Love Island USA’s Nic Breaks Silence on Cierra’s Exit Over Racial Slur

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Nic Vansteenberghe is sharing what really happened between him and Cierra Ortega. 

Despite Cierra being eliminated from Love Island USA on July 6 due to her previous use of a racial slur, Nic stated that he wasn’t aware as to why his partner had unexpectedly departed from the Peacock dating show. Consequently, he chose not to exit the villa with her.

On the July 15th episode of “Chicks in the Office”, Nic reminisced that it had been an utterly routine day, with her simply departing afterwards.

Upon Cierra’s departure, I was informed by the producers with a rather unspecific explanation regarding her leaving.

Or:

After Cierra left, I was told by the producers in a rather vague manner as to why she had to go.

He mentioned it was a private matter or something similar, and further clarified that no specifics were ever disclosed to him.

24-year-old Nic openly acknowledged that he had a very intimate bond with Cierra, 25, and was seriously contemplating departing Fiji together due to their recent breakup. However, he expressed feelings of bewilderment and perplexity because he remained uncertain as to why she was dismissed from the place.

The nurse explained that they needed some time alone to reflect on their thoughts and actions, acknowledging the potential for outside circumstances not aligning with their values to be misconstrued as approval. Therefore, they chose to remain in their place of residence, giving themselves space for self-reflection.

Now that season seven has ended and he discovered her old social media post containing a derogatory term for Asians, Nic clarified, “Now that I’m aware of this, I can assess if her beliefs align with mine. This knowledge will help me form a clearer understanding.

Concerning Cierra, she has expressed that she wasn’t aware the term she used was derogatory during the show, but after a fan brought it to her attention, she immediately apologized for its offensive nature.

She expressed agreement in a video posted on Instagram on July 9, saying the network was right to take her out of the villa. “What I did required discipline, and I’ve certainly felt the consequences,” she acknowledged. “I know people might be puzzled about why I made that comment, but I realize they’re just trying to understand.

In response to those doubters who claimed I swiftly moved on from Cierra by pairing up with Olandria Carthen, let me set the record straight about the truth behind it all.

He clarified that he wasn’t instantly prepared to transition directly to Olandria without hesitation, as the scenario was not that straightforward. In fact, Olandria and he had previously discussed this matter. They both shared strong bonds – she with Taylor (Williams), and he with Cierra. For them, it felt more like they were mutually adrift and bewildered during those initial few days.

Nic said they moved slowly, pointing out that they weren’t “instantly” kissing.

He continued, “We invested a great deal of time, had numerous discussions, and at times felt quite bewildered together. I believe it was this shared experience that initially brought us closer, and it’s what led us to our current point.

Regarding Cierra, she’s been vocal about her dismissal from the show, explaining that she wasn’t aware the term she used was a slur initially. However, once a follower brought it to her attention, she offered an apology.

She expressed her agreement with the network’s action to dismiss her from the villa in a video posted on Instagram on July 9. “What happened warranted a penalty, and I can assure you that the penalty has been duly served,” she stated. “I realize that people might be puzzled as to why I would have said what I did, but I understand their confusion.

Read on for more behind-the-scenes details of Love Island.

Each day, we have more than enough video recordings from our 85 concealed cameras to compile into a one-hour show.

However, they work by quickly transforming Monday’s footage into Tuesday’s episode, and continuing this pattern with the next days’ footage.

Fortunately, Fiji, the location for the debut season and where the show has been since season five, is 16 hours ahead of the East Coast. This means that a late-night wrap-up translates to it still being the previous day’s morning in the U.S., providing the team with valuable additional hours to perfect the new episode.

According to executive producer Claudine Parrish in an interview with The Wrap back in 2024, as the islanders rise each day, they’ll find their actions being turned into scenes by the control room team. These moments are then labeled for easy identification, such as ‘Boys preparing breakfast for the girls.’ Amazingly, just 15 minutes after an event occurs, it’s already being edited and transformed into a scene by the editor.

In other words, according to Parrish, it requires an entire community – consisting of around 30 editors, 20 producers, and a dedicated story team – to decide which significant scenes and dialogues should be interwoven to form a cohesive larger tale.

At times, Parrish acknowledged, not everything that appears intriguing leads to something substantial. “We don’t always make the correct decisions,” she admitted. “We’re constantly weighing whether something is significant or if its impact will fade away by the next day.

It’s clear that breakfast plays a significant role on this program, as the gentlemen responsible for cooking and serving meals and coffee to the women on Love Island USA has turned it into a globally intriguing subject.

