I believe Yulissa Escobar took accountability — but Love Island USA shouldn’t be let off the hook

Love Island USA season 7 premiered on June 3, 2025, but the early episodes weren’t just about new connections in the Fiji villa. One contestant, Yulissa Escobar, exited the show abruptly by episode 2 without much explanation from the production.

A brief voiceover by narrator Iain Stirling simply noted, “Yulissa has left the villa,” around 20 minutes into the second episode, and the show moved on without elaborating. However, behind her sudden exit was a growing controversy.

Before the premiere, some old clips of Yulissa using a racial slur began circulating online. In the clips from two separate podcasts, obtained by TMZ, she used N-word many times as she talked about her past relationships.

With no phone access during the filming of Love Island USA, she remained silent until June 6. In an Instagram post, Yulissa issued an apology, writing:

“I used a word I never should’ve used, a racial slur. I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it.”

In my opinion, while Yulissa took full responsibility for her words and gave her side of the story, the dating show did not. Love Island USA chose not to address the situation, raising concerns among viewers about transparency and responsibility in reality TV casting.

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I think Love Island USA missed a chance to lead with accountability

Yulissa Escobar’s June 6 Instagram post directly responded to the backlash over resurfaced podcast clips. She admitted her fault, mentioning in the caption:

“I wasn’t trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn’t excuse impact."

Her statement acknowledged the seriousness of her words and the historical weight behind them. Reflecting on how she has changed since then, she shared:

“I’ve changed a lot… not just in how I speak, but in how I show up, how I carry myself, and how I honor the experiences of others."

While her tone was remorseful, Love Island USA handled the issue differently. The show offered no on-air context, aside from a single line stating, “Yulissa has left the villa.” In my opinion, this was a missed opportunity for the franchise to show leadership in how it usually handles real-world issues affecting contestants.

Accountability shouldn't fall solely on contestants. When a controversy affects the show’s environment and message, producers should also speak up—not just move on without explanation.

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I believe the show’s silence reflects a larger pattern in reality TV

Yulissa Escobar’s exit from Love Island USA follows a pattern that long-time viewers may recognize: contestants quietly disappearing from the villa without proper justification. In this case, the only on-air mention was Iain Stirling’s brief narration in episode 2 that Yulissa left. The show did not clarify the reason for her departure or acknowledge the controversy surrounding her.

This silence isn’t new. Past contestants like Noah Purvis in season 2 and Leslie Golden in season 3 also left without any official explanation. The burden of clarity has often fallen on the contestants themselves, while the show maintains a surface-level narrative.

“There have also been fake statements circulating… I don’t need anyone to speak for me. I’m choosing to speak for myself because I take full ownership of my actions,” she clarified in her post.

While it’s commendable that she owned her words, the lack of transparency from Love Island USA raises questions about how production handles sensitive issues. When a racial slur is involved, and a cast member is removed, viewers deserve to know how the show responded behind the scenes, not just that someone “left.”

“Growth means recognizing when you were wrong, even if it’s uncomfortable, and choosing to move forward with humility and accountability,” Yulissa stated.

The same principle should apply to the platform hosting her. If contestants are expected to show growth and take ownership, so should the franchise. In my opinion, the show makers avoided a difficult conversation that could have helped set a standard for how reality TV handles the cast members' past behavior, and take accountability for the same.

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Love Island USA episodes are available to stream on Peacock.