Why Cierra Ortega Suddenly Left <i>Love Island USA</i>

THE RUNDOWN

• Cierra Ortega made a sudden exit from Love Island USA season 7 in Sunday night’s episode.
• Her departure came after past posts of her using a racist slur surfaced online, drawing outcry from viewers.
• After she left the show, Ortega’s parents shared a statement on Instagram asking the public “for compassion” toward their daughter.

Cierra has left the villa. In Sunday night’s episode of Love Island USA, contestant Cierra Ortega unceremoniously left the series “due to a personal situation.” Her exit was not shown on camera, but instead was announced by narrator Ian Stirling mid-episode, with the rest of her co-stars shown reacting to her absence the next day. While Peacock has not outright explained the reason for her departure, it comes after past posts surfaced online in which Ortega allegedly used an Asian slur.

According to People, Ortega used the slur to describe her appearance in a January 2015 post, and again in February 2023 after getting Botox. The language drew widespread outcry from Love Island viewers, with many calling for her to be removed from the series.

With Ortega now out of the picture, that leaves her partner, costar Nic Vansteenberghe, single in the villa. Given the two were one of the strongest couples of the season, this is a major shake-up with only about a week left before the July 13 finale. But fans have high hopes for whom he should couple-up with next.

Here’s what we know about Ortega’s exit and how it affects the show.

She has not personally responded to the news, but her parents posted a statement on her Instagram Story following Sunday night’s episode, writing that this has been “one of the most painful weeks of our lives.” They clarified that while Ortega herself had not yet seen the public reactions at the time of writing, her family and friends have seen the headlines regarding her controversial posts, as well as “the hurt and the hate.”

“We’re not here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced,” they continued. “We understand why people are upset, and we know accountability matters. But what’s happening online right now has gone far beyond that. 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.

“While Cierra is not in the villa anymore, she is still away. 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.

“While she’ll always be our little girl, she’s also a woman, one who will take responsibility in her own time and her own voice.

“Until then, 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.”

Read their full statement below.

Ortega’s friend MJ Hedderman, who handled her social media account while she was filming, also took a break from posting after the controversy arose.

“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,” Hedderman wrote on her own Instagram Story, according to Us Weekly. “I discovered it at the same time as all of you did.”

She 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.”

Cierra and Nic on Love Island USA season 7.

The reactions are mixed, with some celebrating the producers’ decision to remove Ortega from the show and others believing they went too far. Former season 7 contestant Belle-A Walker, who is of Asian descent, also shared a statement on the controversy, per People. She denounced usage of the slur, but also asked for fans to show Ortega kindness.

“I do not condone bigotry or racism of any kind. But I also don’t condone hate either,” Walker wrote. “Please think twice before leaving unkind comments to or about this person. I love you all so much.”

Some fans are also rooting for Nic to move on with co-star Olandria, whom he was coupled up with earlier in the season but they decided to leave things as friends. In Sunday night’s episode, “Nicolandria” shippers got what they wanted when the two ended up together following the latest recoupling ceremony.

A similar move happened earlier this season with contestant Yulissa Escobar, after past footage of her using the N-word surfaced and disturbed fans. She also exited off-screen in episode 2, with Stirling mentioning in his narration that she had left the villa. Escobar later expressed remorse in an Instagram statement on June 6: “To those who are disappointed or offended, I understand and I apologize. I am sorry,” she wrote.

As for whether Ortega will make a similar statement or address the controversy in-person during the reunion, we’ll have to wait and see.