“Love Island USA” casually dropped a bombshell during this season’s 30th episode, revealing Cierra Ortega is no longer appearing on the reality competition dating show. The show’s narrator, Iain Stirling, confirmed via voiceover that Cierra “left the villa due to a personal situation” and therefore Nic Vansteenberg, who she had been in an exclusive couple with for several episodes, was now “officially single.”
No reason was given for Cierra’s departure other than it being for “personal” reasons. The show cut to a conversation between Nic and fellow contestant Ace Greene, with Nic sharing confusion and disappointment now that Cierra is now longer in the villa. Nic said he was unsure what he will do next. Cierra was an original contestant and had been on the show from the start of the season.
Cierra’s abrupt exit from “Love Island USA” came amid an avalanche of backlash against her on social media after an alleged social media post from her past resurfaced online in which she used racist language. Fans were calling for Cierra’s removal in the wake of the offensive post resurfacing. Another original contestant, Yulissa Escobar, was kicked off the show after two episodes for using racial slurs in old podcast clips that resurfaced online.
“In those clips, I used a word I never should’ve used, a racial slur,” Escobar wrote on her Instagram account in an apology post after her removal. “I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it. I wasn’t trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn’t excuse impact. And the impact of that word is real. It’s tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use.”
She continued: “At the time, I was speaking casually in conversation, not thinking deeply or critically about what I was saying. But that doesn’t take away from how wrong it was. The truth is, I didn’t know better then, but I do now. I’ve taken the time to reflect, to learn, and to grow from that moment.”
“Love Island USA” only has one more week of episodes until the winners are announced.