How Are Racist Behaviors Slipping Through the Vetting Process of Reality TV Shows?

By Brittany Delk

Our timelines are buzzing about hot and steamy connections and toxic relationship drama; that could only mean one thing.

The new season of “Love Island USA” is back... and so is the racial controversy.

Vasana Montgomery was set to participate as Season 8 cast, but was given the boot after videos showed her using a racial slur that refers to Black people.

Photo by: Ben Symons/Peacock

The 25-year-old took to social media to apologize saying, “I wanted to address a couple videos from my teen years that have recently resurfaced. In those videos, I used a racial slur. There is no excuse for it, and I am deeply sorry. I am embarrassed and disappointed by my words. I take full responsibility for what I said and understand why it has hurt and upset people.”

Peacock confirmed to NBC News the videos only became public after it was revealed Montgomery was cast on the show. Peacock also said the video clips were on a private social media account so they were not caught during initial vetting procedures.

Producers minimized the starting lineup from 12 to 10 islanders. Montgomery’s intended partner was later a bombshell on the show.

Before Season 8 kicked off, the social media accounts for Love Island USA posted a note stating in part “We love seeing your reactions, opinions, and debates, but everyone deserves to feel safe and respected. This is a space for fun, not negativity…”

Fans of the show may recall a similar incident happened last season with cast member Yulissa Escobar. Video clips started circulating online of Escobar using racist language on a podcast.

Cierra Ortega was removed from the villa a week prior to the Season 7 finale when fans found social media posts of her using a slur against Asians. She apologized on social media following the backlash.

It’s not just something in the water on Love Island. This is an industry problem.

Photo by: Ben Symons/Peacock

There has been an unfortunate pattern on reality television shows where people have been cast and later caught for their past of racist actions.

According to The Wrap, background checks are completed by outside companies after potential cast members fill out extensive questionnaires detailing all the places they’ve lived, worked and the names they’ve gone by.

According to ScreenCheck, effective background checks in reality tv should include: social media screening, civil litigation checks, sex offender registry searches and financial background reviews.

CBS, MTV and VH1 are among some of the networks enlisting private investigation firms to search social media accounts of production and on-air stars for any problematic content before it reaches the public, according to Fox News.

In Montgomery’s case, the videos were not publicly accessible at the time of vetting. It wasn’t until the cast announcement gave her a public platform that former acquaintances leaked the footage. The same dynamic happened with Escobar and Ortega.

A 2022 report by Variety found lawsuits and public backlash against reality shows have increased 40 percent over five years largely due to incidents involving unvetted talent with some networks facing multi-million dollar settlements.

The urgency to cast and produce quickly continues to outpace the thoroughness of the screening process. The public has become the final line of vetting and the cast members of color are paying the price for that failure.

Sometimes, the racist behaviors aren’t discovered before filming... they play out on camera for the world to see.

The University of Dayton conducted a study looking into the prevalence of aversive racism and sexism in the television series “Survivor”.

Aversive racism is a subtle form of implicit bias, where someone carries out behaviors or hold a mindset towards another person from a different racial or ethnic background; often without consciously recognizing it as bias.

In the study, researchers say aversive racists and sexists genuinely believe in equality and deny race or sex playing a role in their biased or discriminatory behavior.

However, data showed women and non-white contestants are more likely to be among the first four contestants voted out.

When contestants have to work as a team to remain in the game, non-white and female contestants are more likely to be voted out. Bias disappears when contestants are able to protect themselves from being voted out with individual immunity after the merge.

Racism on tv is not always loud. Sometimes, it quietly shapes outcomes while the cameras roll. When it does get loud, however, networks like CBS, Peacock and Bravo have policies in place to remove the contestant from the show once the incident have been verified.

CBS moved swiftly when “Big Brother” contestant Luke Valentine used a racial slur during Season 25.

“Big Brother” Season 15 winner Andy Herron tweeted, “Production should remove Luke. Set an example. Show current and future players that language like that will not be tolerated.”

Valentine was removed from the house within 48 hours and the ejection was mentioned on a live network broadcast.

In June 2020, “Big Brother” Season 21 winner Jackson Michie, was accused of being racist following his comments about protests over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin. He posted a public apology video where he said it was his “fault for not being educated enough.”

Removal and apology have become the industry’s default response. But this pattern across networks and seasons demands more than a reaction. It also demands prevention.

The question is whether anyone with the power to fix it is actually trying.

Photo by: Ben Symons/Peacock