Islanders
‘Love Island USA’s Cierra Ortega Leaves the Villa After Controversial Post Resurfaces
Another day, another Love Island USA scandal. Cierra Ortega is the latest Love Island USA Season 7 Islander to leave the show amid online backlash.
During the July 6 episode, narrator Iain Stirling announced that Cierra had “left the villa due to personal reasons.” This meant that Nic Vansteenberghe was “officially single.” So, what happened with Cierra?
Many Love Island USA viewers had been calling for Cierra’s removal from the show after a video resurfaced online of her using racist language to describe her eyes before getting cosmetic work. Season 7 contestant Yulissa Escobar was eliminated from the show after two episodes following a similar scandal in which she used a racial slur during a podcast. Yulissa has since apologized.
Cierra has not yet spoken out about her exit. Following the June 6 episode of Love Island USA, Cierra’s parents released a statement on their daughter’s Instagram Story. They said this has been “one of the most painful weeks of our lives.”
“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,” Cierra’s parents continued. “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.”
Cierra Ortega / Instagram
They added, “The threats. The cruel messages. 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. She hasn’t had the chance to process any of this or speak for herself. But we know our daughter. We know her heart. And when she returns, we believe she’ll face this with honesty, growth, and grace.”
Cierra’s parents said that Cierra “will take responsibility in her own time and her own voice. We’re simply asking for compassion. For patience. For basic human decency. Not just for her, but for everyone caught in the middle of this.”
In the days leading up to Cierra’s departure from Fiji, her friend and social media handler, MJ Hedderman, addressed the controversy. “I want to be clear that I do not condone racism, bigotry or hate in any way shape or form, nor was I aware of the recent screenshots until they were posted,” MJ’s Instagram Story read on July 4. “I discovered it at the same time as all of you did.”
MJ added, “I cannot speak for anybody or make any statements besides my own, and decided to take a step back from running her account. I was asked by her family to turn off comments and refrain from speaking on her behalf. This situation has been really difficult, and I’m still processing everything.”
With only one week left before the Season 7 finale, Nic was stunned by Cierra’s sudden exit. “Right before Cierra had left, my mind was clear,” Nic said. “I knew what the future would look like, and now I’m lost. I think now that my strongest connection is gone, there’s like… just figure it out from here.” He admitted that he wasn’t sure if he would ultimately explore another connection in the villa.
Love Island USA, Season 7, Every Day Except Wednesdays, Peacock
