Contestant Exits “Love Island USA” Amid Controversy
Cierra Ortega, a contestant on this summer’s “Love Island USA,” left the villa just a week before the finale of the popular reality series is set to air on Peacock. Her departure was announced on Sunday and followed weeks of public backlash after old social media posts resurfaced that included a racial slur against Asian people. The show’s narrator, Iain Stirling, revealed during an early segment of Sunday’s episode that Ortega had left due to a personal situation.
Ortega is the second contestant this season to exit the show amid controversy over past social media activity. Earlier this month, Yulissa Escobar left the show in the second episode after clips of her using racist language were shared online. Her departure was also not explained by the show.
A representative for the show did not respond to requests for comment on Monday. However, Ortega’s family took to her Instagram story on Sunday evening, urging the public for compassion, patience, and basic human decency. They emphasized that while Ortega is no longer in the villa, she has not had the opportunity to process what has happened or speak for herself.
“We know our daughter. We know her heart. And when she returns, we believe she’ll face this with honesty, growth, and grace,” her family wrote. They also mentioned that they, along with Ortega’s friends and supporters, have faced threats and cruel messages on social media, adding that no one deserves such hate, regardless of their past mistakes.
About “Love Island USA”
“Love Island USA” is an American version of the original U.K. series and is currently airing its seventh season. The show features young singles brought together in a remote villa in Fiji, where they explore romantic connections with the goal of finding love. Episodes air daily except on Wednesdays.
Throughout the series, contestants participate in challenges and are encouraged to test their relationships as new participants are introduced. As stronger couples form, others are often “dumped” from the villa. The winning couple receives $100,000.
The show has previously urged fans to avoid cyberbullying contestants. Host Ariana Madix recently called for fans to stop doxxing and harassing the show’s stars in an interview with The Associated Press.
Ortega’s Impact on the Show
Ortega entered the villa at the end of the first episode as a bombshell, one of many new contestants who join after the show begins. These newcomers are often expected to disrupt existing relationships and create new dynamics. Ortega quickly formed a connection with Nic Vansteenberghe, whom she remained with until her departure.
Her exit disrupted one of the few consistent couples of the season. The couple had recently announced they were “closed off,” a common phrase on the show indicating neither was interested in pursuing other relationships. Vansteenberghe expressed his confusion and loss during Sunday’s episode, saying, “Before Cierra had left, my mind was clear. I knew what the future would look like, and now, I’m lost.”
After Ortega left, Vansteenberghe remained on the show as a single contestant and eventually reconnected with fellow islander Olandria Carthen before the episode ended.
Reactions from Other Contestants
Belle-A Walker, a contestant who was dumped earlier in the season, shared her emotional response to Ortega’s situation on Instagram. As an Asian American, she expressed gratitude to the show’s producers for addressing the issue of racism.
“Asian hate is oftentimes overlooked and dismissed. But being a first-generation American, I have personally witnessed and experienced how real and hurtful comments like these are,” she wrote. She hopes the situation will bring attention to the prevalence of anti-Asian hate.
Ortega’s departure has sparked important conversations about accountability, forgiveness, and the impact of past actions on current relationships. As the show continues, it remains to be seen how the remaining contestants will navigate the challenges ahead.
