Cierra Ortega Exits Love Island USA Following Resurfaced Racist Post

Love Island USA’s Cierra Ortega exited the villa amidst her offscreen racism controversy.

In the episode that aired on Sunday, July 6, narrator Iain Stirling revealed that Cierra “left the villa due to a personal situation” and mentioned that she departed while Nic Vansteenberghe was “officially single.” Nic later had a conversation with Ace Greene, expressing uncertainty about his next steps just a week before the season finale.

Cierra’s departure followed the resurfacing of a racist post from her social media while she was filming in Fiji. Contestants are isolated during their time on Love Island USA to keep them focused on forming relationships, with no contact from the outside world until they leave the villa, at which point they access their phones to see public reactions to their experiences on the show.

This isn’t the first unexpected exit of season 7. Yulissa Escobar was introduced as an original Islander but was gone by the second episode. Iain later addressed this change, stating that Ace was single because Yulissa “has left the villa.”

Yulissa’s exit followed the circulation of clips featuring her using racial slurs on a podcast. Earlier this month, she disclosed that she was removed from the villa.

“I was called to the front and met with one of the producers who asked me to remove my mic,” she recounted in a TikTok posted in July. “I sensed something serious was happening and became scared, thinking something might be wrong with a family member. They didn’t provide many details, just that a video had resurfaced online and it didn’t look good. I had no idea what video it was or what I had said or done.”

She continued: “I didn’t get my phone back for another two days, as they were waiting for the two episodes I appeared in to air. I was in my hotel room freaking out, unaware of what was happening. I just knew there was a video out there. I understand I used a word I shouldn’t have, and I wish I had never said it. It is what it is. I can’t change the past, and I’m sorry for using that word.”

Austin Shepard was another contestant who faced backlash due to his social media activity that viewers noticed after his casting.

“I want to take a moment to address my recent repost that has offended some of you,” Austin stated via his Instagram Stories on Saturday, July 5. “As you all know, I have a very dry sense of humor, and I genuinely didn’t think before sharing that content.”

He added, “It was never my intention to hurt or upset anyone. I value and respect all individuals and their perspectives.”
New episodes of Love Island USA will be released six days a week, except for Wednesdays, on Peacock.