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Yulissa Escobar, a contestant on Love Island USA, has apologized for using racial slurs in podcast clips that resurfaced after her removal from the cast.
Escobar, 27, took to Instagram to apologize for using the N-word, stating that she used it "ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it."
"I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it," she wrote. "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.
In her apology post, Escobar explained that she was speaking casually in conversation, not thinking deeply or critically about what she was saying. However, she acknowledged that her actions were wrong and that she has learned from her mistakes.
Escobar was removed from the Love Island villa during the second episode of season 7, which aired on Peacock on June 4. The show only addressed the matter at the beginning of the episode, with narrator Iain Stirling saying, "Yulissa has left the villa."
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Love Island USA airs daily, except Wednesdays, at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Where Can I Watch 'Love Island USA'? How to Stream Season 7 of the Reality Dating Show
Season 7 of the beloved dating show kicked off on June 3, and the cast of young singles looking for love includes a diverse group, including a cowboy from Oklahoma City and a barista from Hawaii.
While they attempt to couple up, compete in challenges and navigate the arrival of new bombshells, the cast members are also vying for the $100,000 cash prize, which was won during season 6 by fan-favorites Kordell Beckham and Serena Page.
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Love Island USA airs daily, except Wednesdays, at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.