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

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Cierra Ortega is owning up to her actions.

Following her elimination from “Love Island USA” on July 6, she shared insights about the reasons for her exit in a statement addressing the situation.

After spending approximately two days back in the U.S., I’ve had some time to gather my thoughts. Now, with a clearer perspective, I feel equipped to discuss this matter without strong emotions, as I’m not directly involved in this situation.

25-year-old individual admitted that they previously employed a derogatory term targeted at Asians in an old social media post, which was brought back to light when they featured on season seven of the Peacock dating program.

While staying at the villa, some old posts of mine surfaced where I unknowingly used a highly disrespectful and derogatory term. To begin with, I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to anyone I may have hurt or offended, but most importantly, I want to express my deepest regrets to the entire Asian community. From the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry.

Cierra went on to say, “I didn’t realize how much hurt, damage, and heavy history the term carries, otherwise, I wouldn’t have used it. My intentions were good, but that doesn’t make it okay since good intentions don’t absolve ignorance.

Apart from expressing regret, Cierra also acknowledged responsibility for her post, labeling it as a valuable learning experience. She was in a relationship with Nic Vansteenberghe, another islander on the show.

She openly admitted, “I honestly didn’t realize it was offensive language. I was unaware of its connotation, and it wasn’t until I posted publicly in 2024 when one of my followers reached out to inform me that my words were deeply painful.

However, she asked the public to stop their attacks on her family.

Cierra expressed her concerns, stating that the way people have been treating her family and loved ones has been incredibly challenging,” she said. “Unfortunately, they’ve had Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) called on them. My family no longer feels safe in their own home. I’m receiving threats—but I don’t believe responding with hate is the solution. I think a more just response would be finding a way to counteract this hatred without resorting to it.

The local resident from Arizona said, “I assure you, if it matters to you that I listen, apologize sincerely, and change my actions, then I will do so. I recognize that no apology can fully make up for the hurt I’ve inflicted or the offense I’ve caused.

The celebrity who is known for reality TV stated that she took down the post right away and also stopped using that particular term in her speech, mentioning that she’s experienced a great deal of personal development since that time.

Still, Cierra said she supports the decision to remove her from Love Island USA.

She acknowledged the network’s choice to expel her from the villa, stating, “I believe this action was justified and the consequences have been felt. Undeniably, the public response has been quite challenging, but I can see how people might be perplexed as to why I made that statement.

However, she asked the public to stop their attacks on her family.

Cierra clarified, “What has been incredibly challenging is the way people are treating my family and my loved ones. They have had Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported on them, making them feel unsafe in their own home. I’ve been receiving threats to my life—I don’t believe it’s right to retaliate with hate for hate. I don’t consider that justice.

The resident of Arizona assured, “If you seek assurance that you are listened to, that I apologize sincerely, and that I will change my ways, I guarantee it. I understand that no apology can fully compensate for the damage inflicted and the offenses committed.

Her original partner Nic is still residing at the villa and has recently formed a new partnership with co-star Olandria Carthen. The reality TV series Love Island USA is broadcast every night, with exceptions on Wednesdays, on the streaming platform Peacock.

Read on to learn more behind-the-scenes details of the show.

Each day concludes with compiling an hour-long episode from the abundant video recordings captured by 85 concealed cameras.

At the close of each day, we collect over an hour’s worth of footage from our 85 hidden cameras and turn it into a single episode.

However, they operate by swiftly transforming footage from Mondays into Tuesdays’ episodes, and this process continues in the same fashion.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d say it’s fortunate that Survivor, which has been filmed in Fiji since season five, is 16 hours ahead of the East Coast. This means that if we work late into the night, it feels like the next day hasn’t even begun yet for our audience back home! This time difference gifts us with valuable additional hours to finesse each new episode to perfection.

In 2024, Claudine Parrish, the executive producer, shared with The Wrap that as the islanders wake up, they’ll start filming scenes based on real-life events. These scenarios might be labeled something like “Boys preparing breakfast for the girls.” Remarkably, just 15 minutes later, these moments are edited and transformed into a polished scene by our editor.

It takes a community effort: Parrish noted that they have approximately 30 editors and 20 producers, along with a story group who decide on the key events and dialogues to incorporate into a comprehensive tale.

At times, Parrish acknowledged, not everything that appears intriguing leads to something substantial. “Sometimes we miss the mark,” she stated. “We’re constantly evaluating whether something is significant or will alter significantly within a short period.

