Love Island USA’s Austin Shepard Addresses Racism Controversy
Love Island USA star Austin Shepard is clearing the air after returning dwelling from the Fiji villa.
Austin, 26, answered a sequence of fan-submitted questions on his Instagram Tales on Friday, July 14, together with one from a social media consumer who requested whether or not he was a “racist bigot.”
“I’m going to provide this consideration just one time as a result of that is, like, loopy,” Austin stated in a Friday video. “Are you f***ing dumb? Like, actually, are you dumb? Do you not assume?”
Austin appeared to disclaim the accusations, citing one in every of his tattoos as additional proof.
“I’ve a Black girl tatted on my aspect,” he quipped. “Use your head.”
Austin was one of many OG Islanders on season 7 of Peacock’s Love Island USA. He was dumped earlier this week alongside contestants Andreina Santos, TJ Palma, Gracyn Blackmore and Jaden Duggar.
Earlier this season, solid member Yulissa Escober was faraway from the villa when previous racially insensitive posts she made resurfaced on-line. (Yulissa, 27, has since apologized for her feedback.)
“I wasn’t dragged out at the hours of darkness. I walked out in broad daylight head excessive, lashes on,” Yulissa stated in a Thursday, July 3, TikTok video. “I didn’t get up in the midst of the evening. They didn’t drag my ass off the bed. I used to be truly simply getting snug and simply popping out of my shell as a result of initially I used to be type of timid and shy. I used to be upset that I received pulled out on that day as a result of I used to be like, ‘Rattling, I used to be simply beginning to have enjoyable.’”
In line with Yulissa, a producer later requested to talk off-camera.
“I had gotten known as to the entrance after which I met one of many producers and so they requested me to take my mic off. I figured one thing severe was type of occurring,” she recalled. “I actually received scared. I assumed one thing occurred with a member of the family or one thing. They didn’t actually inform me something. They only stated {that a} video resurfaced on the web and it’s not wanting too good. I didn’t actually know what video or what I used to be saying or what I did.”
Love Island USA contestant Yulissa Escobar is leaving the present after podcast clips of her utilizing racial slurs circulated on-line. Escobar, 27, exited in the course of the Wednesday, June 4, episode of the Peacock actuality present, which didn’t clarify the rationale for her abrupt departure. Practically 20 minutes in, Love Island narrator Iain Stirling introduced, “Yulissa […]
Yulissa’s exit was subtly addressed by narrator Iain Stirling, who briefly talked about that she had “left the villa” however didn’t additional clarify the scenario. Forged members additionally weren’t given full particulars.
“They personally by no means advised me something. They by no means advised us within the villa,” Jeremiah Brown stated throughout a Monday, June 30, episode of the “Speedy Morman” podcast. “They stated she left for private causes — I can say that. I discovered later after getting my telephone again that it was due to no matter occurred.”
Love Island USA airs every day, aside from Wednesdays, on Peacock.