Step 1 in making it big in today’s day and age: don’t say or do anything on camera or in print that will get you fired. Unfortunately, for one of the original 10 islanders on season 7 of Love Island USA, I guess she didn’t get that memo. (FWIW, not saying offensive shit is also cool to do just for aura points, but saying it into a microphone when you know you’re thirsty to be famous is particularly unhinged.)
Islander Yulissa Escobar seemed bright and bubbly in her opening package, mentioning how she’d been heartbroken by a man she was in a long-term relationship with, and that’s why she was hoping Ariana Madix and the Love Island gods could help her find love. But videos of Islander Yulissa Escobar casually dropping a racial slur on multiple podcast episodes went viral the same day Yulissa, who identifies as Latina, started filming in Fiji. And now, just like that, Yulissa has left the island, thanks to what appears to be Peacock stepping in to stop this situation from getting any messier. Here are the disappointing yet not surprising details on why Yulissa Escobar allegedly got fired from Love Island.
What happened to Yulissa Escobar on Love Island?
“Yulissa has left the villa” #LoveIslandUSA pic.twitter.com/L8Jwcc0G5g
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) June 5, 2025
At the top of episode 2 of Love Island USA season 7, Iain Sterling slips the line, “Welcome back to Love Island USA, Yulissa has left the Villa.” Yulissa did not get to say goodbye, and none of the Islanders addressed her departure. And with that, Ace is left single, and the audience is left with little explanation until you do a little digging online. Fans believe that there is a connection between problematic videos of Yulissa resurfacing online and Yulissa being asked to leave the show, though Peacock has yet to confirm the allegation.
When did Yulissa leave Love Island?
Peacock announced that Yulissa had left Fiji on day 2 of season 7, so that was quick!
Why did Yulissa Escobar allegedly get kicked off Love Island?
Videos surfaced of Yulissa using the racial slur on multiple occasions while podcasting. (And yes, the videos appear to be relatively recent.) When the internet got ahold of these clips, the backlash comments started flooding in on the Love Island USA Instagram account, threatening to vote Yulissa out and demanding the producers take action. With Yulissa now gone on day 2, many fans wrote messages like: “Update: WE WON SHE’S GONE!” and “Love Island stood on business and I love that.”
The theory that Yulissa was let go for this reason is fueled by the fact that one of Yulissa’s friends allegedly wrote, “lol… y’all act like you never said the N word before, stop being so f***ing sensitive” online, as shared by TMZ. Ummm… I’d love to hold this person’s hand when I tell them so many people have, in fact, not said racial slurs for fun before.
Love Island is an escapist paradise we wait for every damn summer that encourages sloppy behavior — when it comes to making out and crossing lines Casa Amor. But it’s not a platform with the purpose of tackling centuries of racial injustice, so it would make sense if Yulissa has been dismissed so that the rest of the cast can keep partying on without the daunting task of unpacking her baggage.
