Latest news with #Cierra
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Love Island's Cierra Ortega Says ICE Was Called On Her Family After Racist Post Controversy
"My family doesn't feel safe in their own home. I'm receiving death threats. There's no need to fight hate with hate," the reality star insisted in an "accountability video." Cierra Ortega has addressed the Love Island controversy surrounding her resurfaced racist posts that forced producers to pull her out of the villa. "Now that I've been back in the U.S. for about 48 hours and I've had the chance to process [everything], I now feel like I'm at a space where I can speak about this without being highly emotional, because I am not the victim in this situation," Ortega started off saying in her Instagram video. It was announced during the Sunday, July 6 episode that the reality star "left the villa due to a personal situation, leaving Nic officially single." While this came as a surprise to the rest of the villa, to most viewers it did not come as a shock. The drama had been brewing for days after social media users found past posts by Cierra which included an offensive slur toward the Asian community. "While I was in the villa, there were some posts that resurfaced from my past where I was very naively using an incredibly offensive and derogatory term," she continued in the video. "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." The controversy caused an uproar among fans, with Cierra revealing she and her family have found the punishment fans are lobbing at them "extremely, extremely difficult." While Cierra does take accountability for her actions and feels "deeply" sorry for what she has done, she does not believe that there is a "need to fight hate with hate." "The way people have been approaching my family and my loved ones, they have had ICE called on them," she stressed. "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's justice," she added. She labelled her video -- which has reached over 9 million views on TikTok at the time of writing -- an accountability video, "not an apology video." "I do want to hold my hands up and say that I take accountability for using the word," she said. "But I do want it to be known that I genuinely had no idea that it was a slur. I had no idea of its meaning." She recalled the moment the inflammatory post went public in 2024 and one of her followers reached out to Ortega to educate her on the word used and its history. "I think since that moment, I've done so much growing as an individual, and I've tried my best to educate others who might be accidentally holding space for these types of words that could be offensive in their vocabulary," she said, before adding that she agrees with the "network's decision to remove me from the villa." "I think that this is something that deserved punishment, and the punishment has absolutely been received, for sure," she said. Ortega ended the video asking Love Island USA fans to allow her "to grow with grace" from this experience and promised "to take strides to be better." Solve the daily Crossword
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Love Island USA's Cierra Ortega slams ‘bad editing' and ‘strict rules' after bullying backlash
Cierra Ortega, a former contestant on Love Island USA Season 7, has spoken out following her controversial exit from the Peacock reality series. The 25-year-old was removed from the villa after past racially insensitive social media posts resurfaced, sparking major backlash from fans. In a series of TikTok videos, Cierra criticized the show's 'bad editing', accusing producers of portraying her unfairly during moments that led to bullying allegations. She referenced a specific scene where she was labeled a 'mean girl' for allegedly ignoring fellow contestant Huda Mustafa. According to Cierra, that interaction was edited out of context. 'We hugged and said a lot without words,' she explained, adding that she had just calmed down from crying and didn't want to break down on camera. @cierraortega part one: how I left the villa, media training, fame vs love there are a million and one perspectives floating around about what went down inside the walls of that place. before I begin closing out this chapter of my life, I do feel like my story matters. for those of you who watch & listen through kind eyes and ears without casting judgement, love u lots ❤️🩹 ♬ original sound - Cierra Ortega Cierra also shed light on Love Island USA's 'strict rules,' including being forced to wear bikinis daily, limited sleep, and no discussions about villa events during meals. She claims these conditions contributed to her stress and misunderstood behavior on the show. Cierra confirmed she's unlikely to attend the August 25 reunion, amid ongoing backlash and her former flame Nic Vansteenberghe moving on with co-star Olandria Carthen. Despite her removal, Ortega remains vocal about her experience and how reality TV can shape damaging narratives through selective editing. Cierra previously issued a public apology to the Asian community and took responsibility for the offensive language in her resurfaced post.
Cosmopolitan
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Where Do Cierra and Nic Stand After ‘Love Island USA'?
