Love Island USA’s Cierra Ortega Says Fans Called ICE on Her Family

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Cierra Ortega is standing up for her family.

Following her expulsion from Love Island USA due to an old social media post containing a racist remark towards Asians, she has come forward to explain why she left the show, expressing concern that her supporters’ reactions have reached out to her family members as well.

In her July 9 Instagram video, Cierra expressed that the way people have been treating her family has been incredibly challenging. They’ve even had ICE called on them, making them feel unsafe in their own home. She’s received death threats, but she doesn’t believe responding with hate is the answer. Instead, she thinks it’s more just to not fight hate with hate.

In addition, she admitted understanding the hardships her family has experienced, but as an Arizonan by birth, she also accepted responsibility for the controversial post and concurred with the network’s choice to reduce her screen time on the program.

She stated, “What was said certainly warranted a consequence, and that consequence has undeniably been met. I must admit, the fallout from this situation has been challenging to navigate, but I can see how some might be puzzled as to why I would have made such a comment in the first place.

Cierra, paired with fellow islander Nic Vansteenberghe, was eliminated from the villa on the show’s July 6 episode. Following this, Cierra’s parents voiced their opinions openly in response to fan reactions during the ensuing controversy.

In their message posted on Cierra’s Instagram Story on July 6th, they stated, “We don’t aim to defend or dismiss the recent developments. We acknowledge why people are feeling angry, and we recognize the importance of responsibility. However, the discussions happening online currently have escalated way beyond just accountability.

The harsh words, the menacing actions, the targeting of her loved ones, including her followers – it’s deeply saddening,” the statement went on. “It’s unwarranted. No one should have to endure such hatred, regardless of any error they may have committed.

Similarly, Season 7 islander Belle-A Walker also expressed her criticism of Cierra’s social media content. However, she emphasized that she does not endorse the hostility displayed by fans towards the controversial contestant.

She expressed that she disapproves of any form of bigotry, discrimination based on race, and hatred. However, she also encourages caution when making harsh or unkind remarks towards or about someone else.

Keep reading for everything to know about the show.

85 hidden cameras capture a vast amount of footage daily, which needs to be carefully edited down to fit a one-hour broadcast.

However, they work by expediting the process – editors work late on Mondays, using that day’s footage to produce the following day’s episode, and this pattern continues.

Fortunately, Fiji – the location for the debut season and home base since season 5 – is 16 hours ahead of the East Coast. This means that a late-night wrap implies it’s still morning in the U.S., providing the team with valuable additional hours to perfect the upcoming episode.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: “In the morning, just like any other day, we islanders rise. Our executive producer, Claudine Parrish, shared with The Wrap in 2024 that our control room begins crafting scenes based on real-life events as they unfold. For instance, ‘Boys preparing breakfast for girls’ could be one of those scenes. Amazingly, only fifteen minutes after the event occurs, it’s seamlessly integrated into our edits. Our dedicated editor then works their magic to transform these moments into captivating scenes.

It takes a community effort, according to Parrish; there are approximately 30 editors and 20 producers involved, and it’s the job of the story team to determine which significant moments and dialogues should be interwoven to create a broader, cohesive tale.

At times, Parrish acknowledged, things that appear intriguing don’t necessarily lead to anything significant. She stated, “We don’t always hit the mark. We constantly evaluate whether something is crucial or will have an impact tomorrow rather than fading away.

On this program, it’s evident that breakfast plays a crucial role as the daily meal. With the gentlemen responsible for cooking and serving breakfast and coffee to the female contestants on ‘Love Island USA’, it has sparked global interest.

But what does everyone eat for lunch and dinner, you ask?

In this program, while the food itself may not be the main attraction (except for perhaps burnt pancakes or a novice’s omelette), it is always accessible when needed.

Dani Dyer from Love Island UK’s season four revealed to HELLO! in 2021 that there were no menus on the show. Instead, it was catered, meaning they cooked their own breakfast, which typically included items like eggs, bacon, and toast.

In a July 2023 TikTok post, contestant Luca Bish from season eight admitted he didn’t know who the chef was, referring to them as “an enigmatic culinary artist hidden away somewhere in the field,” implying that the food mysteriously appeared at the villa.

Instead of enjoying the food, Bish often stated that for his lunches and dinners, he had hummus and crisps.

In various instances throughout history, it’s been disclosed that men and women tend to dine apart from each other, with a few exceptions during dates.