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

In this setting, while the food itself may not be the main event (except for perhaps burnt pancakes or that initial omelette attempt), there’s always an abundance of edibles at hand.

Dani Dyer, the winner of Love Island UK season four, explained to HELLO! in 2021 that there were no menus on set. Instead, they had catering where they prepared their own breakfasts with basic items like eggs, bacon, and toast.

In season eight, Luca Bish expressed his surprise about who was doing the cooking, stating on a TikTok video uploaded in July 2023 that it was apparently “an enigmatic chef hidden away somewhere in the field,” with the meals being delivered to the villa.

Instead of enjoying the food, Bish often said that for both lunch and dinner, he usually had hummus and crisps.

Over time, various participants have disclosed that they dine apart (men and women), but this rule is waived during dates.

Olivia Attwood, a former contestant on Love Island UK season three, shared with The Sun in 2022, describing the production process as similar to a boarding school. She explained that meal times are like being told to tidy up the room, plan for laundry day, and make breakfast choices, all tasks contributing to the smooth operation of the household.

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

Samuel Agbiji expressed in an interview with Closer in 2024 that the eighth season was challenging due to the fact that while eating, one naturally wants to discuss ongoing events, but cannot do so because it interferes with the filming process.

As someone who values commitment, I may initially think that having a few drinks to flirt might not be explicitly discouraged, but in this particular setting, we’re only allowed one alcoholic beverage each night, and the options are strictly limited to beer, wine, or champagne.

Phoebe Siegel from Love Island USA’s fourth season stated on TikTok in June 2024 that the glass of wine offered at dinner wasn’t very generous.

During celebrations like a Casa Amor challenge victory party, where it seems as if an open bar is available, Siegel mentioned that the drinks were actually diluted significantly with water.

Iain Stirling juggles two roles, serving as both the narrator for ‘Love Island UK’ and ‘Love Island USA’. During production, he consistently manages his time efficiently.

In the afternoon of 12 o’clock U.K. time, the Scottish comedian shared with TODAY in 2024 that he would tune into Love Island UK. By then, the show was nearing its end. After that, we’d work for around two to three hours. Quitting by about 4 pm or so. Then I’d prepare my child for dinner, bath time, and bedtime – it wasn’t as rock ‘n’ roll as I would have liked, but that was my routine. Later on, at half past 8, which is quite early in Fiji time, I would switch to Love Island USA.

At home, Stirling watches an early edit of the project via Zoom as Parrish, the executive producer, informed The Wrap. He and the writers are simply noting amusing elements within the scene or memory triggers from the narrative which they record using a microphone at their homes.

The story he told was incorporated into the episode prior to it being submitted for review by Peacock’s legal and standards team, who might occasionally suggest edits at the last minute.

Stirling mentioned to TODAY that we aim to wind up around 12 or 1 am, and he might stay awake until nearly 3 – a time still not concluding the show for the U.S. In an ideal scenario, I’d be wide-awake till 5 or 6 in the morning, but that would essentially mean no sleep for me.

In 2020, evidence emerged that the franchise has the power to create lifelong ties as Stirling got married to Laura Whitmore, who used to host Love Island UK, and they had a baby girl in March 2021.

The music on “Love Island USA” – starting with Janelle Monae’s “Make Me Feel,” continuing to its official theme song, “From Fiji With Love” by The Daniel Pemberton TV Orchestra, and including all the catchy tunes in between – truly sets the show’s atmosphere.

In a June 2025 interview with Rolling Stone, Love Island USA executive producer James Barker expressed his excitement after watching Love Island UK for the first time. He was struck by the unique blend of reality TV and storytelling that resulted from the use of popular songs in the show’s context. Barker thought that this innovative approach could elevate the way stories are told, sparking his interest to work on Love Island.

Instead of hastily choosing songs to match a given situation, a music clearance company prepares well in advance by obtaining licenses for tracks from artists such as Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, and Olivia Rodrigo months before they are actually required.

We continually prepare a large number of songs, ranging from hundreds to thousands, as we’re unsure about the direction the story will take. For instance, one track might be ideal for when someone eventually breaks up with someone, while another could serve as the perfect accompaniment to a first kiss once that moment arises.

Interestingly, the residents of the villa are unable to enjoy music, mainly due to complex licensing issues it may entail, and additionally, because background music could interfere with the recording clarity of hidden audio devices during conversations.

In some situations, real-time songs deviate from the norm, like during competitions, a leisurely slow motion dance, or when stepping into a taxi for a date with the driver’s tunes playing.

