Love Island’s Cierra Ortega Breaks Down After Shock Exit Over Racial Slur

“Love Island USA”’s Cierra Ortega is embroiled in controversy after being unexpectedly removed from the villa. The reality star broke down following the resurfacing of old social media posts in which she used an anti-Asian slur.

Ortega has since issued a heartfelt apology, admitting she “didn’t understand the weight” of the word and now grasps its harm.

She has accepted the show’s decision to remove her and pledged to work on herself. Meanwhile, her apology video has sparked mixed reactions from fans.

On the July 6 episode of the show, viewers were stunned after “Love Island USA” announced Ortega’s exit from the show due to a “personal situation.”

However, reports later revealed that her departure was due to resurfaced posts from 2015, 2020, and 2023 in which she used derogatory slurs toward Asian people, triggering petitions demanding her removal.

Following her exit, Ortega took to her Instagram page to address the situation and apologize for her actions.

She noted that she wasn’t the victim and admitted to being naive then. “I want to first start by addressing not just anyone that I have hurt or deeply offended, but most importantly, the entire Asian community—I am deeply, truly, honestly so sorry,” Ortega said.

The 25-year-old continued, revealing that she didn’t know how much damage the slur would cause and that she never would have used it had she known.

“I had no ill intention when I was using it. But that's absolutely no excuse, because intent doesn't excuse ignorance,” she added.

Ortega described the incident as a genuine learning moment and said she wanted to take full accountability for her actions. According to her, she was unaware the term was a slur until 2024, when a follower reached out after she used it in a public social media story.

Ortega confessed that she immediately deleted the post and removed the word from her vocabulary. She also explained that she had done “so much growing” since then.

The reality TV star also weighed in on the network’s decision to remove her from the show, noting that she was okay with it.

“I completely agree with the network’s decision to remove me from the villa. This is something that deserved punishment, and the punishment has absolutely been received, for sure,” she said.

Ortega also shared the apology video on her Instagram Stories, sharing that she understood mistakes had consequences.

However, she made a heartfelt plea to the public to stop targeting her family and loved ones.

“They have had ICE called on them. My family doesn't feel safe in their own home. I'm receiving death threats—there's no need to fight hate with hate. I don't think that that's justice,” she continued.

The Arizona native emphasized her remorse and commitment to change. She acknowledged that no apology could fully undo the harm caused, but promised to move forward with more awareness and sensitivity.

In another post on her story, Ortega explained that she understood forgiveness would take time.

“I don’t expect forgiveness overnight. I just hope that in time I can show that I’m more than a mistake, a label, or a character on a highly edited reality show… Once again, to the Asian community, I am deeply sorry for my thoughtless mistake and the harm it caused. With love and humility, C,” she finished.

Amid the apology, thousands of fans took to social media to share their thoughts on the video.

Some praised Cierra Ortega for owning up to her mistakes and being accountable. “Such a thoughtful response and brave of you for the accountability,” one person wrote.

Another commented, “Not here to forgive you bc not my race but I understand and love this response,” while a third person wrote, “I was pissed…but I'm so happy this is actually accountability and not an excuse.”

On the other hand, some fans slammed Ortega for being pretentious, noting that she knew the word's meaning. “Bruh people told you the meaning in 2023 what do you mean you didn’t know,” one shared.

Another commented, “Ok but she was also told about it in 2023 and Cierra responded saying she was sorry and didn’t know it wasn’t a good term. But then she said it AGAIN IN 2024. That’s the whole point. She can keep saying sorry but that’s it. She basically won’t learn from it.”

Meanwhile, Ortega’s parents have had enough of the threats.

In an Instagram Stories post shared on July 6, they clarified that they weren’t justifying their daughter’s actions as they understood people’s anger.

However, they shared that the backlash had gotten out of hand.

“The threats. The cruel messages. The attacks on her family, her friends, even her supporters, it's heartbreaking. It’s uncalled for. And no one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistake they've made,” they wrote per E! News.

They also stated that they know Ortega would take responsibility for her actions in her own time, adding, “Until then, we're simply asking for compassion. For patience. For basic human decency. Not just for her, but for everyone caught in the middle of this.”