On this program, it’s clearly evident that breakfast is the key meal. With the gentlemen responsible for cooking and brewing coffee for 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 setting, while the food itself may not be the main attraction (except for perhaps burnt pancakes or a novice’s omelette), it is always easily accessible when needed.

In 2021, Dani Dyer from Love Island UK season four shared with HELLO! that there are no menus on the show. Instead, it’s self-catering, so contestants prepare their own breakfasts, which typically include items like eggs, bacon, and toast.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, let me share an intriguing tidbit I recently discovered about the eighth season of a popular reality cooking show. The contestant, Luca Bish, admitted in a July 2023 TikTok post that he had no idea who was responsible for the culinary magic happening behind the scenes. He humorously referred to this anonymous chef as “some enigmatic cook out in the field somewhere.” Remarkably, the delicious dishes were mysteriously delivered right to the villa!

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

Through the years, various participants have shared that they dine apart as males and females, with the exception of during their dates.

Olivia Attwood, a former contestant on Love Island UK season three, shared with The Sun in 2022 that it feels like dining with the producers is similar to being at a boarding school. She explained that during dinner, it’s much like having the staff remind us to clean our rooms, inform us about laundry days, and ask for our breakfast preferences – all simple tasks that keep the house well-organized and running smoothly.

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 season eight was challenging due to the need for silence during meal times as it interfered with the filming process.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to clarify a rule often misunderstood in social settings. Contrary to what some might think, indulging in too many drinks for flirtatious purposes isn’t necessarily seen as ideal, even if it’s not explicitly discouraged. However, in this particular context, contestants are restricted to enjoying just one alcoholic beverage per night, and the options are limited to beer, wine, or sparkling beverages.

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

During celebrations like those at a Casa Amor challenge victory, as when it seems there’s an open bar, Siegel explained that the drinks were actually diluted significantly with water.

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

In the afternoon of 12 U.K. time, as the Scottish comedian shared with TODAY in 2024, I’d tune into Love Island UK. By then, the show was almost over. We would write for about two to three hours afterwards, wrapping up by around 4:30 pm. Then it was taking care of my child – dinner, bath time, and bedtime. I wished it could be more glamorous, but that’s what my life was like. Afterwards, I’d have a late dinner, and then at half past 8, which is quite early in Fiji, I would switch to Love Island USA.

At home, Stirling watches a preliminary version of the show over Zoom, as Parrish, the executive producer, clarified to The Wrap. He and the writers are merely noting amusing elements within the scene or reminders of past storylines, which they record using their personal microphones at home.

Before my beloved episode sets sail towards the discerning eyes of Peacock’s legal and standards team, I ensure that my narration has already found its place within it. Occasionally, they may jot down suggestions for minor adjustments, which I promptly attend to in a last-minute flurry.

30 am – a time still quite late for the U.S. show. Ideally, he’d love to stay up until 5 or 6 in the morning, but that would mean no sleep at all.

As a devoted fan, I’ve always admired how powerful the franchise connection can be. In my case, it led to tying the knot with the ex-host of Love Island UK, Laura Whitmore, back in 2020. Our bond deepened even further when we welcomed our precious daughter into the world in March 2021. This is a testament to the enduring relationships that can be forged within this franchise.

The music on “Love Island USA” – starting with Janelle Monae’s “Make Me Feel,” continuing with the theme song “From Fiji With Love” by The Daniel Pemberton TV Orchestra, and including various pop songs in between – sets a distinct mood and feel throughout the show.

In a June 2025 interview with Rolling Stone, Love Island USA executive producer James Barker expressed his excitement upon seeing Love Island UK for the first time: “Wow, this is a whole new level of reality storytelling! It’s incredible to have a personal connection to a popular song and see it seamlessly integrated into a TV show’s narrative. This experience made me think, ‘This is fantastic – more shows should be like this!’ And instantly, my mind was racing with ideas on how I could contribute to Love Island.

As a dedicated follower, I’m always ready to pick the right songs on short notice for different situations. However, I admire the work of a music clearance company that starts their preparations months in advance. They ensure that popular tracks from artists like Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, and Olivia Rodrigo are legally licensed well before they’re required to be used.

We constantly produce a large number of songs, ranging from hundreds to thousands, as we can’t predict the future events. For instance, one song might be ideal for someone who ends up breaking up with someone else, while another could be perfect for capturing the moment of a first kiss.

Interestingly, the inhabitants of the villa are unable to enjoy music, primarily due to complications related to copyright, but additionally because it may interfere with the clarity of recorded conversations for the concealed cameras and audio equipment.

In specific scenarios like contests, slow-motion dance events, or when stepping into a taxi for a date with the driver’s tunes playing, there can be instances where songs are experienced in real time.

