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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Inga Parkel

Racial slurs and removed contestants: Love Island USA controversies explained

  • Love Island USA season seven has been marked by controversy, with two contestants quietly removed due to resurfaced problematic content.
  • Yulissa Escobar was the first to exit after old podcast clips emerged showing her using a racial slur, which she later acknowledged and apologized for.
  • Cierra Ortega subsequently left the villa on Sunday’s episode, following uproar over an old Instagram post containing a derogatory term for Chinese people.
  • The show's narrator briefly announced their departures without detailing the reasons, though Cierra's parents issued a statement requesting compassion amidst online backlash.
  • A third contestant, Huda Mustafa, is now facing similar scrutiny over an old TikTok video where she is debated to have lip-synced a racial slur.

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