A Love Island USA contestant has been removed from the villa amid allegations she used a racial slur prior to appearing on the hit show.
Season 7 contestant Cierra Ortega became the second Islander to be removed in this US season for unacceptable language allegedly used before she entered the US reality show.
Just before the 16-minute mark, narrator Iain Stirling announced that Ortega had exited the villa telling the audience: “Cierra has left the villa due to a personal situation.”
No further information followed in the show and her exit was not shown.
But what has happened? Here is everything we know:
Why has Cierra Ortega left Love Island?
While the network Peacock has yet to provide an official explanation for Cierra’s exit, the move comes after resurfaced social media posts allegedly showed the 25-year-old using a racial slur.
It has been reported bosses were undergoing “crisis talks” to determine her fate, and it seems they decided removing her was the only option.
The furore began when a member of the public found an old social media post where Ortega was talking about how she was a fan of her recently acquired botox.
She posted a selfie and told her followers she was happy with the results, writing that she had opted for a “mini brow lift” to “open her eyes” and give her the “snatched” look she wanted. In the post she then used a derogatory racist word to describe people of Asian origin, saying that was the look she was trying to avoid.
What did producers say?
When made aware, they were said to be deeply unhappy about the post, and held meetings to determine what should be the next step.
A report in the US Sun revealed a source said: “Cierra is in deep trouble, that is for sure. This kind of word is unacceptable. It was a huge disappointment when we saw it. Everyone is very, very bothered and p*ssed about that.
“We will hold a meeting to decide what we should do… but it doesn’t look great at all for Cierra as a lot of us want to take her out of the show as soon as possible.
“This kind of behavior and use of this kind of word is unacceptable, and we condemn all kinds of racism, discrimination and insults towards anyone."
Who else has been kicked off the US Love Island this series?
The controversy mirrors a similar situation from earlier in the season.
Yulissa Escobar was removed just days after the Season 7 premiere for using a racial slur on multiple podcasts again prior to appearing on the show.
Escobar later issued an apology and addressed the allegations on Instagram.
She said: “First, I want to apologize for using a word I had no right in using. Podcast clips from years ago have recently resurfaced, and I want to address it directly,” she began.
“In those clips, I used a word I never should’ve used, a racial slur. I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it. I wasn’t trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognise now that intention doesn’t excuse impact. And the impact of that word is real. It’s tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use.
“At the time, I was speaking casually in conversation, not thinking deeply or critically about what I was saying. But that doesn’t take away from how wrong it was. The truth is, I didn’t know better then, but I do now. I’ve taken the time to reflect, to learn, and to grow from that moment.”
What has happened since Cierra Ortega left?
Fans have been quick to say the right decision was made in kicking her off the show.
Social media has been flooded by comments from people calling the use of the word “disgusting”.
One Reddit fan wrote: “She deserves everything she gets and should never be seen on our screens again. There is no place and no excuse for it in 2025.”
The backlash has led to her parents feeling forced to speak out on behalf of their daughter who is still with Love Island production staff and is not yet home.
In their statement on Instagram stories, Ortega’s parents said the past week had been "one of the most painful" of their lives, acknowledging the anger surrounding the post while condemning the level of hate and threats directed at their daughter and her supporters.
They wrote: "No one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistake they've made.”
The family clarified that Cierra has not seen the backlash herself and has yet to respond publicly, but they believe she will address the matter “with honesty, growth, and grace” upon her return. They asked fans and viewers for “compassion, patience, and basic human decency,” adding that their daughter would take responsibility in her own time.
