Emerging with greater clarity are the circumstances surrounding Cierra Ortega's abrupt departure from Love Island USA. Zak Srakaew, a Casa Amor participant who was eliminated shortly after Cierra, shed light on her exit during a TikTok Live session on July 8th. He recounted how the cast was informed, revealing a lack of specifics.
"The producers assembled us all, and in a solemn tone, they conveyed, 'Regrettably, Cierra has violated some of our guidelines and policies. She will no longer continue her journey in the villa, and that is all the information we can impart to you at this moment,'" Zak disclosed. "Thus, when we were gathered, we were all in the dark about the specifics, and that was the extent of their communication to us."
At the time of her exit, Cierra was paired exclusively with Nic Vansteenberghe, leaving him unexpectedly single. The July 6th episode saw narrator Iain Stirling announce Cierra's departure due to a "personal situation," amidst fans' clamors for her removal over resurfaced racist social media posts.
"Nic was deeply saddened by her absence, yet he struggled to fully express his emotions until he understood the underlying reasons for her departure," Zak observed. "When someone is removed from a show for offensive remarks, it's challenging to extend sympathy until one knows the full extent of their actions."
Fans uncovered at least two alleged posts by the 25-year-old influencer containing derogatory slurs directed towards Chinese people. One from January 2015 saw her using a racial slur to describe her smile, and another in February 2023 repeated the slur while undergoing Botox treatment.
Promptly after her removal, Cierra's parents took to her Instagram Stories with a heartfelt statement, describing the ordeal as "one of the most agonizing weeks of our lives." "We do not seek to justify or dismiss what has come to light," they penned. "We comprehend the outrage and the importance of accountability. However, the online vitriol has transcended these bounds."
Within 48 hours of the posts resurfacing, Cierra reportedly lost 200,000 followers, as per the Daily Mail. Additionally, over 17,000 individuals signed a petition demanding her removal from the show.
Cierra marks the second contestant to be ejected from Love Island USA's seventh season. Earlier in the season, Yulissa Escobar made an unexpected exit during episode two after using the N-word in two separate podcast appearances. On June 6th, she issued a profound apology on Instagram.
"In those clips, I uttered a word I never should have; a racial slur," she acknowledged. "I used it out of ignorance, unaware of its gravity, history, or the pain it inflicted." "My intentions were never to offend or harm, but I now recognize that intentions do not negate impact. The impact of that word is profound, intertwined with generations of trauma, and it is not mine to wield," she continued. "To those disappointed or offended, I understand and I apologize. I am truly sorry," Yulissa added.
Love Island USA's seventh season airs daily, excluding Wednesdays, at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.
