Latest news with #ContextLoveIslandUSA
Newsweek
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Cierra Ortega Breaks Silence Over 'Love Island USA' Exit
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Cierra Ortega has broken her silence following her departure from Love Island USA, noting that she "completely agrees" with the network's decision to remove her from the villa. "This is something that deserved punishment," she said in a video posted to social media. Newsweek reached out to Ortega's representative via email for comment outside regular working hours. The Context Love Island USA is a spin-off of the original British series. A group of single contestants participate in a set of challenges while searching for love in hopes of winning a $100,000 prize. Cierra Ortega poses for a photo on "Love Island USA." Cierra Ortega poses for a photo on "Love Island USA." Kim Nunneley/Peacock What To Know Ortega addressed her exit from Season 7 in a nearly five-minute video posted to her Instagram on Thursday, revealing that she's been "receiving death threats" for using 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 began. "Before I get into the details, 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. I had no ill intention when I was using it, but that's absolutely no excuse because intent doesn't excuse ignorance." She added that "this is not an apology video" but rather "an accountability video." "I do want to hold my hands up and say that I take accountability for using the word, but I do want it to be known that I genuinely had no idea that it was a slur." Ortega noted that she learned of "its meaning" after she "made the public story post in 2024 when a follower of mine reached out to correct me and let me know that what I was saying was incredibly hurtful." Following their interaction, the reality star said she was "embarrassed" and "immediately deleted the post." Later on in the clip, the former contestant said her family "had ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) called on them," and they don't "feel safe in their own home." In a separate statement shared to her Instagram Story on Thursday, Ortega shared that her time on Love Island USA was "nothing short of magical." "The memories I made and the people I met are ones I'll cherish forever," she said. "While I'm heartbroken my journey had to be cut short, I understand that mistakes, especially ones likes this, deserve consequences." Prior to leaving the show, Ortega lost more than 162,000 Instagram followers in one day, per Social Blade statistics, and over 17,000 people signed a petition campaigning for her removal. In recent days, however, her followers have increased once again. On Sunday, Ortega's parents said they recently experienced "one of the most painful weeks of our lives." "The threats. The cruel messages. The attacks on her family, her friends, even her supporters, it's heartbreaking. It's uncalled for," they said. "No one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistake they've made." What People Are Saying In the comments underneath Ortega's Instagram post, fans shared messages of support. Instagram user @melinatheagent wrote in a note with 9,394 likes: "Such a thoughtful response and brave of you for the accountability. You're so strong. I love you." @weloveeloho said in a message with 6,497 likes: "WE LOVE YOU CIERRA." @nyjeri added in a reply with 3,492 likes: "love you so much, ci." @littlemisssunshinneee shared in a comment with 2,328 likes: "Love you more than anything ci we are always here for you." @kluhbarbie posted in a remark with 1,158 likes: "Sending you so much love C." What Happens Next Love Island USA Season 7 airs new episodes daily, except on Wednesdays, at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Newsweek
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'Love Island USA' Controversies: Season 7 Plagued by Drama
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Love Island USA Season 7 has been marred by controversy since its premiere in June, with two of the show's contestants, Cierra Ortega and Yulissa Escobar, already leaving the series. Newsweek reached out to a spokesperson for Love Island USA via email on Tuesday for comment. The Context Love Island USA is an American spinoff of the British reality TV series. The program features a group of singles looking for love in a villa in Fiji while competing in challenges and facing elimination. The couple who makes it to the end wins a $100,000 prize. What To Know The hit series first premiered in 2019. The latest season got off to a rocky start, particularly involving three contestants. L-R: "Love Island USA" contestants Cierra Ortega, Austin Shepard and Yulissa Escobar. L-R: "Love Island USA" contestants Cierra Ortega, Austin Shepard and Yulissa Escobar. Ben Symons/Peacock Yulissa Escobar In episode two, Escobar was axed after videos of her using the N-word on a podcast were discovered. "In those clips, I used a word I never should've used, a racial slur," she said in a statement on June 6. "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." In a separate post shared on TikTok on July 3, Escobar said that she learned she was being kicked off the show when she was pulled aside by producers who asked her to remove her mic. "I kind of figured something serious was happening," she recalled of the moment. "I honestly got scared, I thought something happened with a family member." Cierra Ortega In episode 30, narrator Iain Stirling revealed Ortega "left the villa due to a personal situation." While he did not elaborate as to why, her exit followed weeks of backlash over resurfaced social media posts that contained a racial slur against Asian people. A petition that urged producers to give Ortega the boot garnered over 17,300 signatures. She lost over 180,000 Instagram followers last week, per statistics from Social Blade. In a statement shared to Ortega's social media following the July 6 episode, her parents said they experienced "one of the most painful weeks of our lives." "We've seen the posts, the headlines, the hurt and the hate. And while Cierra hasn't seen any of it yet, we have. And so have the people who love her," they wrote. "We're not here to justify or ignore what's surfaced. 