Former Love Island USA star Alannah Keyser is speaking out after she became the latest in a line of contestants to get the boot for racist incidents.
Keyser, 21, appeared in a TikTok video on Saturday in which she said that the offending video that first set off the controversy was years old, and she claimed that the N-word was ‘not in my vocabulary anymore.’
The aspiring reality star was axed from the American version of Love Island last week in response to fan uproar relating to a resurfaced video that showed her using the racial slur while singing along to a song that featured the word in its lyrics.
‘Hi everyone, I’m coming on here to address some things that have been circulated online. I do want to begin by addressing the video of me singing along to a Roddy Ricch song that contains a racial slur,’ Keyser began her video, which featured her addressing the camera directly while wearing a black cropped zip-up cardigan that was undone to highlight her cleavage. ‘I’m sorry to whoever’s 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 claimed.
The former Love Island USA contestant also claimed that screenshots circulating on social media had been doctored and ‘falsified.’
Former Love Island USA star Alannah Keyser, 21, spoke out in a TikTok video on Saturday after she became the latest in a line of contestants to get the boot for racist incidents
The aspiring reality star was axed from the American version of Love Island last week in response to fan uproar relating to a resurfaced video that showed her using the racial slur while singing along to a song that featured the word in its lyrics
‘What has been shared does not reflect the truth and it has never been in my character to discriminate against anybody’s skin color,’ she stated, adding, ‘I do want to say directly that I do not support racism or discrimination of any kind and I never have.’
Keyser said that it ‘broke [her] heart’ that allegedly racist content attributed to her was spreading on social media, though she didn’t clarify if she was referring to the video of her singing the N-word, or other posts that she claimed were falsified that had left her heartbroken.
‘This has definitely been a learning lesson for me,’ Keyser continued. ‘And it sucks that I didn’t get a chance to really show my personality and who I am.’
A title card was appended at the end of the video that read, ‘The video cut but it’s always been in my nature to spread positivity and help others & I will continue to do so.’
The news comes after Peacock, which airs Love Island USA, confirmed to TMZ that Keyser would no longer appear on the show from Thursday moving forward.
She became the fourth woman to be kicked off the show for a racism scandal over the past year or so.
Keyser had appeared on the latest episodes of the series after the resurfaced clips had caused outrage online.
Earlier in the day, a production source told The US Sun that she had been fired, as they explained: ‘Producers edited Alannah out as much as possible from episodes that were pre-taped before the resurfaced racial slur video was exposed.
Keyser said the N-word was ‘not in my vocabulary anymore,’ as the video of her singing it was from six years ago. The former Love Island USA contestant also claimed that screenshots circulating on social media that allegedly showed her writing a racist slur had been doctored and ‘falsified’
She became the fourth woman to be kicked off Love Island for a racism scandal over the last year or so
‘She couldn’t be removed completely, but her scenes were significantly trimmed down in Tuesday’s episode.’
As it is yet another racism controversy, the source told The US Sun: ‘Producers were disappointed and embarrassed that this has become another mishap.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Peacock’s representatives and NBC for further comment on Keyser’s axing, but has yet to hear back from either.
It was a quick fall from grace for Keyser as she made her grand debut on the Peacock reality show during Sunday’s episode at Casa Amor.
Not long after her appearance, some fans came across a clip of Keyser allegedly singing along to a track that uses the N-word.
Other viewers came across a screenshot of a past Instagram comment, which allegedly showed Keyser also using the word again.
The production of Love Island USA has yet to address the backlash or offer an update on Keyser’s future on the show.
Some viewers have jumped over to X to demand that the media personality be removed from the reality series.
The star made her grand debut on the Peacock reality show during Sunday’s episode at Casa Amor (seen far left)
Not long after her first appearance on Sunday, some fans came across a clip of Keyser allegedly singing along to a track that uses the N-word
One wrote, ‘get alannah keyser off #loveisland NOW,’ and another typed, ‘did production do a background check to make sure alannah isn’t a lil racist ’cause wtf was that.’
However, a friend of Keyser uploaded a TikTok video on Monday to defend the star amid the backlash.
Nick Rogers said, ‘So, I know a lot of you all have seen the resurfaced clip of Alannah and the screenshots that were posted.’
He added that he wanted to ‘share my side of who I know Alannah to be as and she is very caring and the nicest person ever.
‘She has never exhibited any racist traits around me at all,’ Rogers continued. ‘I have never once considered the fact that Alannah would be someone who’d be racist.’
He claimed that the screenshots were ‘fake’ while further expressing, ‘I just can’t imagine, me knowing Alannah, her posting that on social media.
‘And we all know with this AI and everything like that, it could be very easy for these types of scenarios to be manipulated.’
Rogers also referred to the short clip of Keyser allegedly using the N-word while singing along to a track.
Some viewers have jumped over to X to demand that the media personality be removed from the reality series
One penned, ‘get alannah keyser off #loveisland NOW,’ and another typed, ‘did production do a background check to make sure alannah isn’t a lil racist ’cause wtf was that’
However, a friend of Keyser uploaded a TikTok video on Monday to defend the star amid the backlash; Keyser seen in January in L.A.
