Love Island USA's Cierra Ortega is no longer a contestant on Season 7, having left the villa "for personal reasons" amid a storm of controversy over her previous online behavior. The 25-year-old content creator from Los Angeles was notably absent from the most recent episode after an old video dating back to 2015 resurfaced, which included a derogatory term for Chinese individuals in an Instagram post. This drew considerable backlash from fans and prompted discussions about accountability and racism.
Cierra's family, who have been managing her social media presence during her time on the show, released a statement supporting her and condemning the hate she has received online. They expressed that the past week has been extremely painful, stating, "No-one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistakes they've made." They acknowledged the hurt caused by her social media post and called for compassion, patience, and basic human decency as Cierra processes the backlash.
After Cierra's exit, islander Yulissa Escobar also departed from the reality show following the re-emergence of clips featuring her using a racial slur on a podcast from 2021. Yulissa has since apologized for her use of the term, stating that she had used it "ignorantly" and promised to engage in reflection and accountability.
The producers behind Love Island USA have yet to comment on the situation, as the cast navigates these intense moments filled with personal discovery and accountability amidst the ongoing public scrutiny.
Cierra's family, who have been managing her social media presence during her time on the show, released a statement supporting her and condemning the hate she has received online. They expressed that the past week has been extremely painful, stating, "No-one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistakes they've made." They acknowledged the hurt caused by her social media post and called for compassion, patience, and basic human decency as Cierra processes the backlash.
After Cierra's exit, islander Yulissa Escobar also departed from the reality show following the re-emergence of clips featuring her using a racial slur on a podcast from 2021. Yulissa has since apologized for her use of the term, stating that she had used it "ignorantly" and promised to engage in reflection and accountability.
The producers behind Love Island USA have yet to comment on the situation, as the cast navigates these intense moments filled with personal discovery and accountability amidst the ongoing public scrutiny.
