“Love Island USA”’s Cierra Ortega is embroiled in controversy after being unexpectedly faraway from the villa. The fact star broke down following the resurfacing of old social media posts during which she used an anti-Asian slur.
Ortega has since issued a heartfelt apology, admitting she “didn’t understand the load” 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.
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Cierra Ortega Apologizes Following ‘Love Island’ Exit
On the July 6 episode of the show, viewers were stunned after “Love Island USA” announced Ortega’s exit from the show as a consequence of a “personal situation.”
Nevertheless, reports later revealed that her departure was as a consequence of resurfaced posts from 2015, 2020, and 2023 during which she used derogatory slurs toward Asian people, triggering petitions demanding her removal.
Following her exit, Ortega took to her Instagram page to handle the situation and apologize for her actions.
She noted that she wasn’t the victim and admitted to being naive then. “I need to first start by addressing not only anyone that I actually have hurt or deeply offended, but most significantly, the complete Asian community—I’m deeply, truly, truthfully so sorry,” Ortega said.
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Ortega Says She Was Unaware Of The Slur’s Meaning
The 25-year-old continued, revealing that she didn’t know the way much damage the slur would cause and that she never would have used it had she known.
“I had no ailing intention after I was using it. But that is absolutely no excuse, because intent doesn’t excuse ignorance,” she added.
Ortega described the incident as a real learning moment and said she desired to take full accountability for her actions. In keeping with 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 “a lot growing” since then.
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The fact 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. That is something that deserved punishment, and the punishment has absolutely been received, obviously,” she said.
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Cierra Ortega Urges The Public To Stop The Threats
Ortega also shared the apology video on her Instagram Stories, sharing that she understood mistakes had consequences.
Nevertheless, she made a heartfelt plea to the general public to stop targeting her family and family members.
“They’ve had ICE called on them. My family doesn’t feel protected in their very own home. I’m receiving death threats—there is not any have to fight hate with hate. I do not think that that is justice,” she continued.
The Arizona native emphasized her remorse and commitment to vary. She acknowledged that no apology could fully undo the harm caused, but promised to maneuver forward with more awareness and sensitivity.
In one other post on her story, Ortega explained that she understood forgiveness would take time.
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“I don’t expect forgiveness overnight. I just hope that in time I can show that I’m greater than a mistake, a label, or a personality on a highly edited reality show… Once more, to the Asian community, I’m deeply sorry for my thoughtless mistake and the harm it caused. With love and humility, C,” she finished.
Fans React To Ortega’s Apology
Amid the apology, 1000’s of fans took to social media to share their thoughts on the video.
Some praised Cierra Ortega for owning as much as her mistakes and being accountable. “Such a thoughtful response and brave of you for the accountability,” one person wrote.
One other commented, “Not here to forgive you bc not my race but I understand and love this response,” while a 3rd person wrote, “I used to be pissed…but I’m so glad this is definitely accountability and never an excuse.”
However, 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.
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One other commented, “Okay but she was also told about it in 2023 and Cierra responded saying she was sorry and didn’t realize it wasn’t an excellent term. But then she said it AGAIN IN 2024. That’s the entire point. She will be able to keep saying sorry but that’s it. She mainly won’t learn from it.”
Cierra Ortega’s Parents Speak Out Amid Backlash
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.
Nevertheless, 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 nobody deserves that sort of hate, irrespective of what mistake they’ve made,” they wrote per E! News.
Additionally they 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 only for her, but for everybody caught in the course of this.”