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." Austin Shepard Austin Shepard—who was voted off the program—faced racism allegations, which he has denied. During an Instagram Q&A, Shepard answered one fan's question about being "a racist bigot in the villa." "I have a Black woman tattooed on my side," he said, Cosmopolitan reported. He added that the accusation was "crazy" and said that the person who asked the question was "dumb." What People Are Saying Love Island USA contestant Belle-A Walker said in an Instagram Story on July 6: "As a proud Asian American woman, I'm deeply appreciative of the Love Island USA producers for taking a stand and making it clear that racism of any kind is not tolerated. "When I first saw what my fellow Islander said on their social media pages, I was incredibly heartbroken. But I wanted to wait until they left the villa and were able to address the situation, genuinely apologize, and commit to learning from the experience before deciding how our relationship would look moving forward." What Happens Next Love Island USA Season 7 airs new episodes daily, except on Wednesdays, at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Newsweek
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Why Did Cierra Ortega Leave 'Love Island USA'? Her Parents Break Silence
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Cierra Ortega's parents have broken their silence following their daughter's sudden exit from Love Island USA. Newsweek reached out to Ortega's representative via email for comment on Monday. The Context Love Island USA is a reality television show based on the British series Love Island. The U.S. version first premiered in 2019 and is hosted by Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix. Per Peacock, the series is "a real-time dating competition featuring a group of sexy singles living in a tropical villa who must try to win the $100K prize by coupling up and surviving to the end." What To Know On Sunday, narrator Iain Stirling revealed during Season 7, Episode 30 that Ortega was no longer on Love Island USA. "Welcome back to Love Island USA, Cierra has left the villa due to a personal situation, leaving Nic [Vansteenberghe] officially single," Stirling said in a voice-over on July 6, Deadline reported. Vansteenberghe was Ortega's love interest on the show, and they had been dating exclusively for several episodes. In the scene following Stirling's announcement, Vansteenberghe said: "Right before Cierra had left, my mind was clear. I knew what the future would look like, and now I'm lost. I think now that my strongest connection is gone, there's like—just figure it out from here." Cierra Ortega and Nicolas "Nic" Vansteenberghe pose for a photo together on "Love Island USA." Cierra Ortega and Nicolas "Nic" Vansteenberghe pose for a photo together on "Love Island USA." Ben Symons/Peacock The news comes following backlash Ortega received over an alleged social media post that resurfaced online, in which she used a racial slur toward the Asian community. However, no official reason for her departure has been confirmed. Prior to Ortega leaving Love Island USA, a petition calling for her removal garnered over 17,000 signatures. On Wednesday, she lost over 162,800 Instagram followers, and on Thursday, she lost an additional 47,800 followers, according to statistics from Social Blade. Earlier in the season, contestant Yulissa Escobar was booted from the program for using the N-word on a podcast. "Podcast clips from years ago have recently resurfaced, and I want to address it directly," Escobar wrote in an apology on Instagram after her exit. "In those clips, I used a word I never should've used, a racial slur. 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." Cierra Ortega on "Love Island USA" Season 7. Iain Stirling announced her exit from the reality television show on July 6. Cierra Ortega on "Love Island USA" Season 7. Iain Stirling announced her exit from the reality television show on July 6. Ben Symons/Peacock What People Are Saying Cierra Ortega's parents spoke out about their daughter's Love Island USA departure via her Instagram Stories: "As Cierra's parents, this has been one of the most painful weeks of our lives. We've seen the posts, the headlines, the hurt and the hate. And while Cierra hasn't seen any of it yet, we have. And so have the people who love her." "We're not here to justify or ignore what's surfaced. 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." "While Cierra is not in the villa anymore, she is still away. She hasn't had the chance to process any of this or speak for herself. But we know our daughter. We know her heart. And when she returns, we believe she'll face this with honesty, growth, and grace." "While she'll always be our little girl, she's also a woman, one who will take responsibility in her own time and her own voice. Until then, we're simply asking for compassion. For patience. For basic human decency. Not just for her, but for everyone caught in the middle of this. Thank you to those who've continued to show love, even when it's not easy. – With love, Her family." What Happens Next? Love Island USA Season 7 airs new episodes daily, except on Wednesdays, at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.