According to Olivia Attwood from Love Island UK season three, speaking in 2022 with The Sun, it’s as if we, the cast, dine with the producers, but it operates like a boarding school. When we gather for meals, it feels like they are assigning chores such as cleaning our rooms, setting laundry days, and asking about our breakfast preferences – all tasks aimed at keeping the house running smoothly.

And much like being on a jury, they’re not allowed to discuss the case among themselves.

In an interview with Closer in 2024, season eight contestant Samuel Agbiji expressed that the experience was intense. He explained, “During meals, there’s a strong desire to discuss ongoing events, but you’re unable to do so because it interferes with filming.

It’s possible you could think that overindulging in alcohol during a flirtatious situation would be tolerated, if not actively endorsed, but actually, contestants are only allowed one drink each night, and the drinks must be beer, wine, or sparkling wine.

Phoebe Siegel from Love Island USA’s fourth season stated on TikTok in June 2024 that the choice between red or white wine at dinner wasn’t “generously filled.

During celebrations like those following a victory in the Casa Amor challenge, where it seems like an open bar is available, Siegel stated that the drinks were actually diluted with plenty of water.

Iain Stirling juggles two roles, serving as the narrator for both “Love Island UK” and “Love Island USA.” During production, he’s under a strict timetable.

Every afternoon at noon U.K. time, I’d find myself eagerly logging into ‘Love Island UK’. By then, the show was almost over, but that didn’t stop us from writing for a couple of hours. Done by around 4 or 5 PM, then it was on to child duties – dinner, bath time, and bedtime. I yearned for something more glamorous, but that was my routine. After tending to my family, I’d grab a bite to eat before diving back in at half past 8 PM to catch ‘Love Island USA’, which felt like the crack of dawn in Fiji!

From home, Stirling watches a preliminary version of the show via Zoom, as Parrish, the executive producer, shared with The Wrap. Together with the writers, they casually note humorous moments within the scene or references to past story events that are later recorded…directly from his home microphone.

I contribute my account to the episode prior to its submission for review by Peacock’s legal and standards team. Occasionally, their feedback necessitates last-minute adjustments.

Stirling mentioned to TODAY that we aim to conclude around midnight or 1am. Afterward, I might stay awake until half past 3 – a time when the performance for the U.S. isn’t over yet. Ideally, in an ideal world, I’d keep going till 5 or 6 in the morning, but that would mean no sleep at all.

In 2020, Stirling tied the knot with his former Love Island UK host, Laura Whitmore, and they became parents to a baby girl in March 2021.

The music on “Love Island USA” – starting from Janelle Monae’s “Make Me Feel,” continuing with the theme song “From Fiji With Love” by The Daniel Pemberton TV Orchestra, and including all the catchy tunes in between – sets a unique and captivating mood throughout the show.

In a June 2025 interview with Rolling Stone, executive producer James Barker expressed his excitement upon watching Love Island UK for the first time. He said, “Wow, it’s like a leap forward in reality storytelling when you combine a personal connection to a popular song and use it effectively within a TV show’s narrative.” Inspired by this innovative approach, he immediately thought, “Firstly, this is fantastic and more shows should emulate this format. Secondly, I need to be part of the Love Island team!

As a devoted follower, I understand the importance of having the right tunes ready for various situations at a moment’s notice. However, unlike me who prepares music spontaneously, a music clearance company meticulously plans months in advance. They ensure that a diverse collection of tracks from talented artists such as Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, and Olivia Rodrigo are properly licensed well before they’re required to be used.

We continually prepare a large number of songs – sometimes even in the hundreds or thousands – as we can’t predict the direction the story will take. So, we might think, ‘This song could be ideal for someone who eventually breaks up with someone,’ or ‘This one would make a perfect soundtrack for that first kiss when it happens.’

Interestingly, the inhabitants of the villa are unable to enjoy music, primarily due to complications related to copyright clearance, and secondly, because background noise from music may interfere with the recording capabilities of hidden cameras and microphones during conversations.

There are instances where songs played in real life don’t fall under the usual rules, for example, during specific competitions, slow-motion dance events, or when stepping into a taxi for a date with the driver playing tunes.

To always make the female performers look their best on camera, the production team offers makeup and skincare products within the house. They’re welcome to bring their own as well, but any recognizable brand labels on their personal items will be concealed during post-production.

