Love Island USA racial slur controversy has struck the popular dating series again, with a second contestant removed from the villa this season after old social media posts surfaced appearing to show her using the n-word. The development marks the latest in a string of similar incidents that have repeatedly forced the show to part ways with cast members over racist language.

The Latest Removal

Alannah Keyser was removed from the villa after several pieces of historic content emerged online. A video appeared to show her lip-syncing to the n-word in a song, while additional screenshots showed her seemingly using the same slur in an Instagram comment and a Snapchat message.

According to sources cited by US publications including Variety, the posts originated from a private account and were not made public until after Keyser had already entered the villa. As a result, they were not caught during broadcaster Peacock’s vetting process. Keyser, who had appeared on the series since Sunday, has been approached for comment.

A Brief Time in the Villa

Keyser’s stint on the show was short-lived. She joined as a “bombshell” during the program’s traditional mid-season Casa Amor twist, in which new islanders enter to test the strength of existing relationships.

Before her exit, she appeared in the first 20 minutes of Thursday’s episode, chatting with one of the male contestants before showing up briefly in two further non-speaking scenes. The show’s narrator then confirmed her departure, simply telling viewers that Alannah had left Casa Amor.

A Recurring Problem This Season

Keyser’s removal is not an isolated case. It marks the second time this season alone that a contestant has left over the use of racist language.

Earlier, Vasana Montgomery was removed following the announcement of the lineup, after she was seen appearing to use the n-word in two separate videos that circulated online. Montgomery later addressed the controversy in an Instagram statement, acknowledging that she had used a racial slur and saying there was no excuse for it. She expressed deep regret, describing herself as embarrassed and disappointed, and said she took full responsibility while understanding why her words had hurt and upset people.

A Pattern Stretching Back to Last Season

The issue is not new to the franchise. Two contestants were also removed from the seventh series of Love Island last year over similar conduct.

Those earlier cases included:

• Yulissa Escobar, who was asked to leave after videos emerged of her using a slur in a podcast. In a TikTok video posted afterward, she acknowledged that she had said a word she should not have, expressed regret, and apologized.
• Cierra Ortega, who exited the same season after using a racist term for Asian people. She later apologized and said she genuinely had no idea the term she used was considered a slur.

The Bottom Line

The repeated removals point to an ongoing challenge for Love Island USA, as resurfaced social media history continues to collide with the show’s live, fast-moving format. With private posts sometimes slipping past pre-show vetting, the series has found itself responding to controversy after contestants are already on air. As the franchise navigates yet another season marked by these incidents, the pattern raises broader questions about vetting, accountability, and how reality television handles the digital footprints its cast members bring with them.