Cierra Ortega Was Secretly Removed From "Love Island": Here's Everything We Know
During Sunday's episode of the popular dating series, the show's narrator revealed, "Cierra has left the villa due to a personal situation." No other information was given to viewers, and the rest of the islanders kept any and all conversations about her abrupt departure to a minimum.
Related:
This announcement came just one week before the Season 7 finale (July 13). Cierra was happily coupled up with Nic Vansteenberghe.
If your social media timelines aren't filled with Love Island chatter, then her exit might be a complete surprise to you, so let me fill you in on what's been going on behind the scenes:
Fans unearthed multiple posts of Cierra, who is of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent, allegedly using a racial slur that's been used to reference the appearance of a Chinese person's eyes or a generalization of an Asian person's physical appearance.
In one social media post from Jan. 2015, Cierra used the derogatory term to describe her face, and in a Feb. 2023 post, she used the same term to detail what her eyes looked like after getting Botox.
Related:
The posts eventually went viral, and she reportedly lost over 200K followers on Instagram because of them. A petition was later started to have her removed from the villa, and it has amassed over 17K signatures.
"Asian Americans have been in the United States since the 1800s," the petition creator wrote. "Since their arrival, Asians have been the victims of violent hate crimes, racism, and exclusion. Cierra's use of a slur against Asians is disgusting and inexcusable, especially the fact that she used it to describe her eyes."
"That slur has been used to demean and intimidate East Asians in America for hundreds of years. Even recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Asian racism had many Asians fearing that they would be the next victim of a hate crime. Racism is racism, no matter who it is towards."
Related:
The comment section was filled with people sharing why they found her use of the word so harmful:
"Growing up being called that slur and having someone who casually used it in posts is disappointing. Racist people should never have a platform; she deserves the same treatment as Yulissa. The host of the show is literally dating an Asian man too, Love Island needs to do better." —Janna
"As a first-generation asian american, this is incredibly disappointing to see. racist jokes towards asians have been downplayed for so long, and it is important that we speak up." —Sarah
"As an Asian, I'm not hurt but offended that anyone outside of the Asian culture has the audacity to comment on our looks by using a very common racial slur. If she 'doesn't know' what the C word means, then we clearly are lacking intelligence and common sense!!! You do know what it means because you used it perfectly in a sentence to make sense." —Ava
Well, Love Island seemingly heard the concern of viewers and acted accordingly. After Cierra was removed, her family shared a statement on her Instagram Story on Sunday, admitting that this has been "one of the most painful weeks" of their lives.
Some fans on X (better known as Twitter) even joked about how quickly producers got her out of the villa:
How production woke up Cierra to pack her bags pic.twitter.com/8pP5Amt6yK
— Miguel.Ⓜ️ (@doublemb__) July 7, 2025
Showtime / Twitter: @doublemb__
Related:
They can't boot out Y*lissa and keep Cierra… the Asian community was VERYYY vocal on this being a no go. Idk how y'all can be very flip floppy in this situation 🙃 https://t.co/RZd6d5vrKc pic.twitter.com/xSlUlLTszG
— ♡ ̆̈ jos (@thottibox) July 7, 2025
Reaction Memez / Twitter: @thottibox
Take this walk with me. Production leaked the video of Cierra saying the slur so they had a reason to send her home so that Olandria could couple up with him, thus making them the only couple with a real storyline, solidifying them as winners to push the swirl agenda pic.twitter.com/NkjPkK7AyH
— Seguru Ghetto 🇵🇸 (@DapoElCapo) July 7, 2025
FX / Twitter: @DapoElCapo
But this isn't the first time this season a contestant was forced to exit due to past usage of racial slurs. In fact, when this season first aired in June, a contestant named Yulissa Escobar was quietly removed from the show after two days of being in the villa, when viewers found social media posts of her using the N-word. She was one of the original cast members and one of the first women to enter the villa.
Fans have hinted at another current member of the show allegedly using a racial slur in the past, so this might not be the last time we see someone get the axe.
Love Island USA airs daily (except Wednesdays) at 9 p.m. on Peacock.
How do you feel about Cierra's departure? Let me know in the comments!
