Who is Cierra Ortega? Contestant removed from Love Island USA Season 7 over past racial slur | Mint
Cierra Ortega, a contestant on Love Island USA, has left the show just a week before the Season 7 finale — and her sudden departure is making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
On Sunday night’s episode, the show’s narrator announced that Cierra had left the villa due to a “personal situation.” No further details were shared, but fans quickly connected the dots: just days earlier, old social media posts allegedly showing Ortega using racist language had resurfaced online.
In the now-viral posts from 2015 and 2023, Ortega allegedly used a slur targeting the Asian community while joking about getting Botox. The backlash was swift and intense — she reportedly lost over 200,000 followers, and more than 17,000 people signed a petition calling for her removal. The show had already set a precedent earlier in the season when another contestant, Yulissa Escobar, was removed after a video of her using the N-word came to light.
While Love Island USA and streaming platform Peacock have not commented on Ortega’s exit, her family broke their silence with a heartfelt statement on social media.
“We’ve seen the posts, the headlines, the hurt, and the hate,” her parents wrote. “And while Cierra hasn’t seen any of it yet, we have. We’re not here to excuse anything. We understand why people are upset and we know accountability matters. But the online attacks — the threats, the cruel messages — have gone far beyond that. No one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistake they’ve made.”
Her parents stressed that Cierra hasn’t had the chance to process the situation yet, but they believe she will take responsibility with “honesty, growth, and grace” once she returns.
“We’re asking for compassion. For patience. For basic human decency,” the statement concluded. “Not just for her, but for everyone caught in the middle of this.”
Meanwhile, former contestant Belle-A Walker, who was eliminated soon after Ortega’s arrival, praised the producers for “taking a stand” against racism. In an Instagram Story, she shared her own experience as a first-generation American and highlighted how anti-Asian hate is often overlooked.
“I don’t condone racism — or hate of any kind,” Walker said. “Please think twice before leaving unkind comments. Let’s remember to treat each other with humanity.”
As the season nears its end, Ortega’s departure has sparked conversations around racism, accountability, and how we treat people in the public eye — even when they’ve made serious mistakes.
#LoveIslandUSA #CierraOrtega #StopAsianHate #RealityTVDrama #AccountabilityMatters