Former 'Love Island USA' contestant Cierra Ortega apologizes for using
racial slur
[July 10, 2025]
By ITZEL LUNA
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former “Love Island USA” contestant Cierra Ortega
apologized Wednesday for resurfaced posts where she used a racial slur
against Asian people.
Ortega, who was half of one of the season’s strongest couples, left the
villa just a week before the popular reality show’s finale after old
posts resurfaced that contained the slur.
Ortega addressed the entire Asian community in her nearly five minute
TikTok video and said she is “deeply, truly, honestly so sorry.”
“This is not an apology video. This is an accountability video,” Ortega
said.
“I had no idea that the word held as much pain, as much harm, and came
with the history that it did, or I never would have used it,” Ortega
said. “I had no ill intention when I was using it, but that’s absolutely
no excuse because intent doesn’t excuse ignorance.”
Ortega, who has been back in the United States for about 48 hours, said
she has struggled most with the backlash experienced by her family, who
she said doesn't feel safe in their own home, and have had immigration
authorities called on them.
“There's no need to fight hate with hate. I don't think that that's
justice," Ortega said. "And if you want to know that you're heard and
that I'm sorry and that I will move differently, I promise you, that's
what will happen.”
Ortega’s removal from the villa was announced early in Sunday’s episode.
Host Iain Stirling said she had left “due to a personal situation.”
“I completely agree with the network’s decision to remove me from the
villa. I think that this is something that deserved punishment and the
punishment has absolutely been received,” Ortega said.
Her video made no mention of her “Love Island” partner, Nic
Vansteenberghe. He remained in the villa single when Ortega left,
ultimately recoupling with fellow islander Orlandria Carthen in the same
episode. The couple is still in competition as of Tuesday’s episode.
Ortega said she was unaware she was using a racial slur until a follower
pointed it out after she posted an Instagram story in 2024 that used the
term. It was one of the posts that resurfaced during her time in the
villa.
At this point, Ortega said “the word was immediately removed from my
vocabulary.”
“I know that moving forward, my actions and how I decide to live my life
from here on out is gonna speak louder than any apology ever could,”
Ortega said.
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This image released by Peacock shows Cierra Ortega in an episode of
"Love Island USA." (Ben Symons/Peacock via AP)
 Ortega’s departure from the villa
followed Yulissa Escobar, who left the villa last month in the
second episode after clips of her using racist language resurfaced
online. Her departure was also not explained in the show.
A spokesperson for the show declined to comment Monday.
Escobar, who initially issued an apology on her Instagram story
shortly after she departed the villa, took to TikTok a day after
Ortega left to ask viewers to stop cyberbullying contestants.
“I know what I said was wrong. I know what Cierra said was wrong,
and I know it hurt communities,” Escobar said. “All I ask you guys
is instead of threatening her and her family, try to educate us,
her, me.”
Escobar said she was “honestly scared to come home,” when she first
got her phone back after exiting the villa and saw the messages she
had received.
“I was like, is something going to happen to me? Like, is somebody
going to do something to me? Because it was just a lot to take in
and even my family was worried,” Escobar said. “It’s not easy to
take that when you’re getting all these threats online.”
The show, which strips contestants of their phones or access to the
outside world, has previously asked fans to avoid cyberbullying
contestants. Host Ariana Madix called for fans to stop doxxing and
harassing the show’s stars in a recent interview with The Associated
Press.
“Love Island USA” is an American spin-off of the original U.K.
series and is airing its seventh season. The show airs daily except
Wednesdays and brings young singles together in a remote villa in
Fiji to explore connections with the ultimate goal of finding love.
Couples undergo challenges and are encouraged test their romantic
connections as new contestants are introduced. Islanders are
routinely “dumped” from the villa throughout the series as stronger
couples form. Sunday's finale will culminate with one couple who
receives the most public votes being awarded $100,000.
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