How Love Island USA Stars Learned About Yulissa’s Departure During the Racism Scandal
Love Island USA fans are finally being informed about what happens when a cast member, such as Yulissa Escobar, disappears overnight.
Jeremiah Brown discussed his experience during the “Speedy Morman” show on Monday, June 30, sharing, “They personally never told me anything. They never informed us in the villa.”
Jeremiah revealed that the other Islanders weren’t given much information.
“They said she left for personal reasons — that’s what I can say,” he mentioned. “I later found out, after getting my phone back, what actually happened.”
Jeremiah also confirmed that there was no offscreen farewell. Instead, the cast discovered Yulissa was missing upon waking up, having gone to sleep with Ace Greene still sharing a bed. Yulissa was introduced as an OG Islander in season 7 of Love Island USA, but she was gone by the second episode. Narrator Iain Stirling later pointed out that Ace was single because Yulissa “has left the villa.”
Yulissa’s unexpected departure spawned a plethora of memes about her leaving while the others were still asleep. This followed the emergence of clips featuring her using racial slurs on a podcast.
After returning from Fiji in June, Yulissa broke her silence.
“First, I want to apologize for using a word I had no right to use. Clips from a podcast I did years ago have resurfaced, and I want to address this directly,” she shared on Instagram. “In those clips, I used a term that is a racial slur, which I should never have utilized.”
Yulissa expressed her regret over her past comments, stating, “I used it thoughtlessly, not fully grasping the weight, history, or pain associated with it. While I didn’t intend to be offensive or harmful, I now recognize that intention doesn’t excuse impact. The impact of that term is significant. It is linked to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use.”
While expressing her remorse for the inappropriate statements, Yulissa explained her commitment to learning and growing.
“At that time, I was speaking casually and not critically considering my words. But that doesn’t diminish how wrong it was,” she acknowledged. “The truth is, I wasn’t aware back then, but I am now. I’ve taken time to reflect, learn, and grow from that experience.”
Yulissa continued: “I’ve changed significantly since then, in how I communicate and how I present myself, honoring the experiences of others. Growth means acknowledging when you were wrong, even if it’s uncomfortable, and choosing to move forward with humility and accountability.”
In her statement, Yulissa also addressed false statements attributed to her.
“There have been misleading posts circulating, things purportedly said or written by others that don’t reflect my heart. I want to clarify that this is my voice and my words,” she stated. “I don’t require anyone to speak for me. I’m choosing to speak for myself because I take full accountability for my actions. Please disregard any fake statements. This is my official statement, coming directly from me. To those who feel disappointed or offended, I understand and I apologize. I am sorry.”
New episodes of Love Island USA are available six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.
