Booted Love Island contestant Yulissa Escobar has apologized for using the N-word in resurfaced podcasts that led to her departure from the Peacock dating show.
“First, I want to apologize for using a word I had no right in using. Podcast clips from years ago have recently resurfaced, and I want to address it directly,” Escobar posted on Instagram Friday. “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.”
She noted, “At the time, I was speaking casually in conversation, not thinking deeply or critically about what I was saying. 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.”
Escobar, who was described as a 27-year-old mobile bar owner from Miami, said she’s no longer the same person who did that.
“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.” Escobar vowed. “Growth means recognizing when you were wrong, even if it’s uncomfortable, and choosing to move forward with humility and accountability.”
After warning against “fake statements circulating,” she ended her message adamantly.
“To those who are disappointed or offended, I understand and I apologize,” Escobar said. “I am sorry.”
Ben Symons/Peacock
The apology was accompanied with an image of the words “owning my mistakes speaking my truth.”
Escobar’s apology came two days after she was absent from the second episode of season 7, which debuted Wednesday. It began with a message that “Yulissa has left the villa,” and a representative for the show had confirmed her departure to EW. But no reason was given.
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The cast change followed TMZ‘s Tuesday publication of footage from Escobar’s relevant podcast appearances.
Fans of the show had already commented on her cast portrait on social media that they planned to eliminate her early because of what she’d said.
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