What We Know About ‘Love Island USA’ Contestant Cierra Ortega’s Exit

Topline

Cierra Ortega, one of the stars of Peacock’s reality dating show “Love Island USA,” left on Sunday night’s episode for personal reasons, according to the show, though it comes amid a storm of controversy on social media after alleged old posts of hers resurfaced that included a derogatory term for Chinese people.

Cierra Ortega left the “Love Island USA” villa on Sunday night’s episode. (Photo by: Ben … More Symons/Peacock via Getty Images)

Ben Symons/Peacock via Getty Images

Key Facts

During the 30th episode of “Love Island USA” season seven, which aired Sunday night on Peacock, narrator Iain Stirling said Ortega had “left the villa due to a personal situation,” though Peacock has not clarified why Ortega departed or whether her exit was voluntary.

Her exit occurred amid a slew of backlash on social media in which years-old posts allegedly made by Ortega resurfaced.

In one post, she appears to use a derogatory term for Chinese people to refer to her eyes while describing her reasons for getting Botox procedures.

Ortega has not had access to social media while on the show, but her parents posted on her Instagram after Sunday’s episode that the online response to her alleged old posts went “far beyond” seeking accountability and devolved into “threats” and “cruel messages.”

Ortega’s exit follows that of contestant Yulissa Escobar, who was removed in the second episode after videos resurfaced of her using the N-word on a podcast.

Escobar apologized in social media posts after her exit, though she has also decried online bullying and said in an Instagram post some viewers have made it a “mission to break people down, not just me, but everyone who stepped into that villa.”

Forbes has reached out to Peacock for comment.

Why Did Some Fans Push For Cierra Ortega’s Exit?

The controversy over her alleged old posts went viral on social media, and the comment sections of many posts on the “Love Island USA” Instagram account were flooded with fans demanding Ortega’s removal. Some fans pointed to the earlier removal of Escobar as reason to remove Ortega. “[T]he hypocrisy of removing yulissa (who was rightfully removed) but not cierra….” one commenter said under a “Love Island USA” Instagram post, receiving 10,000 likes. Some fans, however, expressed concern for Ortega’s mental health and felt the criticism amounted to online bullying. A change.org petition urging producers to “acknowledge the racism against the Asian community and hold Cierra accountable for her blatant racism” garnered more than 17,000 signatures as of Monday morning.

What Happened After Ortega’s Exit?

Ortega was in a relationship with Nicolas Vansteenberghe while on the show. After Ortega’s exit was announced, the show cut to Vansteenberghe discussing Ortega with the rest of the men in the villa. “Right before Cierra had left, my mind was clear. I knew what the future would look like, and now I’m lost,” he said. Later in the episode, the contestants were made to pick new partners in a “recoupling.” Vansteenberghe was chosen by Olandria Carthen, with whom he had previously explored a relationship before becoming exclusive with Ortega.

What Has The “love Island” Cast And Crew Said About Ortega’s Exit?

Isabelle-Anne Walker, who went by the nickname “Belle-A” on the show before she was eliminated after one week, posted a statement on her Instagram story criticizing Ortega’s alleged use of the slur while objecting to the online hate directed her way. “As a proud Asian American woman, I’m deeply appreciative of the ‘Love Island USA’ producers for taking a stand and making it clear that racism of any kind is not tolerated,” Walker said, while urging followers to “think twice before leaving unkind comments to or about this person.” Ariana Madix, host of “Love Island USA,” liked several comments on her TikTok account that suggested Madix was aware of Ortega’s alleged resurfaced posts and had no responsibility over the show. “How is Cierra saying a slur and the production not taking her off Ariana’s fault?” one commenter said, which Madix liked.

“love Island’s” Tragic History: 3 U.k. Deaths

Two former contestants from the U.K. series, and former “Love Island U.K.” host Caroline Flack, died by suicide after appearing on the show, and a U.K. Parliament committee launched an investigation into the ethics of the show in 2019. The U.K. version has since ramped up its mental health support for contestants, and Madix told NBC News the show offers mental health counseling for contestants both during and after the show.

Key Background

“Love Island USA” previously issued a warning against online hate directed toward the contestants on June 24, telling viewers in an Instagram post: “We appreciate the fans, the passion for the series, and the amazing group of Islanders who are sharing their summer with us. Please just remember they’re real people – so let’s be kind and spread the love!” The show did not specify which contestants had received online hate, but many fans speculated in the comments section the show was referring to contestant Huda Mustafa, whose contentious early relationship with Jeremiah Brown was a source of drama on the show. The show issued a similar warning to viewers last year before the season six reunion as contestants had received an onslaught of online criticism. The “Love Island” franchise, particularly the original United Kingdom series, has faced scrutiny for its impact on contestants’ mental health.