Love Island USA just lost another Islander.
During Sunday’s episode of the hit Peacock series, hosted by Ariana Madix, it was confirmed that Cierra Ortega would no longer be part of the show. The news follows a statement from Ortega’s family, urging the public to respond with “compassion” and “basic human decency.”
So, what happened?
Recently, alleged social media posts from Ortega resurfaced online. One of the posts, shown in a circulating screenshot, reportedly contained an ethnic slur, sparking backlash and leading to her abrupt exit from the villa.
“I can also be a little ch*nky when I laugh/smile so I love getting a mini brow lift to open up my eyes and get that snatched look,” read the resurfaced post, which ignited a wave of backlash online.
What has Love Island USA said about the controversy?
So far, the show has remained tight-lipped and hasn’t issued a formal statement addressing the situation. Instead, Cierra Ortega’s departure was subtly acknowledged during Sunday night’s episode.
“Welcome back to Love Island USA,” the narrator said around the 15-minute mark of Episode 30 in Season 7. “Cierra has left the villa due to a personal situation, leaving Nic [Vansteenberghe] officially single.”
Nic Vansteenberghe opened up about Cierra Ortega’s unexpected departure, revealing he initially felt shaken by the sudden change. “My strongest connection is now gone,” he said early in the episode. Later, he reflected, “Right before Cierra had left, my mind was clear. I knew what the future would look like. Now I’m lost.” By the episode’s end, though, he appeared to be coming to terms with the situation.
As for Ortega, she has yet to make a public statement herself. However, a message shared to Instagram by her family on Sunday suggests she plans to speak out soon and “face this with honesty.”
“As Cierra’s parents, this has been one of the most painful weeks of our lives,” the statement began. “We’ve seen the posts, the headlines, the hurt and the hate. And while Cierra hasn’t seen any of it yet, we have. And so have the people who love her.”
The family acknowledged the backlash while urging the public to draw a line: “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.”
They went on to mention the threats, hateful messages, and personal attacks they’ve received, saying, “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.”
