Love Island USA contestant Alannah Keyser has apologized after resurfaced footage and social media posts allegedly showing her using a racial slur led to her removal from the show.
The 21-year-old arrived in the Fiji villa during the Casa Amor twist on the eighth season of the Peacock dating series, which is designed to test existing couples by introducing new Islanders and tempting contestants to explore fresh connections.
Her time on the reality series was brief. After she appeared on the show, viewers began circulating an old clip that allegedly showed her singing along to Roddy Ricch’s ‘The Box’ at a party and using the N-word. Additional screenshots and messages also reportedly began spreading online.
A Peacock representative said the material was not accessible during the show’s vetting process because it had been posted on private accounts and only surfaced publicly after Keyser had already entered the villa.
As the clip spread online, she was removed from the programme soon after.
Viewers were informed of her departure following a commercial break, when narrator Iain Stirling said:
“Alannah has left Casa Amor.”
No further explanation was given during the episode.
remember that reality tv is HEAVILY edited & my chats/kisses with the other boys were unfortunately not aired
After leaving the villa, Keyser posted a public response on TikTok and said she was learning from the situation. She also addressed the criticism surrounding the video and the screenshots that had been shared online.
“I’m sorry to whoever has seen that video and has been offended by it, that was never my intention.
“The video is from six years ago and that word is just not in my vocabulary anymore.”
She also responded to screenshots that had been circulating online, saying they were not genuine.
“They do not reflect the truth,” she said, “It’s never been in my character to discriminate against anybody.”
The Florida native, who has been identified in reports as a film student at the University of Southern California, said she does “not support racism” and explained that she felt devastated when she learned producers had been made aware of the resurfaced material.
“I couldn’t do anything about it, and it sucks that I didn’t really get a chance to show my personality and who I am.”
Her removal is the second time this season that Love Island USA has faced backlash over a contestant’s past use of racial slurs outside the villa. Vasana Montgomery was removed before the season premiered after old videos resurfaced online. Earlier in the season, Yulissa Escobar was also removed after clips of her using racist language resurfaced, and Cierra Ortega later left the villa following similar backlash.