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Reality TV star Huda Mustafa has issued a public apology to fellow cast member Olandria Carthen following outrage over her reaction during a livestream in which a racial slur was used. The incident occurred while Mustafa and her boyfriend, fellow reality personality Louis Russell, were streaming live on Instagram when an anonymous caller referred to Carthen using a derogatory term. The two hosts appeared stunned and giggled immediately after the comment, then ended the call.
In her Instagram statement, Mustafa acknowledged the gravity of the moment and expressly apologised to Carthen. She wrote, “Olandria – it is now clear the comment was targeted at you, and I apologise for my immediate reaction.” She explained that her laughter was a reflexive, nervous response—“being caught off guard, not finding the word or situation funny” and insisted that she does not condone or tolerate the use of such language. Mustafa added she is making a “personal donation” to the NAACP and encouraged others who felt moved to contribute to organizations working toward racial justice.
Olandria responded with her own statement, saying: “That kind of language is never acceptable. Not in anger, not as a joke, not ever. Words like that carry generations of pain.” She emphasised that meaningful change requires more than surface-level apologies and used the moment to call for accountability and community support.
Fans and media quickly flagged the exchange as troubling, particularly given the racial dynamics at play and the very public setting. Although Mustafa and Russell said they did not initially realise what had been said, critics argue that once the slur was understood they should have taken more proactive steps to condemn it rather than respond with laughter.
For both Mustafa and Carthen, the episode shows the intense scrutiny cast members face. Show producers reportedly held meetings behind the scenes and began reviewing behavior and processes; casting executives have since mentioned stricter vetting for future seasons. For her part, Mustafa said the moment prompted reflection and renewed commitment to anti-racist values.