Also in Celebrity:
Also in Celebrity:
Also in Celebrity:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cowboys Fans Marvel At Joe Milton 'Dime' Video While Questioning Dak Prescott
Cowboys Fans Marvel At Joe Milton 'Dime' Video While Questioning Dak Prescott originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FRISCO - In football, the most popular guy in town is always the backup quarterback. As Dallas Cowboys training camp approaches, Joe Milton is feeling that love now. Advertisement But how long will the feeling last? And what does being the new No. 2 QB, Joe Milton, have to do with posing a threat to the starting job of Dak Prescott? Fans who know how good Cooper Rush was filling in for Prescott are now giddy about the prospects of Milton. Some fans and analysts even predicted that the Cowboys would have a new starter this season. However, regarding Dallas' plan ... those fans and analysts are wrong. Much of the wild speculation is based on Prescott's nine seasons – good ones when healthy – vs. one single game by Milton. He starred in a meaningless regular-season finale for the New England Patriots in 2024, throwing and running for touchdowns. Advertisement At 25 and with dual-threat athleticism, Cowboys fans – and some media – immediately began singing Milton's praises this offseason. Some of the wildest rumors even predicted the Cowboys would trade Prescott to the Cleveland Browns and give the starting job to Milton before a single training-camp snap. Prescott is in the prime of his career. As the highest-paid player in NFL history, smart critics can agree it's time for him to deliver at the very least a winning playoff run. But is Milton threatening to take his job? Nope. But what about the marvel of these videos showing him running, spinning, backflipping and throwing a "dime"? Advertisement Politely ... Nope. The Cowboys signed Prescott to an extension through 2028 in September, making him the highest-paid quarterback in the game. There is an "escape hatch" after the 2027 season. Want a major change? You'll have to wait until then. Prescott is under immense pressure to stay healthy, perform as a top-10 quarterback and lead the Cowboys to multiple playoff wins this season. Highlights aside, "Bazooka" Milton is projected to have very little to do with that. Related: Cowboys' Dak Prescott Top 'X-Factor' In NFC East Race Related: Cowboys' Dak Prescott and Eagles' Jalen Hurts Predicted To Slide Behind Commanders QB Jayden Daniels in NFC East Race This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Former NBA All-Star headlines Bachelor-like dating show
If you ever wanted to see an NBA star hand out roses on "The Bachelor," today's your lucky day, well, sort of. Former NBA All-Star Carl Boozer has signed up to find love on a spicy new Bravo reality dating show, "Kings Court," premiering on Sunday, July 13. Advertisement Boozer is a two-time all-star known for playing for several NBA teams, including the Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers. The Duke University alum made headlines in May when he joined one of his former teams, the Jazz, in a front office scouting role. The former Blue Devil star attended the NBA combine and traveled on the Jazz's private jet with rookie Ace Bailey after the team took the rookie as the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Boozer's newest gig is a spin-off of another Bachelor-like dating show, "Queen's Court," which featured famous single women on their journey to find love. On the female-led series, 21 men competed for the hearts of Tamar Braxton, Evelyn Lozada, and Nivea. MORE: Carlos Boozer family tree: Meet twins Cameron and Cayden continuing his Duke legacy Advertisement Carlos Boozer joins Tyson Beckford and Titus O'Neil on Bravo's 'Kings Court' Boozer, 43, will be joined by two other kings looking for love, model and actor Tyson Beckford, and WWE star Titus O'Neil, on the Bravo dating show. The three bachelors will have 21 women to choose from, while enjoying out-of-the-box dates and exciting adventures together. Love will certainly bloom; however, there will also be plenty of tears and broken hearts. In similar "Bachelor" fashion, the losers will be sent home during a dinner elimination party, according to Peacock. In a trailer for the show, Tyson shared his hopes for his quest to find his person. 'I have met so many women who will, like, recite my stats,' Boozer said. 'Like, 'You averaged 21 points a game last year.' But I want somebody who wants to get to know me.' Advertisement MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS:
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Documentary Leaders Urge Senate Not Axe Funding For Public Television And Radio
