"It was hard" Love Island USA's Belle-A opens up about Yulissa's shocking exit

Love Island USA Season 7 experienced its first major controversy of the season when contestant Yulissa Escobar was removed from the villa on day two after viewers discovered clips of her using the N word on a podcast. The abrupt departure left fellow islanders confused and without answers, as producers provided minimal explanation to the cast.

Belle-A Walker, who was eliminated during the first recoupling ceremony, recently opened up about the shocking situation during a post-show interview.

"It was hard. We entered the villa together. We were actually on the same flight, so right away, I felt like we had this connection. She brought this spicy energy to the mix, and her absence was definitely felt when she just disappeared," Belle-A revealed.

Love Island USA follows single contestants living together in a Fiji villa, forming romantic connections while competing for a $1 million prize at the same time. Contestants face regular elimination ceremonies called recouplings, where they must pair up to survive.

The format of Love Island creates intense relationships quickly, making sudden departures particularly impactful for remaining islanders. Yulissa's exit occurred just 18 minutes into the second episode, with narrator Iain Stirling simply stating that she had left the villa without further explanation.

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Yulissa’s departure from Love Island USA and its impact

Yulissa's removal from Love Island USA caught contestants completely off guard. Belle-A described the confusion surrounding her friend's sudden absence from the villa.

The producers approached the cast with minimal information about the situation.

"The producers came in and they told us that she had to go. They didn't give us any details," Belle-A explained.

Cast members were left with unanswered questions about their fellow islander's departure. The lack of transparency created an unsettling atmosphere among the remaining contestants.

Production allowed only brief discussion time before moving forward.

"We all had questions, but they basically gave us a couple of minutes to talk about how much we were gonna miss her and then move on from it, which was definitely difficult," Belle-A recalled.

The circumstances of Yulissa's exit prevented proper farewells between friends. Belle-A expressed disappointment about missing this closure opportunity.

"Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to say good-bye. I know that she was just pulled for a chat, and that was the last I got to see her," she shared.

The abrupt nature of the departure highlighted how quickly situations can change in reality television. What appeared to be a routine producer conversation became Yulissa's final villa moment.

This lack of closure affected Belle-A's villa experience. Losing a close connection so early disrupted her sense of stability in the competition.

Yulissa's absence created a noticeable shift in the villa's energy. Belle-A emphasized how her friend's personality had contributed to the group dynamic.

The timing proved particularly challenging since both women had just begun their Love Island journey together. Their shared travel experience had created an immediate bond.

"She brought this spicy energy to the mix, and her absence was definitely felt when she just disappeared," Belle-A noted.

The remaining contestants had to adjust their social dynamics while processing the unexplained departure. This adjustment period occurred during crucial early relationship-building days.

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How did the Love Island USA production team handle this?

Belle-A acknowledged the difficult position producers faced when addressing the situation. She recognized the business realities behind their approach.

"But it is a TV show at the end of the day, and sometimes that's just how things are. The show has to go on," she said with understanding.

The production team's decision to limit discussion time reflected their need to maintain show momentum. However, this approach left emotional impacts on the cast.

Belle-A's perspective suggests acceptance of reality television's sometimes harsh realities while acknowledging the human cost of such decisions.

Belle-A Walker's candid reflection on Yulissa Escobar's shocking Love Island USA exit reveals the emotional toll such sudden departures take on contestants. While production handled the situation with minimal explanation to protect the show's continuity, the human connections formed in the villa made the loss particularly difficult for those left behind. Belle-A's honest account provides insight into how reality television's business demands can conflict with the genuine relationships that develop among participants.

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Love Island USA Season 7 streams exclusively on Peacock with new episodes dropping nightly (except Wednesdays) at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m.