“There’s no need to fight hate with hate” — Love Island USA star Cierra Ortega apologises after slur controversy and exit from show

Cierra Ortega, a contestant on Love Island USA, has apologized in a video after having left the show when an older social media post resurfaced in which she had used a racial slur. The 25-year-old influencer from Los Angeles clarified in a video after she left, it was a post made in 2024 and included a derogatory slur towards Asian people.

In the video Cierra explained that she had no idea what the term meant when she posted it and as soon as she understood the meaning, she deleted it.

Cierra, who has both Mexican and Puerto Rican family, said this was difficult for her personally. She stated they have been having difficulty with harassment and threats to her and her family.

Cierra said people were reaching out to U.S. immigration to report her family, making them feel unsafe. In the video, addressing the level of public backlash,

“There’s no need to fight hate with hate. I don’t think that that’s justice,” Ortega said.

She added that while she accepts the network’s decision to remove her, she believes the situation should not lead to threats and harm toward others.

Love Island USA star Cierra says she deleted the post and accepted the network’s decision

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by ♡ 𝖈𝖎𝖊𝖗𝖗𝖆 𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖌𝖆 ♡ (@cierra.ortega)

In her apology, Cierra Ortega explained that the controversial post was made last year and that she was unaware of the slur’s meaning until someone messaged her about it.

“In that moment, I was embarrassed,” she said.

Cierra further added that she deleted the post immediately. She expressed that she understood why people were hurt and accepted the network’s decision to remove her from Love Island USA.

She addressed claims that she had refused to delete the post or doubled down on it, stating that such claims were false.

“I was apologetic and I educated, not only myself on the true meaning and history of the word, but also anyone around me,” she said.

Cierra said she wanted to take accountability for her actions and emphasised that she took steps to learn and inform others after the incident.

She also noted how difficult the situation had been to navigate due to the volume of criticism and online reactions.

Her video served as a public explanation of her exit from Love Island USA and an attempt to clarify misinformation spreading on social media.

Love Island USA star Cierra shares how the backlash has affected her and her family

While addressing her own actions, Ortega also spoke about the broader impact of the controversy, especially on her family.

She said that since the post resurfaced, both she and her family have faced online abuse and harassment.

“They have had ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] called on them,” she said.

Cierra further added,

“My family doesn’t feel safe in their own home. I’m receiving death threats.”

Cierra said the level of harassment has been “extremely difficult” and urged viewers not to respond with more harm.

Her remarks came shortly after fellow contestant Yulissa Escobar was removed from the villa following the resurfacing of a 2021 podcast clip in which she used a racial slur.

Escobar apologised in two posts, saying she did not understand the term’s history or impact at the time, and shared that she had received threats after leaving the show.

As Love Island USA continues its season on Peacock, the network aired a message during a recent episode urging viewers to stop harassing the cast.

With the show being one of the most streamed reality series this season, the incidents have drawn attention to how social media responses can escalate beyond criticism.

Stay tuned for more updates.