Love Island USA season 8 viewers are convinced producers made last-minute casting adjustments following contestant Vasana Montgomery's removal ahead of launch.
Speculation intensified after fans noticed contestant Gabriel Vasconcelos did not receive the same social media rollout as the rest of the original Islanders before the June 2 premiere.
Many viewers now believe Gabriel's role was altered after Montgomery exited the villa days before the show debuted.
Montgomery was removed from the cast on May 28 after resurfaced videos allegedly showed her using racial slurs.
The backlash spread online, with viewers criticizing Peacock for allegedly casting another contestant linked to racist controversy.
Fans on Reddit began speculating that producers may have quietly reshuffled the lineup before the premiere episode aired.
Theories gained more traction after the Season 8 premiere showed Gabriel entering the Fiji villa as a Bombshell rather than appearing alongside the original Islanders at the start of the episode.