For intricate grooming needs, there are specialists involved. Approximately every two to three weeks, Lucie Dolan, a contestant from ‘Love Island UK’ season five, mentioned to Capital FM in 2021 that they would get their nails and hair done. Since the nights inside can be quite lengthy, and the duration often goes unnoticed by others, it is essential to have some downtime for relaxation.

On their days off from work when there’s no performance scheduled, the former host Whitmore said to OK!, “they usually get their eyelashes and acrylic nails re-done.

Previously, inhabitants needed to travel to other places for certain activities, however, today’s production of the show is unable to let participants venture into the wilderness while shooting.

According to Whitmore, it seems that for the initial season, they stepped out of the villa to get their hair styled at a salon. However, given the massive scale of the show now, they’re unable to do so. Instead, someone comes to them to touch up their roots.

Producers say they’re perfectly content to ride the waves of romance.

In an interview with The Wrap in 2024, Love Island USA executive producer Ben Thursby-Palmer explained their approach: “We follow the unfolding drama as it happens in real time in the villa. If everyone is content in their couples, there’s no need for recoupling. However, if they’re all spread out sleeping individually around the villa, we have to shake things up and bring them back together again.

In a YouTube video posted in April 2023, Samie Elishi from Love Island UK season nine stated that the show wasn’t improvised entirely, but producers would prompt conversations or interactions between contestants. However, the actual dialogue was left to the individuals themselves.

Communication devices (phones) are provided to the islanders for making calls, sending messages, taking pictures, and receiving updates about future events that can be verbally announced.

In 2019, during an interview with The Sun, Liana Isadora Van Riel from Love Island UK season two shared her thoughts. She mentioned that the contestants are given simple phones for texting each other, but these devices aren’t frequently utilized. Instead, she explained, they serve mainly as a prop for the “I’ve got a text” scenes.

In another scenario, Love Island USA’s Siegel mentioned on TikTok that “There’s no searching online, no watching television, no using social media, no messaging anyone outside of the show.

Following in the footsteps of peacekeepers on reality TV shows, Love Island USA‘s host Ariana Madix must feign indifference towards the events that transpire under her supervision.

She shared with The Wrap in 2024 that it can be challenging because occasionally she feels the urge to join the action herself. However, being a host requires maintaining some neutrality, especially when they’re around.

Simultaneously, during season six, she intervened when Andrea Carmona was eliminated and Rob Rausch spontaneously declared he’d depart with her. However, Madix tactfully suggested he rethink his decision, and in the end, he chose to stay.

In Madix’s words, “I believe it’s not wise to make significant decisions during intense emotional periods.” Additionally, “there was a part of me that wanted to test his intentions since I wasn’t convinced he truly intended to depart.

Madix, residing in a hotel close by with a vista of the villa during production, pointed out that no cameramen were visible to the islanders. Instead, cameras were strategically positioned all over the villa. Additionally, there were movable walls with sliders, concealing cameramen who could maneuver behind them. However, the islanders generally remained unaware of these cameramen, and aside from obvious areas like bathrooms or showers, there were no blind spots in the house where private conversations might be assumed to go undetected. In reality, such supposed secret conversations were not private at all.

A hidden location without cameras: As mentioned by Elishi from Love Island UK in her April 2023 video, the kitchen pantry where the snacks reside. This spot is exclusive and only permits one individual at a time due to past incidents involving couples that occurred within the pantry.

Numerous participants on Love Island UK have disclosed that branded condoms for the show are available throughout the villa, with requests for refills being honored.

Before the bombshells arrive with the possibility of changing the current situation, they can first view the program to refresh their memory about the events that have taken place thus far.

On her podcast “Chloe vs. The World”, Chloe Burrows from Love Island UK revealed in an April 2023 episode that she and others can’t watch episodes aired prior to their entry, instead making their top three favorite islander selections among those already present on the show.

While the cameras never stop filming, the contestants do get one day off a week to just hang out.

This implies that the same regulations apply during mealtimes: no discussing personal matters or conflicts, as they should be addressed later. Furthermore, since they don’t have specific days for dates, male and female participants are not allowed to sleep in the same bed on their off-days.

When Kem Cetinay, a contestant from Love Island UK’s third season, spoke to This Morning in 2017, he explained that when microphones are removed, discussions about the show are off-limits. Although everyone can still socialize, they need to be cautious about what they discuss because the producers want to ensure everything is caught on camera for viewers at home. It’s essentially a break from the intense games, dates, and decision-making processes regarding who they like and dislike.

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2025-07-10 16:18