Some of the most respected figures in documentary film are calling on Congress to protect funding for public television and radio. 'It's critically important,' Gordon Quinn, a founding member of Kartemquin Films, said during a recent panel discussion at DC/DOX, the prestigious film festival in the nation's capital – where senators will determine the fate of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports the work of PBS and NPR. More from Deadline 'Grantchester' To Conclude After Season 11 On PBS Masterpiece & ITV "The Declaration of Independence Applied To The Communications World": Ken Burns Defends PBS, Tells CBS News That Defunding Public Media Is "Foolhardy" Bill Moyers Dies: Influential Public Media Journalist And Commentator And Former White House Press Secretary Was 91 Last month by a 214-212 vote, the House approved a 'rescissions package' to claw back $9 billion in funding previously approved by Congress, including $1.1 billion for CPB, as demanded by Pres. Trump. Now the measure is moving to the upper chamber, where it could be voted on as soon as next week. 'It's up to the Senate,' noted Prof. Patricia Aufderheide of American University, a prominent media scholar and author of a widely read book on documentary film. 'There are only 45 Dems [plus two Independents]. We have to find… Republicans who want to not rescind public broadcasting's money. It has been advance-funded for two years as protection against exactly this kind of politicization. And now they want to claw it back.' If the Senate does not act by July 18, the rescission effort will fail and the CPB funding will remain intact. As my colleague Ted Johnson reported on July 4, documentary great Ken Burns is speaking out on the issue, saying it would be 'foolhardy' for Congress to strip federal funding from public media. Burns told CBS News, 'I couldn't do any of the films I've done without them being on PBS.' The Republican-led push to claw back PBS and NPR funding follows an executive order issued by Pres. Trump on May 1 that called NPR and PBS biased, ordaining 'The CPB Board shall cease direct funding' those outlets. 'The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding.' PBS and NPR have filed separate federal lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the president's order. But if the Senate passes the rescission, that might nullify their legal action. About 16 percent of PBS's $373.4 million annual budget comes directly from grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, according to the New York Times. But CPB also provides important funding support to public radio and television stations across the country – which buy PBS and NPR content. 'If stations have their core funding cut out from under them,' Aufderheide commented, 'which is what will happen with rescission instantly, NPR and PBS have no customers.' 'It's the small rural stations that will be most affected,' Quinn commented. 'We're not going to lose our station in Chicago.' 'But Peoria will be very affected,' Aufderheide said, referring to a much smaller Illinois market. 'And Carbondale will be very affected.' Burns, in his interview with CBS News, addressed the impact of potential rescission on PBS outlets. 'It's the largest network in the country. There's 330 stations. It mostly serves – and this is where the elimination of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is so shortsighted – it mainly serves rural areas in which the PBS signal may be the only signal they get,' Burns said. 'They also have not only our good children's and prime time stuff, they have classroom on-the-air continuing education, homeland security, crop reports, weather emergency information. That we're going to take away?' Historically, PBS has been the most important platform for documentaries in the U.S., airing countless nonfiction films of every genre across its series including POV, Independent Lens, Frontline, American Masters, American Experience, NOVA and more. PBS has aired the full Burns canon, from The Civil War to Muhammad Ali and Hemingway. Many Kartemquin Films productions have likewise been released on PBS, among them Hoop Dreams, the Steve James film that is considered one of the greatest documentaries of all time. Said Quinn, 'It's been a longtime partner of ours in many, many ways.' PBS is home to diverse content not by coincidence but through legislative mandate: in 1988 Congress created ITVS specifically 'to expand the diversity and innovativeness of programming available to public broadcasting.' 'Some of that [CPB] money flows to independent producers,' Quinn said, 'and people who sort of represent the diversity of stories that should be a part of our democratic process.' Quinn played an important part in arguing for the creation of ITVS and has testified on Capitol Hill in favor of continued funding of PBS. 'The most important thing about PBS is that 'public' in the name,' he said. 'When you deal with PBS, that little sliver of public money — and it is a sliver that Congress is just trying to claw back and take away from PBS — means they have to be accountable to a public. They have to be accountable to the country at large and all of the different parts that make up America… Public money makes them accountable in a way that is different from the marketplace.' Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery Everything We Know About Christopher Nolan's Next Film – 'The Odyssey': Release Date, Cast And More
