LOVE Island USA star Cierra Ortega has broken her silence after being given the boot from the series over a historic racial slur.
The Peacock show contestant, 25, has touched down on home turf following her explosive show exit and subsequent “racism” scandal.
Instagram/cierra.ortegaLove Island USA’s Cierra Ortega has broken her silence after being sent home from the show[/caption] PeacockHer exit earlier this month came after a racial slur apparently resurfaced[/caption] GettyThe content creator told how she agreed with the decision of show bosses to send her home[/caption]Viewers had been calling for Love Island USA producers to send Cierra, 25, home after an Instagram Story allegedly from her account resurfaced last week.
Now, 48 hours after being dumped, the content creator told how she is “deeply, truly, honestly so sorry,” in a candid Instagram video filmed at her home.
She addressed how the offensive clip resurfaced – and admitted she “completely agreed” with matchmaking show bosses who made the decision to call time on her Love Island experience.
Cierra told how she would “speak about the news that has come to light recently” because she was “at a space where I can speak about this without being highly emotional.”
She continued: “Because I am not the victim in this situation.
“While I was in the villa there were some posts that resurfaced from my past in which I was very naively using an incredibly offensive and derogatory term.
“Before I get into the details, I want to address not just anyone 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 it did or I never would have used it.
“I had no ill intention when I was using it but that’s absolutely no excuse because intent doesn’t excuse ignorance, it just doesn’t.
“I just need you to know I am so sorry.”
In her lengthy message, which saw Cierra wearing a black jumper and green pendant necklace, she continued: “But this isn’t an apology video, this is an accountability video.
“I do want to hold my hands up and say I take accountability for using the word.
LOVE ISLAND USA SEASON 7 CAST
Love Island USA has returned to Peacock for Season 7 with a new cast - and new drama! Check out the cast of Love Island USA below.
Original cast members:
-Chelley Bissainthe, 27, Orlando, Florida
-Huda Mustafa, 24, Raleigh, North Carolina
-Olandria Carthen, 27, Decatur, Alabama
-Belle-A Walker, 22, Honolulu, Hawaii (Dumped from island)
–Yulissa Escobar, 27, Miami, Florida (Removed from house)
-Ace Greene, 22, Los Angeles, California
-Taylor Williams, 24, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
-Nicolas Vansteenberghe, 24, Jacksonville, Florida
-Austin Shepard, 26, Northville, Michigan
-Jeremiah Brown, 25, Los Angeles, California (Voted off)
Bombshells:
-Cierra Ortega, 25, Los Angeles, California
-Charlie Georgiou, 27, United Kingdom (Voted off)
-Hannah Fields. 23, Tucson, Arizona (Voted off)
-Amaya Espinal, 25, New York, New York
-Iris Kendall, 25, Los Angeles, California
-Pepe Garcia, 27, Los Angeles California
-Jalen Brown, 27, Sparta, Georgia (Dumped from the island)
-TJ Palma, 23, Pleasantville, New York
“I want it to be known I genuinely had no idea it was a slur, I had no idea of its meaning.
“It wasn’t until I made a public story post in 2024 when a follower of mine reached out to correct me and say what I had put what incredibly hurtful and it was a derogatory term.
“And in that moment I was incredibly embarrassed, I deleted the post, I was apologetic and educated myself on not only the true meaning and history of the word but also anyone around me who was accidentally holding space for this slur.”
RACISM SCANDAL
The Instagram Story from Cierra’s account resurfaced recently.
read, “Botox isn’t for everyone but I love it for me!!!
“I am incredibly expressive with my face and I catch myself frowning for no reason throughout the day when I’m focusing on something or thinking too hard lol.
“I can also be a little ch**ky when I laugh/smile so I love getting a mini brow lift to open up my eyes and get that snatched look.
“This is not me encouraging but more so sharing.”
APOLOGY CONTINUES
Cierra then uploaded screen grabs of her dialogue with her follower who corrected her, clearly showing Cierra’s apoloetic nature and desire to change.
She told of her confusion that people were posting messages with different “timestamps” on social media, or who were suggesting she had “doubled down” on her use of the term.
The TV star continued: “The truth is in that moment the lesson was learned, the word was removed and it was a true learning moment for now.”
She then addressed the decision to boot her off Love Island – after The Sun US exclusively reported how she was “very upset” after learning of their choice.
In her video she said: “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.
“The backlash has been very hard to deal with but I understand that people are confused as to why I would have even said it.”
Cierra then addressed the wider backlash towards her family, who now do not feel safe in their own home.
She also admitted she had been subject to sick death threats.
Cierra said: “I don’t think that’s justice.
“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.
“I know no apology can ever be enough for the harm that I’ve caused and the offence thats taken place.
“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 I am sorry and mean no harm, and amtaking strides to be better.”
In an emotional plea she said: “All I can ask is you give me grace.
“Even if you don’t give me forgiveness, allow me to grow with grace.”
Original cast member Yulissa Escobar was also sent home after the first episode aired when a racial slur resurfaced on social media.
CRISIS TALKS
The U.S. Sun previously reported on producers figuring out how to handle the scandal behind-the-scenes.
A production source told The U.S. Sun ahead of Cierra exiting the show, “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 pissed 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.
“We kicked Yulissa out of the show at the beginning of the season because of racial slurs too. 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.”
The source continued, “You can’t use words like this, you can’t use racial slurs and we can’t accept that, that is so bad. Everyone is furious that this post exists, that she used that word.
“How is it possible to post something like this and not expect any consequences? We ask everyone to be respectful and to not use certain words, but we can’t control what they did in the past.”
A second production source added, “They will hold a meeting to see what is next for her. A lot of people are in favor of her being taken out of the show, the same way it happened with Yulissa, and in my opinion that is what should happen.
“People are in shock and very upset by it, from the production to the crew, to people that work on every aspect of the show. That kind of thing is unacceptable and sad.
“I mean, Cierra made a massive, massive mistake that will follow her for a long time now. Look at Yulissa, everyone now only remembers her because of the racist stuff she said.”
Original cast member Yulissa Escobar, who was first coupled up with Ace Greene, was sent home after the first episode because of her racist remarks.
Reps for Love Island USA and Cierra did not respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment at the time.
Last week, a fan criticized host Ariana Madix as she posted a behind the scenes video from the Fiji villa.
The fan wrote, “Just wanna get this right, you can repost 17 videos in less than 24 hours, most of them about left leaning views regarding immigrants and the big beautiful bill.
“Yet you’re completely silent on what Cierra said? Interesting…”
Ariana fired back, “Not silent. You don’t know what your talking about.”
Instagram/cierra.ortegaShe told how she was ‘deeply truly honestly so sorry’ over her use of the offensive phrase[/caption] GettyCierra told how the meaning of the term had been flagged by a follower in 2024 and she swiftly deleted it[/caption] PeacockCierra, 25, told how she had received death threats and her family were worried about their safety[/caption] Read More Details
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