‘She has never exhibited any racist traits around me at all,’ Rogers continued. ‘I have never once considered the fact that Alannah would be someone who’d be racist’; Keyser seen on Love Island USA
‘I cannot tell whether she is saying the N-word or not. That is a very touchy subject that I know… has been a big conversation over the past few years.’
He added, ‘And obviously I do agree that it is very inappropriate for someone who is not a person of color or Black to use that word.’
Keyser’s friend explained that when the video was taken, it had been ‘a different time.’
‘If we’re being completely honest, that word was used a lot more freely in past years, like around 2017, 2016, it was kind of a thing.’
In conclusion, Rogers said that Keyser ‘is a great person, and I would not use any of this information that could be false in order to make a predetermined judgment of her character.’
Keyser’s father, Stephane, also came to his daughter’s defense during an interview with TMZ published on Monday.
He shot down racism claims and added that Keyser, who has studied at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, is an ‘educated sweetheart.’
Her dad further told the outlet that the backlash and hate his daughter is receiving is unwarranted, adding that the family has friends from all backgrounds.
Keyser’s father Stephane also came to his daughter’s defense during an interview with TMZ published on Monday; seen in 2025 in L.A.
Last month in May, one of the contestants had been axed only days before the season eight premiere
Keyser has yet to publicly address the alleged video and resurfaced screenshot.
It is not the first time that season eight of Love Island USA has been embroiled in a racism scandal.
Last month in May, one of the contestants had been axed only days before the season eight premiere.
Vasana Montgomery no longer made an appearance on the reality dating show after videos resurfaced of her allegedly using the N-word.
In a clip, she allegedly could be heard saying the racial slur while rapping to a track and in a separate occurrence, Montgomery said it with a pal who was playing a game, per TMZ.
Sources close to the production told the outlet that the business owner was pulled from the show.
Insiders also told TMZ the social media videos had been private which was why the production did not see the clips while screening Montgomery before she was cast on the new season.
The eighth season of Love Island USA, which is hosted by Ariana Madix, premiered on Peacock on June 2.
The eighth season of Love Island USA, which is hosted by Ariana Madix, premiered on Peacock on June 2
And shortly after unveiling the cast ahead of the premiere, Love Island USA released a statement to its Instagram account while encouraging positivity
And shortly after unveiling the cast ahead of the premiere, Love Island USA released a statement to its Instagram account while encouraging positivity.
‘The Villa runs on good vibes, and so does this community. We love seeing your reactions, opinions, and debates, but everyone deserves to feel safe and respected.’
The message concluded with, ‘This is a space for fun, not negativity – so keep it kind, keep it positive, and remember: this is LOVE Island!’
The reality series was hit with a similar situation last year.
Contestant Yulissa Escobar was notably removed from the show over her past use of racist slurs.
She had been released from the show off camera during the second episode, before the rest of the contestants woke up for the day.
Clips of Escobar using the N-word while discussing ex-boyfriends resurfaced and fans were irate, commenting on her Instagram that they would vote her off at the first opportunity.
She later took to Instagram to apologize for using the slurs in a post captioned: ‘Owning my mistakes, speaking my truth.’
The reality series was hit with a similar situation last year. Contestant Yulissa Escobar was notably removed from the show over her past use of racist slurs
She wrote: ‘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.
‘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.’
Escobar added, ‘And the impact of that word is real. It’s tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use.’
She shared that she has ‘taken the time to reflect, to learn, and to grow from that moment’ and has ‘changed a lot since then.’
Escobar further apologized and explained that she takes ‘full ownership of my actions.’
Another contestant Cierra Ortega was also removed from the show last year after multiple racist posts from her Instagram were uncovered by Love Island fans, in which she used a slur offensive to Chinese people on two separate occasions.
Ortega’s parents broke their silence after their daughter was removed from season seven for past derogatory social media posts.
They shared a statement to their daughter’s Instagram stories about ‘the most painful weeks of our lives.’
Another contestant Cierra Ortega was also removed from the show last year after multiple racist posts from her Instagram were uncovered by Love Island fans, in which she used a slur offensive to Chinese people on two separate occasions
Ortega’s parents broke their silence after their daughter was removed from season seven for past derogatory social media posts
Ortega’s loved ones later added that they ‘know her heart’ and believed she would ‘face this with honesty, growth, and grace.’
In conclusion, they asked for ‘compassion’ as well as both ‘patience’ and ‘basic human decency.’
Past Instagram posts surfaced of her using a racial slur towards Chinese people in two separate instances many years apart.
One post from January 2015 showed a snap of her at the top of a mountain, using a version of the slur to describe how she smiles.
There was also an Instagram story post from February 2023, showing her getting Botox treatments, again using the slur to describe her smile, and many fans are furious, calling for her immediate removal.
Many fans and viewers at the time had called for Ortega to be kicked off the island when the posts resurfaced.
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