As Nicolandria Nation continues to rejoice in their victory, Love Island USA season 7 alum Cierra Ortega is getting real about watching her main man and BFF get together on national television. Over the weekend, Cierra spilled all the tea on her time in the Villa in a four-part TikTok video series, and revealed where she stands with Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen now that Love Island USA is over. Spoiler alert: It's not great. 'I came out thinking Nic and I are in this amazing place,' Cierra recounted in her fourth Q&A video. 'We're closed off and have these strong feelings for each other.' Emerging from the Villa only to see that the entire fandom had been rooting for Nic and Olandria to couple up—including Nic's family—'hurt,' she it hurt even more when she watched their relationship continue to develop after she left. Cierra continued, 'Two things can exist at once. 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.' But while she may be at peace with Nic and Olandria's new relationship, she's less content with their actions since leaving the Villa. '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,' she explained. But when she didn't hear from either Nic or Olandria after the season ended, 'the more hurt I became.' She continued, 'As the days went on, it just kind of felt like I never existed, like the friendship Olandria and I shared had never existed, like the relationship Nic and I shared had never existed.' As for where she and Nic stand now, Cierra said, 'The answer is that we don't. We don't stand on any business.' Ouch. Regardless of what you think about Cierra's actions, the fact that neither Nic nor Olandria have reached out to her since leaving the Villa is understandably hurtful—especially given the obsession with being a 'girl's girl' this season. That said, it's also unclear if Cierra has reached out to either of them, though Chelley Bissainthe confirmed last week that Cierra was reaching out to cast members. Cierra ended her video saying that she had to accept that she wasn't going to get closure from Nic on their relationship. And it looks like we are, too, because she also revealed that she won't be attending the Love Island USA season 7 reunion.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Flight attendant reveals that buying one chocolate bar could land you a free upgrade
A former flight attendant has revealed that there is one thing you can do at the boarding gate that will seriously increase your chances of getting a free upgrade A flight attendant has revealed that a simple Swiss chocolate bar could be your golden ticket to complimentary coffee and tea on board. The age-old enigma of securing a free upgrade on a flight remains as elusive as ever, with many travellers scratching their heads over the secret formula. TikTok's very own cabin crew member, @cierra_mistt, shared her insider knowledge, claiming there's a straightforward strategy that often pays off. "One of the easiest ways to get a free upgrade is literally just being nice to your gate agent and flight attendant," she divulged in one of her popular clips. But if kindness alone doesn't do the trick, she suggests sweetening the deal with some confectionery. She elaborated: "The miracles we can work when we are given some Starbucks or a pack of chocolate. Especially on those long days when we have back-to-back flights and we don't even have time to go get some food." Indeed, gifting treats such as sweets, chocolates, or even a takeaway coffee to the entire crew can significantly enhance your chances of receiving preferential treatment during your journey. While it may seem peculiar to approach the boarding gate laden with goodies, Cierra assures that this tactic is commonly employed by ex-cabin crew seeking upgrades on other airlines. Fellow flight attendant Miguel Muñoz concurred, expressing his fondness for passengers who bring gifts like "Toblerone or Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons" from the airport shops. "I am automatically nicer to the person who had that nice gesture," he added, highlighting the power of a thoughtful offering. The cabin chief would always offer them free coffee and tea and if there are better seats available, we will move them!". Ex-air hostess Helena Afroughi confirmed to the Express that this remains one of the most effective methods for securing aircraft upgrades. She revealed: "What always works is when people bring some sweets to the crew, chocolates or whatever. And they make themselves known, don't just give it and run away. Usually, people do it as a thank you but I've seen it more with people that have family working as crew too so they appreciate the crew more." Helena detailed just how meaningful these thoughtful acts can be for cabin staff. "I had this very young kid once, who came and brought us little gifts from Bath and Body Works - a shop in the US - he bought us mini hand sanitisers... It was the cutest thing ever," she recalled. The crew member urged travellers not to hesitate in approaching the cabin team for a friendly chat.
Cosmopolitan
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Cierra Ortega Reached Out to Chelley Bissainthe After ‘Love Island USA' Exit
Cierra Ortega is attempting to stay connected to her fellow islanders beyond the Love Island USA villa. Olandria Carthen and Chelley Bissainthe made a joint appearance on the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast for a tell-all interview about everything that went down during their time in Fiji—including the aftermath of Cierra's sudden exit—and the girlies didn't hold anything back. ICYMI, the trio seemed to have a close bond in the villa before Cierra left the island prematurely due to a 'personal situation' following her racism scandal. 'Have any of y'all spoke to Cierra since... everything? 'Cause I know you said that Nic hasn't, but has she reached out to either of you?' the pod's host, Keke Palmer, asked the pair after referring to Olandria's beau, Nic Vansteenberghe. According to Chelley, Cierra made an effort to reach out to her and clear up anything she might have seen or heard about the situation. 'I did get to speak to her, she did reach out. It's just a lot going on,' Chelley explained. 'We didn't know for what reason she was removed. Even when I came back, I couldn't really find what the post was or whatever.' She added, 'But I did see she reached out. She was just saying, you know, she misses all of us, she hates what's trying to, like, basically do better for herself and to reach out to us and say her apologies.' The reality TV personality, who finished in fifth place on Love Island USA with her partner Ace Greene, expressed that she sent well wishes to Cierra after receiving her message. 'I [was] just trying to give her grace because we're human at the end of the day, and I got to know her in the villa, as a person, through and through,' Chelley added. 'All of this happening to her, I wouldn't wish on anyone, but she's taken full account for her stuff and is just trying to get her mind right.' Following her exit on July 7, Cierra broke her silence on the situation surrounding her use of a racial slur. 'While I was in the villa, there were some posts that resurfaced from my past where I was very naively using an incredibly offensive and derogatory term,' she said, in part. '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.' She also shared that she understands Peacock's decision to dump her from the show once the posts resurfaced, saying, '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. I think the backlash has obviously been very hard to deal with, but I understand that people are kind of confused on why I would have even said it.' Of course, Chelley and Olandria caught Keke up with everything that's happened with them since their days in the villa. Check out Keke's full conversation with the pair below.
