too] comfortable.”
Us Weekly has reached out to a Love Island rep for comment.
Escobar isn’t alone among her season 7 castmates in sparking the outrage of the show’s fervent fanbase. Austin Shepard, a 26-year-old from Michigan, came under scrutiny for allegedly liking TikTok posts that supported President Donald Trump.
Shepard remains in the cast alongside Ace Greene, Belle-A Walker, Taylor Williams, Jeremiah Brown, Chelley Bissainthe, Huda Mustafa, Nicolas Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen. The new season debuted Tuesday, June 3, with Ariana Madix returning as the host.
The premiere got off to a rough start: One minute after the episode was supposed to begin streaming, a social media message announced that the show would be delayed. Fans were not happy and aired their grievances via X.
“SO WHAT THE F*** IS THE PROBLEM @peacock ?????,” one person asked, while another wrote, “Peacock got me stalking their page for love island like i’m stalking an ex.”
Other fans joked about taking matters into their own hands. “Imma go into the peacock hq myself and release the love island episode atp WHERE IS IT?” one fan asked. “Yall brb I’m breaking into peacock to click the premiere love island button for us,” another added.
The episode was eventually available to stream an hour later.
