“Love Island” contestant Vasana Montgomery is breaking her silence on being removed from the Season 8 cast after videos resurfaced of her using a racial slur.
“I want to address a couple videos from my teen years that have recently resurfaced,” Montgomery began in a statement posted to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, the day after the new season kicked off on Peacock.
“In those videos, I used a racial slur. There is no excuse for it, and I am deeply sorry,” she continued. “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.”
Montgomery said that since the videos — which allegedly showed her singing the N-word in a song lyric — were filmed, she has “grown a lot as a person and taken the time to educate [herself], listen, learn, and better understand the impact that language can have.”
“That growth does not erase my mistake, and I am not asking anyone to excuse it,” she added. “I believe people should be held accountable for their actions, but I also believe in growth, learning, and becoming better.”
Montgomery concluded her statement, writing, “To anyone I hurt or disappointed, I am truly sorry.”
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