Cierra Ortega has exited Love Island USA days before the season 7 finale after backlash over resurfaced racist social media posts.
Love Island USA contestant Cierra Ortega has exited the villa just one week ahead of the Season 7 finale, amid growing backlash over resurfaced racist social media posts.
Peacock confirmed Ortega’s sudden departure from the reality series as a “personal” decision, but the announcement comes after viewers uncovered old posts in which Ortega, 25, used a racial slur targeting Asian people. According to People, some of the offensive posts were as recent as 2023. Her exit leaves fellow islander Nic Vansteenberghe single heading into the final stretch of the competition.
On Sunday, July 6, Ortega’s parents addressed the controversy in a statement posted to her Instagram Stories, saying the family has been “threatened” and sent “cruel messages” in the wake of the scandal.
“This has been one of the most painful weeks of our lives,” the statement read. “We’ve seen the posts, the headlines, the hurt and the hate. And while Cierra hasn’t seen any of it yet, we have. And so have the people who love her.”
The family did not attempt to excuse the behavior, adding, “We’re not here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced. We understand why people are upset, and we know accountability matters.”
They also asked the public to stop sending hateful messages, saying, “The attacks on her family, her friends, even her supporters, it’s heartbreaking. It’s uncalled for. And no one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistake they’ve made.”
Because Love Island USA contestants are isolated from the outside world and do not have access to their phones while filming, Ortega has reportedly not yet seen the backlash herself. Her parents confirmed she has left the villa but has not yet returned home.
“She hasn’t had the chance to process any of this or speak for herself,” the statement continued. “But we know our daughter. We know her heart. And when she returns, we believe she’ll face this with honesty, growth, and grace.”
Ortega’s exit comes just weeks after fellow contestant Yulissa Escobar was also removed from Love Island USA under similar circumstances. Escobar was dismissed following the resurfacing of a podcast clip where she used a racial slur. In a public apology, she admitted she hadn’t fully understood “the weight, history, or pain behind it.”
While Peacock has not released an official comment about Ortega’s departure, the back-to-back controversies have sparked renewed conversation around casting and accountability in reality television.
The Love Island USA Season 7 finale is just days away, but the season is already being defined by more than just coupling and eliminations.
