“Love Island USA” contestant Yulissa Escobar has broken her silence about her sudden exit from the show.
After being dropped from the reality dating series in Episode 2, Escobar took to Instagram Friday to address speculation about her departure and apologize.
Escobar’s departure was linked to backlash she was receiving for using racist language on past podcasts. The controversial clips resurfaced on social media after Escobar was announced as a Season 7 cast member.
In her Instagram post, Escobar said she wanted to “apologize for using a word I had no right in using.”
“Podcast clips from years ago have recently resurfaced, and I want to address it directly,” she wrote. “In those clips, 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. I wasn’t trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn’t excuse impact. And the impact of that word is real. It’s tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use.”
Escobar explained that she used the racial slur when she was “speaking casually in conversation” and she didn’t think “deeply or critically about what I was saying.”
“But that doesn’t take away from how wrong it was. The truth is, I didn’t know better then, but I do now,” she said. “I’ve taken the time to reflect, to learn, and to grow from that moment.”
Escobar went on to say that she’s “changed a lot” since she’s done those podcasts. She noted that she shows up for others differently and also speaks differently as well.
“Growth means recognizing when you were wrong, even if it’s uncomfortable, and choosing to move forward with humility and accountability,” she said.
The 27-year-old then ended her statement by saying she takes “full ownership of my actions” and she apologized again to anyone who was “disappointed or offended” by her words.
Online, she shared her statement alongside a personal quote from herself, which said, “Owning my mistakes speaking my truth.”
Escobar was introduced as a cast member for Season 7 of “Love Island USA” in May.
In a teaser video that Peacock shared on YouTube, Escobar said she was excited to be on the show after her previous “nine year relationship” ended in heartbreak.
“I want my man to nurture me,” she said.
On the premiere episode of the series, Escobar coupled up with Ace Green. As they were exploring their love connection, series narrator Iain Stirling informed viewers that Escobar would no longer be on the program in an announcement he made on the second episode.
“Welcome back to ‘Love Island USA,’” he said. “Yulissa has left the villa.” However, it is unclear when Escobar left Fiji, where the show is filmed, and if she was edited out of episodes.
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