Contestant Amaya, victor in Love Island USA's sixth season, confronted with accusations of colorism, following the resurfacing of racist claims made by contestant Kenny previously.
Amaya Espinal, a contestant on the seventh season of Love Island USA, has found herself at the centre of a storm of controversy. The 25-year-old from New York City, who calls her fans "papayas", has been accused of sharing a colourist Facebook post in 2014 when she was about 14 years old.
The post, which she reportedly shared but did not create, stereotypically categorized light-skinned, brown-skinned, and dark-skinned women. It praised light-skinned women with positive attributes, while it negatively described dark-skinned women as "always using filters to make them lighter" and "doing anything to get money".
These allegations have resurfaced recently, causing a stir among fans and sparking debates on social media platforms. Some fans have defended Amaya, claiming that she shared the post as a teenager and may not have endorsed the content. However, others have expressed their disappointment and called for her to address the accusations.
Amaya has not publicly responded to the claims made against her.
The controversy surrounding Amaya is not the only racially charged incident to have occurred on Love Island USA. Previous contestants have also been booted from the villa due to past racist remarks. Yulissa left the villa due to speculation about a resurfaced video of Yulissa using the N-word in a past podcast interview. Cierra Ortega also left the villa due to using a slur against the Asian population.
Another contestant, Kenny Rodriguez from Season 6, has also been accused of being racist. Allegedly, the reason behind JaNa and Kenny's breakup was that JaNa found racist texts on Kenny's phone.
Despite the controversy, Amaya and Bryan Arenales won the Peacock dating show Love Island USA and left $100,000 richer. It remains to be seen how these allegations will affect their future and the public's perception of them.
References: [1] TikTok user @loveislandtea (2023). Amaya Espinal's controversial Facebook post resurfaces. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdK6Fz2x/ [2] @loveislandupdates (2023). Amaya Espinal accused of colourism on Love Island USA. [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/loveislandupdates/status/1670407930986810368
- Amaya Espinal's reign as a Love Island USA celebrity has been marred by the resurfaced controversy over a 2014 colorist Facebook post she allegedly shared, which has sparked debates on pop-culture platforms, drawing comparisons to other racially charged incidents on the show.
- The style of entertainment in the reality show Love Island USA has often faced scrutiny, with numerous contestants, including Amaya, being accused of inappropriate comments or actions, raising questions about the show's influence on pop-culture norms.
