Controversial Exit: Cierra Ortega's Shocking Love Island USA Departure
LOVE ISLAND USA SHOCKER: Cierra Ortega's Past Racism Sparks Outrage and Calls for Removal
The drama has been heating up on Love Island USA, and this time it's not just about hookups and drama-filled episodes. The show has been mired in controversy after two cast members were removed from the villa due to past racial slurs. And now, another islander is facing the heat.
Cierra Ortega's Past Posts Come Back to Haunt Her
Love Island USA contestant Cierra Ortega has been at the center of a racism scandal after fans uncovered her past derogatory social media posts. The 25-year-old reality star's parents have finally broken their silence, and it's clear they're not taking this lightly.
On Sunday, Ortega's parents shared a statement on her Instagram account via Instastory, calling out the "most painful weeks of our lives." They acknowledged that their daughter had made mistakes in the past and expressed understanding for why people are upset. However, they also spoke out against the hate and cruelty directed towards their family, friends, and even supporters.
"We've seen the posts, the headlines, the hurt, and the hate," they wrote. "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."
The statement continued: "The threats, cruel messages, and attacks on her family, 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."
Ortega's parents emphasized that their daughter is not in the villa anymore but is still away from social media, unable to process or speak out about the situation herself. They expressed confidence that when she returns, Ortega will face this with honesty, growth, and grace.
In the meantime, her parents are asking for compassion, patience, and basic human decency – not just for their daughter but also for everyone caught in the middle of this drama.
Love Island USA's History of Racism Scandals
This season has been marred by controversy from the start. Another cast member, Yulissa Escobar, was removed from the show after fans uncovered videos of her using racial slurs on a podcast. Her swift departure sparked outrage among fans, who were quick to point out that she had received harsher treatment than Ortega.
Now, with Ortega's past racism surfacing, many are calling for her removal as well. The petition link is being shared on X (formerly Twitter) by fans like @deannacortes, who added, "Send Cierra Ortega home" with the hashtags #racist #LoveIslandUSA #stopasianhate.
Other X users have joined in, demanding that Ortega be held accountable for her past actions. One user, @ShaneAnime1990, said, "Cierra Ortega used a racist word now we have to cancel her if she did it once she'll do it again."
Cass Rabbit (@cassrabbit) took it up with Love Island USA and Peacock, tagging both in her tweet: "Get Cierra Ortega off your show. This is the third time I'm seeing she used a slur against Asians. Y'all rightfully kicked off Yulissa for saying the N-word; what about Cierra? Does racism against Asians not matter to you guys?"
The drama has taken a toll on Ortega's Instagram followers, with her tally dropping by over 200K since the posts resurfaced. She had been poised to potentially cross the 1 million follower mark during Love Island Season 7 but now stands at 695K.
With the show set to conclude in just one week, it remains to be seen if Ortega will face the same fate as Escobar.
