Yulissa Escobar posted a statement to social media over the weekend addressing the past racist comments she made on a podcast, which after resurfacing, resulted in her being swiftly removed from the currently airing season of Love Island USA.
As fans of the Peacock series know, it was revealed by the narrator of the show during Episode 2 last week that “Yulissa has left the Villa,” though no explanation for the 27-year-old’s abrupt exit was given to viewers.
According to TMZ, however, shortly after the Season 7 cast was revealed, at least two clips began to circulate online in which Yulissa could be heard dropping the N-word (more than once) on a podcast, and these clips are what led to her removal from the show.
Days after being booted from the show, Yulissa posted a lengthy statement to Instagram, apologizing to the public for “using a word I had no right in using,” while noting that she had used said-word on a podcast “from years ago.”
“ … In those clips, I used a word I never should’ve used, a racial slur,” she wrote. “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.”
Yulissa went on to claim that, in those clips, she was “speaking casually” and not thinking about what she was saying; however, she acknowledged that it “doesn’t take away how wrong it was,” and assured fans that while she didn’t know better then, she knows better now.
“ … I’ve taken the time to reflect, to learn and to grow from that moment,” she explained. “I’ve changed a lot since then, not just in how I speak, but in how I show up, how I carry myself, and how I honor the experiences of others. Growth means recognizing when you were wrong, even if it’s uncomfortable, and choosing to move forward with humility and accountability.”
While Yulissa owned up to her past racist comments, she also claimed in her statement that there have been “fake statements circulating” online that don’t reflect her or “her heart,” which is why she was choosing to address the incident herself.
“ … I don’t need anyone to speak for me,” she wrote. “I’m choosing to speak for myself because I take full ownership of my actions. Do not listen to the fake statements. This is my official statement. This is me, speaking directly to you.
“To those who are disappointed or offended, I understand and I apologize. I am sorry,” she concluded.
New episodes of ‘Love Island’ air throughout the week (except on Wednesdays) on Peacock.
RELATED STORY: ‘Love Island’ Season 6 Star Hannah Smith Arrested for Making Terroristic Threats & Allegedly Trying to Punch Cops
(Photos: Instagram; Peacock)
27 Responses
Her parents didn’t even spell her name right, it’s Julissa, not Yulissa, she needs to sit down.
A bunch of losers consumed by reality tv…pathetic
weren’t you leaving, ron and friends?
#buhbye 👋🏻👋🏻
#goodriddance
Man this comment section is wild 🙃
um, the bradys and the old-timey pro wrestlers were (kinda) amusing at first. now it’s in nuisance territory.
can this person (cause it’s just one) be banned or at least limited?
Wow. You are so petulant. How do you function in the real world without preferential treatment? What makes you think you have any authority to ask for this? My comments are vetted, just like everyone else’s. If you’re too sensitive, that’s a YOU problem. You are a sniveling child.
@jan et al ~ if you’re so proud of your many (many!) comments, why not post under one name rather than spamming the board with all your weird user names?
I don’t care about you sniveling feelings. You are stunted.
oh, and i’m hardly ‘sniveling’ or ‘petulant’ ~ but it looks like SOMEONE got a new thesaurus. 🤣😹
Wow. This is America, and it’s backward.
It’s called…Fun and Having a sense of humour.
I’m pretty sure there full on schizohrenic. It’s hard when the mentally challenged have a breakdown. Just ignore them and they’ll go away.
This person demands to be coddled.
That is a bot leaving comments. And not one made in the US.
America is capitalism without a conscience. Sleaze is king in America.
Progressives aka Marxists, want to tear everything down, but have nothing of substance to build. They are nihilistic in nature.
I’m white and saying the N word even alone in a room is a big no no. People should know better. I even teach my kids it’s prob the worst cuss word you can say.. she should’ve known better tbh
You are battered and abused. Do you realize you have been brow beaten?
I would sue the network and then burden will be on them to prove it.
It’s pretty pathetic you have to make a thousand different usernames to spread your narrow-minded rhetoric because nobody in this comment section of sound mind would possibly agree with you. Are you gollum/smeagol having a conversation with himself? It’s giving gollum vibes. Go grab a snack and find the precious.
I feel sorry for people who aren’t sophisticated enough to see through the scamming nonsense of blm.
The despicable media is lying and saying L A is “peaceful protests.”
“what’s happening in L A is all Donald Trump’s fault.” LA is a progressive hellhole and they’re in denial.
Yes Cindy, Jan, Peter Brady, Ron Bennington, Eastside Dave, Tiger Brady, Tom Brady and whoever else you pretend to be it is all Trump’s fault. He is a moron with a big wallet and very, very little intelligence. He is a twice impeached rapist who has sheep following him until they realize he doesn’t give a shit about them either. If being progressive means I don’t tolerate propaganda bullshit like “Let’s make ‘Merica great again” and “look at my big beautiful bill” then I will be proudly progressive until the day I die.
Genuinely curious…the context in which she used the n word…is that racist? Or is it just in bad taste? She didn’t use hard r and she used the word in reference to her boyfriend.
Okay