Cierra Ortega, a contestant on Love Island USA Season 7, was removed from the villa after past social media posts resurfaced in which she used a racial slur. On July 9, shortly after returning to the U.S., Ortega took to social media to publicly address the situation in a heartfelt video statement.
Facing the camera, she began:
I know a lot of people have been waiting for me to speak up about the news that’s come to light recently and now that I’ve been back in the US for about 48 hours and I’ve had the chance to process, I now feel like I’m at a space where I can speak about this without being highly emotional because I am not the victim in this situation.
Ortega acknowledged that old posts had resurfaced. She revealed her use of what she described as “an incredibly offensive and derogatory term.”
Before I get into the details, I want to first start by addressing not just anyone that I have hurt or deeply offended, but most importantly, the entire Asian community. I am deeply, truly, honestly, so sorry. 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 made it clear that her video wasn’t about saving face—it was about owning up to her mistake.
This is not an apology video. This is an accountability video. I do want to hold my hands up and say that I take accountability for using the word, but I do want it to be known that I genuinely had no idea that it was a slur. I had no idea of its meaning. And it wasn’t until I made the public story post in 2024 when a follower of mine reached out to correct me and let me know that what I was saying was incredibly hurtful. It was a derogatory term. It was a slur. And in that moment, I was embarrassed. I, of course, immediately deleted the post.
She added that the conversation helped her understand the word’s harmful impact. Ortega also notes that she removed it from her vocabulary from that moment on.
The word was immediately removed from my vocabulary. And I think right now there are tons of things floating around different screenshots with different timestamps and fueling this narrative that I sort of doubled down once people tried to correct me and was like, oh, like, I don’t know, I’m still going to use it. But I just, that was not the case. Like the truth is that in that moment, the lesson was learned, the word was removed and it was a true learning moment for me.
Cierra Ortega Responds to the Backlash
Ortega said she agrees with the show’s decision to remove her and believes consequences were necessary.
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 for sure. I think the backlash has obviously been very hard to deal with, but I understand that people are kind of confused on why I would have even said it or why I would have been doubling down and continuing to use it.
So I understand where the hate is coming from.
However, she expressed deep concern over the harassment her family has received in the aftermath.
what’s been extremely, extremely difficult is the way people are approaching my family and my loved ones. You know, they have had ICE called on them. My family doesn’t feel safe in their own home.
I’m receiving death threats like it’s there’s no need to fight hate with hate. I don’t think that that’s justice.
Ortega concluded by saying she’s committed to doing better and growing from the experience.
I know that no apology could ever be enough for the harm that I’ve caused and the offense that’s taken place. I know that moving forward my actions and how I decide to live my life from here on
out is going to speak louder than any apology ever could. But I do need it to be known that I am sorry and I did mean no harm and hopefully there are people out there that can use my mistake as a learning moment and to just be better because that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to take today and tomorrow and I’m going to take strides to be better and all I can ask for is even if you won’t give me forgiveness, if you can just allow me to grow with grace and hopefully instead of sitting here and trying to convince you that I am this amazing person who spreads light in the world and celebrates cultures and dynamics and backgrounds.
This marks the second time a contestant has been removed from Love Island USA Season 7 over past content involving racial slurs. The show and its network have taken a clear stance on accountability and public conduct. (Photo: Instagram.)
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