Former Love Island USA contestant Yulissa Escobar is speaking out after facing intense backlash for using the N-word in resurfaced podcast clips.
Yulissa, who was removed from Love Island USA after just one episode in Season 7, has now accused online critics of “brutality” and defended her right to move forward despite the controversy.
Shortly after her removal, Yulissa issued an apology, claiming she didn’t fully understand the harm behind her use of the racial slur. However, she has now returned with a stronger message, pushing back against what she calls “cancel culture.”
“Cancel culture isn’t accountability. It’s online brutality,” Yulissa wrote in a series of Instagram Stories. She shared that upon returning to her phone after filming, she was immediately met with harsh criticism, including death threats and abuse. Describing the experience as like walking into a “warzone,” she argued that “cyberbullying is violence.”
Yulissa also expressed sympathy for others who have struggled with online harassment. “For the ones who didn’t make it — may you rest in peace,” she wrote. “For the ones who are scared to speak — I got you.”
Despite the backlash, Yulissa made it clear that she has no plans to disappear from the spotlight. She ended her message with hashtags like “#AccountableNotErased” and “#CancelCancelCulture,” signaling that she’s ready to push back against what she sees as unfair treatment.
Love Island USA continues airing new episodes on Peacock.
