Yulissa Escobar is reflecting on her past and apologizing for using racial slurs after being dumped from the Love Island villa.
Days after Yulissa entered the villa for Season 7 of the Peacock dating reality series, the former Islander is breaking her silence on why she was removed from the show.
“First, I want to apologize for using a word I had no right in using,” she said in a statement on Instagram. “Podcast clips from years ago have recently resurfaced, and I want to address it directly.”
She continued, “In those clips, I used a word I never should’ve used, a racial slur. 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 noted that when she did the podcast she “was speaking casually in conversation, not thinking deeply or critically about what I was saying,” adding, “But that doesn’t take away from how wrong it was. The truth is, I didn’t know better then, but I do now. I’ve taken the time to reflect, to learn, and to grow from that moment.”
The former Islanders alleges she has “changed a lot since then” and adds that “growth means recognizing when you were wrong, even if it’s uncomfortable, and choosing to move forward with humility and accountability.”
“I’m choosing to speak for myself because I take full ownership of my actions,” she says. “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.”
It was in the second episode of Love Island USA Season 7 that the show addressed her exit with narrator Iain Stirling saying, “Yulissa has left the villa.”