Cierra Ortega, the “Love Island USA” Season 7 contestant who exited the show during its run amid backlash over racist social media posts from her past, is finally speaking out on “Nicolandria,” the name given to fan favorite pairing Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen. Cierra and Nic were a “closed-off” couple when she was booted from the season in Episode 30. Nic and Olandria, who was also one of Cierra’s close friends in the villa, proceeded to explore their connection with Cierra gone and were the season’s runner-ups.
In a nine-minute video posted on TikTok, Cierra addressed Nic and Olandria in detail for the first time. None of the contestants on “Love Island USA” spoke about Cierra’s exit on camera during the remainder of the season, nor have Nic or Olandria publicly commented on the Cierra situation in interviews after the finale.
When asked by Variety post-finale if he had plans to reach out to Cierra, Nic side-stepped the question and responded: “I’m still taking time to process her whole situation and see where that goes. I’m taking time with Olandria to focus on us and this new life that we’re living.”
Cierra is now telling “Love Island USA” viewers that she is “mourning” her relationship with Nic in real time. The duo appeared to be one of the strongest couples in the villa when Cierra abruptly exited.
“I come out thinking Nic and I are in this amazing place… we’re closed off and have these strong feelings for each other,” Cierra said. “Coming out to see the whole internet rooting for [Nic and Olandria] to be together the entire time that him and I were together… yeah that hurt. Even when I saw it, it did not click to me. As I watched as a viewer as someone on the outside and saw their connection forming [after I left], I was like damn it fucking hurts.”
“But two things can exist at once,” she continued. “I can be sad for myself that I am mourning this relationship and all these things I thought were going to happen between us, and I can also be happy for two people I care about. As days went on and I didn’t hear from either of them, the more hurt I became. When I first came out and I could appreciate the friendship and relationship and memories and find beauty in their situation because I thought they’d come out and embrace me. As the days went on it felt like I never existed… That shit hurts. Being shut down with no closure… it’s a lot. Yeah I’m fucking hurt. But I’m also an adult. I’m just going through the motions. How do I feel? I am happy for them. Does it hurt? Of course. But both things can exist.”
Cierra’s 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. In the days after she got booted, Cierra’s family released a statement on Instagram to speak out against the toxic backlash they were facing.
“We’re not here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced,” the family said. “We understand why people are upset, and we know accountability matters. But what’s happening online right now has gone far beyond that. 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.”
Cierra eventually released her own statement on Instagram a few weeks after her exit in which she said: “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. I had no idea that the word held as much pain as much harm, and came with the history that it did or I never would have used it.”
Watch Cierra’s full response about “Nicolandria” in the TikTok video below. The “Love Island USA” season 6 reunion is set to air Monday, August 25 on Peacock.