To make sure the female cast members always look their best on camera, production supplies makeup and skincare products in the shared living space. They’re welcome to bring their own as well, but any identifiable brand labels on personal items will be concealed during post-production editing.

For more intricate personal care, there are experts available to assist. Love Island UK season five alum Lucie Dolan shared with Capital FM in 2021 that every two or three weeks, they would get manicures, haircuts, and so on done. With the lengthy nights inside the villa, it’s important to have a day of relaxation and rejuvenation since it’s not always apparent how long each night is.

On their free Saturdays, when there’s no performance, as Whitmore shared with OK!, they often get their eyelashes and acrylic nails re-done.

In earlier times, island residents needed to travel elsewhere, however, today’s production cannot allow contestants to be out in the wilderness while filming the show.

According to Whitmore, it seems that in the initial season, they ventured out of the villa for a salon visit to get their hair styled. However, given the magnitude of the show now, they’re unable to do so. Instead, someone comes to the villa 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’s executive producer Ben Thursby-Palmer explained their approach to the show. If the couples are content, there’s no need for recoupling because everyone is already paired up. However, if contestants are sleeping separately throughout the villa, it indicates tension and requires a shakeup to reorganize the pairs.

In a YouTube video posted in April 2023, Samie Elishi from Love Island UK season nine stated that the show wasn’t scripted entirely. However, he clarified that producers would prompt them to engage with specific couples or individuals they were having disputes with, or anyone else for that matter, to keep the show interesting. Nevertheless, what was discussed during these interactions was entirely up to the participants themselves.

Communication devices like phones are provided to the islanders, enabling them to make calls and send messages, take pictures, and receive audible updates on upcoming events happening in their community.

In 2019, Liana Isadora Van Riel from ‘Love Island UK’ season two shared with The Sun that the phones provided are quite simple for texting, but they aren’t often utilized. Instead, she suggested that they are mostly used for the “I’ve got a text” drama in the show.

If Siegel from Love Island USA’s TikTok is to be believed, there are strict rules in place: You can’t search anything online, you can’t watch television, you can’t check your social media accounts, and you can’t send messages to anyone outside the show.

In the classic fashion of peacekeepers in reality TV competitions, the host of Love Island USA, Ariana Madix, must feign indifference towards the events that are taking place under her supervision.

Sometimes I feel the urge to join the action, but since I’m a host, I must maintain a certain level of neutrality when they’re around,” she shared with The Wrap in 2024.

Simultaneously, she intervened during the elimination of Andrea Carmona in season six, and Rob Rausch momentarily blurted out that he’d depart with her too. However, Madix tactfully suggested he rethink his decision, which eventually led him to stay put.

In such intense emotional situations, it’s usually not wise to make significant decisions, as Madix pointed out. Additionally, there was a part of him that felt tempted to test his intentions since he wasn’t convinced that the other person truly intended to depart.

Madix observed that no cameramen were visible to the islanders during filming. Cameras were strategically placed throughout the villa, with movable cameramen hidden behind walls using sliders. Although the islanders might think they’re having private conversations, those areas aren’t blind spots since there’s always someone watching, except for the obvious places like bathrooms and showers.

In the confines of a secluded space I’ve come to know as the kitchen pantry, following Elishi’s insights on ‘Love Island UK’, it seems to be a sanctuary where treats are stored. She mentioned in her April 2023 video that this place can only accommodate one person at a time due to certain incidents that transpired between couples within its walls before.

A number of participants on “Love Island UK” have mentioned that branded condoms for the show are available throughout the villa, with more being supplied as needed.

Before the surprises arrive that could change the current situation, they are given permission to watch the performance to refresh their memory about the events that have transpired thus far.

On the April 2023 edition of her podcast, “Chloe vs. The World”, contestant Chloe Burrows from Love Island UK revealed that she only watches each episode excluding the one aired prior to her arrival, and subsequently shares her top three preferred islanders 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 regulations as mealtimes hold true here: no discussions about others or conflicts, and if any disputes arise, they should be postponed until the following day. Furthermore, since there are no assigned days off for romantic liaisons, men and women are not allowed to sleep in the same bed during their free time.

During an interview on Britain’s This Morning in 2017, Kem Cetinay from Love Island UK’s third season explained that when the microphones are turned off, they aren’t permitted to discuss anything related to the show. While everyone can socialize, they need to be careful about what they talk about as the production team wants to record everything for viewers at home to see. It’s essentially a break from all the intense games, dates, and decision-making about who they like or don’t like.

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2025-07-10 05:48