Cierra Ortega was removed from Love Island USA Season 7 after old social media posts containing a racial slur against Asians went viral. The show announced her exit as a “personal situation,” but fans and media outlets linked it to the growing backlash over her past comments.
Cierra Ortega’s Controversial Posts and Backlash
Fans uncovered two social media posts where Cierra Ortega used an anti-Asian slur. One was a 2015 Instagram caption where she wrote, “Still chkin’ at the top.” Another post from *2023* showed her discussing Botox, saying, “I can also be a little chky when I laugh/smile so I love getting a mini brow lift.”
The term is a well-known racial slur, and fans demanded her removal from the show. Over 17,000 people signed a petition titled “Send Cierra Home #StopAsianHate.”
“It is very offensive to compare your biggest insecurity, something you feel you need plastic surgery about, to an entire race,” said Hannah Sophia Kim, a beauty founder who had previously supported Ortega.
Love Island USA’s Response and Ortega’s Exit
The show’s narrator, Iain Stirling, announced Ortega’s departure in a brief statement:
“Cierra has left the villa due to a personal situation, leaving Nic officially single.”
Producers later told the cast:
“Unfortunately, Cierra has broken some of the policies of our guidelines. She’ll no longer be here in the villa.”
This made her the second contestant removed this season after Yulissa Escobar, who was booted for using a racial slur in a podcast.
Reactions from Ortega’s Family and Friends
Ortega’s parents posted a statement on her Instagram Story, saying:
“We’ve seen the posts, the headlines, the hurt and the hate. We’re not here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced. We understand why people are upset, and we know accountability matters. But what’s happening online right now has gone far beyond that.”
They also said Ortega had not seen the backlash yet and asked for “compassion, patience, and basic human decency.”
Her friend MJ Hedderman, who managed her social media, stepped down, saying:
“I do not condone racism, bigotry, or hate in any way.”
Another friend, Johnnie Olivia, who is part Filipino, unfollowed Ortega and said:
“I do not support or condone that kind of language, never have, never will.”
Impact on the Show and Fan Reactions
Ortega’s exit left her partner, Nic Vansteenberghe, single before the finale. He said:
“Before Cierra left, my mind was clear. I knew what the future would look like, and now, I’m lost.”
Fans had mixed reactions. Some celebrated her removal, while others worried about online bullying:
“CIERRA FINALLY GOT KICKED OUT🥳😜” – TikTok user
“Am I the only one concerned about her mental health? What she said was wrong, but people are overdoing it.” – Instagram comment
Former contestant Belle-A Walker, who is Asian American, supported the decision:
“Asian hate is oftentimes overlooked. But being a first-generation American, I’ve personally witnessed how hurtful these comments are.”
What Happens Next?
Ortega has not yet spoken publicly. The Love Island USA Season 7 finale airs on July 13, without her in the running.
Also read: Cierra Ortega Apologizes for Racial Slur in Resurfaced Posts After Love Island USA Exit
Credits: News reports from CNN, Washington Post, NBC News, and Hindustan Times.