To make sure the women always look their best on camera, the production supplies makeup and skincare products in the house. They’re welcome to bring their own as well, but any identifiable branding on their personal items will be hidden during post-production.

During more intricate personal care routines, there are experts involved. For instance, every two to three weeks, Lucie Dolan from Love Island UK 2021 mentioned that she would have her nails, hair, and other similar tasks taken care of. Being confined for such extended periods can make the nights seem endless, and this length often goes unnoticed by others. So, it’s important to take a break and relax occasionally.

On their days off from work when there are no shows scheduled, Whitmore shared with OK! magazine, “they often have their eyelash extensions and acrylic nails reapplied.

In earlier times, island residents had to travel to other places, however, currently, the production of the show cannot allow contestants to be out in nature while filming.

As an ardent admirer, I’ve got some intriguing insights! In the initial season, it seemed they departed the villa for a salon to get their hair styled. However, given the magnitude of the show now, they can no longer do so. Instead, they’ve got someone who comes to them to touch up their roots at the villa itself!

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

In a conversation with The Wrap in 2024, Love Island USA executive producer Ben Thursby-Palmer stated that they adapt to the ongoing events within the villa. If the couples are content, there’s no necessity for recoupling. On the contrary, if everyone is sleeping separately throughout the villa, we must shake things up and reorganize the pairs again.

According to Samie Elishi, a contestant from Love Island UK season nine, the show wasn’t scripted in any way, as he stated in his YouTube video from April 2023. However, he clarified that producers would prompt us to engage with specific couples or individuals we might have disagreements with, otherwise, there wouldn’t be a show. But what’s discussed during these interactions is entirely up to the participants themselves.

The production equips the islanders with devices for communicating through calls and messages, taking pictures, and receiving notifications about future events, all of which can be verbally announced.

In 2019, Liana Isadora Van Riel from Love Island UK season two shared with The Sun that the phones provided were quite simple, mostly used for texting each other. However, they are primarily kept for the ‘I’ve received a text’ drama.

In another scenario, Love Island USA’s Siegel pointed out on TikTok that “There’s no internet, no television, no social media access, no messaging with anyone beyond the show.

In keeping with the long-standing custom of peacekeepers in reality TV competitions, Ariana Madix, the host of Love Island USA, has to act as if she remains unaffected by the events she’s overseeing.

She shared with The Wrap in 2024 that it can be challenging for her because occasionally she feels the urge to participate, but being a host requires maintaining some neutrality, particularly when they are present.

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

Madix suggested that it might not be wise to make such a significant decision during an intense emotional period. Additionally, there was a part of him that wanted to test his friend’s intentions as he wasn’t convinced that he truly intended to depart.

As someone observing the islanders’ lives from my hotel room with a clear view of the villa during filming, I can assure you there are no cameramen physically near them. However, cameras are strategically placed all over the villa, and they have moveable sliders on certain walls where hidden cameramen can position themselves. The islanders usually don’t notice these cameramen because they’re carefully concealed behind the walls. It’s important to remember that there are no secret spots within the house; even if you think you’ve found one, it’s not likely to be a private space for conversation.

A secluded location without cameras: The kitchen pantry mentioned by Love Island UK’s Elishi, a place where snacks are kept. In her April 2023 video, she explained that only one individual is permitted entry at a given moment because of past incidents involving a couple within the pantry.

Several contestants on Love Island UK have mentioned that branded condoms for the show are strategically placed around the villa and can be refilled whenever needed.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t wait to catch a glimpse of what lies ahead before the game-changers appear and reshape everything! So, I’m making sure to tune in and reacquaint myself with the twists and turns that have unfolded thus far.

As a devoted fan, I shared in an episode of my podcast “Chloe vs. The World” on April 2023, I don’t watch the episode of Love Island UK that airs before I enter the villa myself. Once I’m there, I start watching every episode, and then I choose my top three favorite islanders from among those already in the villa.

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

Essentially, this implies that the same guidelines as mealtime hold true: no whispering about others or settling disputes; these matters should be addressed another day. Additionally, since there are no specific days designated for romantic encounters, males and females are not permitted to sleep in the same bed on their free nights.

When I remove my microphone during breaks, I’m not permitted to discuss anything related to the show, as I learned during my time on Love Island UK’s third season when speaking with This Morning in 2017. We can still socialize, but they are cautious about the topics we discuss because they aim to preserve the content for viewers at home to enjoy and record. It serves as a respite from the intense games, dates, and personal decisions about who I like and dislike.

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2025-07-16 05:48