Vasana Montgomery issued an apology after she was removed from the cast of Love Island USA Season 8 before Tuesday’s premiere.
In a statement shared on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday (June 3), Montgomery acknowledged she used racial slurs in the recently surfaced videos, which were taken during her “teen years.”
“In those videos, I used a racial slur,” she wrote. “There is no excuse for it, and I am deeply sorry. I am embarrassed and disappointed by my words. I take full responsibility for what I said and understand why it has hurt and upset people.”
According to E! News, Montgomery allegedly said, “Knock knock, n****” while playing what appeared to be an arcade game, and appeared to use the N-word while rapping along to a song in a car.
Montgomery mentioned the measures she has taken to learn and grow from the incident.
“Since then, I have grown a lot as a person and taken the time to educate myself, listen, learn, and better understand the impact that language can have,” she wrote. “That growth does not erase my mistake, and I am not asking anyone to excuse it.”
“I believe people should be held accountable for their actions, but I also believe in growth, learning, and becoming better,” Montgomery concluded. “To anyone I hurt or disappointed, I am truly.”
Montgomery is not the only Love Island USA contestant to be held accountable for resurfaced posts. Yulissa Escobar departed two episodes into Season 7 after videos of her using the N-word on podcasts circulated online.
