Reality show contestant Cierra Ortega has been removed from Love Island USA Season 7 after some of her old social media posts drew heavy criticism from viewers. The 25-year-old influencer had allegedly used a racial slur against Asians in two separate Instagram posts—one in 2015 and another in 2020—which resurfaced while she was in the villa.
Old Posts Trigger Online Outrage
In a 2015 Instagram story, Ortega casually used the anti-Asian slur while commenting on her smile. She wrote, “Still ch**kin’ ay the top.” In another post from 2020, she again used the same slur while talking about her facial expressions: “I can also be a little ch**ky when I laugh/smile, so I love getting a mini brow lift.”
As these posts went viral, fans across X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok condemned the language. Many demanded her removal from the show, calling out the posts as racist. The backlash was swift—Ortega lost nearly 200,000 Instagram followers within two days.
Fans Compare Ortega to Past Controversies
Viewers drew parallels between Ortega’s situation and that of Yulissa Escobedo, a former Love Island contestant who was removed from the show after using the N-word in an old podcast.
“This kind of language is unacceptable… We had no choice but to act,” said a production insider, according to The US Sun. The producers reportedly held a crisis meeting and decided to remove Ortega from the show.
Official Announcement Made On-Air
On Sunday night’s episode, host Iain Stirling announced Ortega’s exit. He told both the islanders and the audience that she had left the villa due to “personal reasons.” However, it’s clear her removal was tied to the resurfaced offensive posts.
Nic Vansteenberghe Left Without a Partner
Ortega’s sudden departure left her partner, Nic Vansteenberghe, single. After her exit, Nic turned his attention to Olandria Carthen, with whom he had previously shown interest. However, with the Casa Amor twist coming up, Nic could be at risk of elimination if he doesn’t find a new match in time.
Another Wake-Up Call for Reality TV
Cierra Ortega is now the second contestant this season to be kicked off for racist behavior, highlighting a broader issue with reality TV casting. The incident has raised serious concerns about how thoroughly background checks are conducted for participants.