
Cierra Agrees With Love Island's Decision To Remove Her In Apology Video
“This is something that deserved punishment, and punishment has absolutely been received.”
In perhaps the biggest shake-up of Love Island USA Season 7, Cierra Ortega is no longer in the villa. As one of the season’s first bombshells, Cierra had been a notable presence for nearly the entirety of the dating experiment, forming a strong connection with Nic Vansteenberghe. Prior to her sudden departure, Cierra and Nic had become the only closed-off couple on the island. Just when it seemed like the pair was a strong candidate to win the whole season, Cierra disappeared without explanation.
Toward the beginning of Episode 30, which aired on July 6, narrator Iain Stirling stated that Cierra left the show “due to a personal situation.” Though the reason for her exit was not expanded upon, fans believe it has to do with social media uproar following resurfaced posts in which Cierra allegedly used an anti-Asian slur.
Cierra’s family shared a statement shortly after the episode aired that seemed to confirm social media backlash played a large part in the show’s decision to remove Cierra.
“As Cierra’s parents, this has been one of the most painful weeks of our lives,” the message from Cierra’s Instagram stories read. “The threats. The cruel messages. The attacks on her family, her friends, even her supporters, it’s so heartbreaking. It’s uncalled for, and no one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistake they’ve made.”
After a couple days, Cierra herself addressed the resurfaced posts, confirming the racial slur she used was the reason for her Love Island removal in a July 9 TikTok video.
“I am deeply, truly, honestly, so sorry,” Cierra said. “I had no idea that the word held as much pain, as much harm, and came with as much history that it did, or I never would have used it. I had no ill intention while I was using it, but that’s absolutely no excuse, because intent doesn’t excuse ignorance.”
Cierra went on to detail how she had removed the word from her vocabulary in 2024 when a follower explained its derogatory nature to her. Still, she understands why the resurfaced posts led to her being dropped from the show.
“I completely agree with the network’s decision to remove me from the villa,” Cierra said. “I think that this is something that deserved punishment, and punishment has absolutely been received, for sure.”
While she can accept being held accountable, Cierra went on to detail how the public backlash against her has become threatening to those around her: “What’s been extremely, extremely difficult is the way people are approaching my family and my loved ones. They have had ICE called on them. My family doesn’t feel safe in their own home. I’m receiving death threats. There’s no need to fight hate with hate. I don’t think that that’s justice, and if you want to know that you are heard and that I’m sorry and that I will move differently, I promise you that’s what will happen.”
Cierra’s quiet removal from the Fiji resort echoes another Season 7’s contestant’s similar exit earlier on. During the second episode of the season, Stirling also mentioned that Yulissa Escobar was no longer in the villa after entering as part of the first group of islanders. The removal is believed to have been the result of anti-Black racial slurs that had resurfaced from past podcast appearances Yulissa had made.
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