Love Island USA’s Cierra Reveals Moment She Was Pulled From the Villa

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Cierra Ortega didn’t get at text, but rather something more abrupt.

Following her removal from the “Love Island USA” villa on July 6 due to a racial slur used in a TikTok post, she is now sharing the full details of the incident.

Cierra stated during a July 27 TikTok Q&A that ‘[the producers] took us for lunch.’ She recalled, ‘I was talking with the girls, and I thought, ‘I’m going to be really sad to leave you all. You have been such an incredible part of my journey. Saying goodbye will be so tough.’

She went on saying, “I was expressing to Huda, ‘I’m excited for our FaceTime calls with her daughter,’ and I was drawn into a conversation with the producer instead.

Though a normal occurrence on the Peacock show, Cierra admitted this check-in felt different.

The 25-year-old remembered being told directly: “Some posts on your social media platforms seem inconsistent with our core beliefs,” they said. “These beliefs don’t match those of our network, and unfortunately, we must eliminate you from the program as a result.

My mind was filled with numerous thoughts, making it quite overwhelming,” she continued. “Upon seeing the posts, I found myself on the verge of tears. I cried out. My initial response was, ‘I get it now, this is truly grave.’

Cierra didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to her fellow Islanders. 

In my own words, I confided that the most challenging moment was upon us. Given our recent conversation about my impending farewell, it struck a particularly deep chord. Indeed, it left an aching wound. The chapter was closing without the comfort of a proper goodbye.

TopMob News has reached out to Peacock for comment and has not heard back.

She has since owned up to her actions, issuing a lengthy apology in a July 9 Instagram video.

Initially, she wanted to express her sincere apologies not only to those she may have unintentionally harmed or gravely upset, but primarily to the entire Asian community. She stated that her regret is heartfelt and genuine.

If only I’d known the depth of suffering, damage, and the heavy past associated with that term, I wouldn’t have used it casually,” I confess. “I didn’t mean any harm when I was employing it. Yet, my good intentions are irrelevant in this case, for they cannot shield me from ignorance.

Now, she’s bid farewell to her days in Fiji, acknowledging that she won’t participate in the upcoming cast reunion, scheduled for filming next month.

She conveyed that it gives her a sense of relief to know that her point of view, thoughts, feelings, and emotions are now shared.

For more secrets from the Love Island villa, keep reading…

 

Each day, as I pour over the trove of footage captured by our 85 secret cameras, it’s like uncovering hidden gems – a task that fills me with excitement! By the end of the day, I meticulously edit this bounty down to an hour-long episode, revealing the day’s secrets and stories.

However, they operate by swiftly transforming Monday’s footage into Tuesday’s episode, and this pattern continues.

Fortunately, Fiji, home to the series since its fifth season and where the first season was based, is 16 hours ahead of the East Coast. This means that working late translates to it still being the previous day’s morning in the U.S., providing the team with valuable additional hours to ensure the new episode is perfectly polished.

According to Claudine Parrish, executive producer, in an interview with The Wrap back in 2024, the control room will create scenes based on real events happening on the island. For example, if boys were preparing breakfast for girls, they would quickly label that incident and within 15 minutes, it would be edited into a scene by our editor.

It takes a whole community to achieve this: Parrish explained that approximately 30 editors and 20 producers work together, along with a story group who decide which key incidents and dialogues need to be intertwined to create a bigger, cohesive storyline.

As a lifestyle expert, I often find myself in situations where what initially appears intriguing may not always lead to substantial outcomes. It’s all part of the game, a constant evaluation of whether something is truly significant or if it will pass like a fleeting trend tomorrow. After all, we’re human too, and we don’t always get it right in our pursuit of the next big thing.

On this program, it’s clear that breakfast plays a crucial role, being the key meal of the day. With the gentlemen responsible for cooking and brewing coffee for the women contestants in Love Island USA, it’s sparked global curiosity.

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

On this program, while the food itself may not be the main attraction (except for burnt pancakes or your initial attempt at an omelette), it’s always there when needed.

Dani Dyer, the winner of Love Island UK season four, shared with HELLO! in 2021 that there were no menus on the show. Instead, it was self-catering, meaning contestants had to prepare their own meals. For breakfast, they typically cooked items like eggs, bacon, and toast.

In a TikTok post dated July 2023, contestant Luca Bish from season eight admitted he didn’t know who prepared the meals, referring to them as “culinary mysteries cooked up somewhere in the wild,” hinting that the dishes were brought to the villa.

Instead of being fond of the food, Bish often expressed that for both his lunch and dinner, he usually had hummus and crisps.

Throughout the years, it’s been disclosed by various participants that they dine separately according to gender, with the exception of during romantic outings.

Olivia Attwood from “Love Island UK” season three stated in 2022 to The Sun that it’s similar to dining with the producers, resembling a boarding school. During meals, they might instruct us about chores like cleaning bedrooms or scheduling laundry and asking about breakfast preferences for the next day – all these tasks help keep the house functioning efficiently.

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

Samuel Agbiji, a contestant from season eight, expressed in an interview with Closer in 2024 that it was challenging because, during meals, he wanted to discuss current events, but couldn’t due to its impact on the recording process.

As a fervent admirer, it may seem like overindulging in drinks for flirtatious purposes could be tolerated, even appreciated, but let me clarify: the contestants are strictly allowed only one alcoholic beverage per night, and the choices are limited to beer, wine, or champagne.

In a June 2024 TikTok post, Phoebe Siegel from the fourth season of “Love Island USA” expressed that when given a choice between red or white wine at dinner, she felt it wasn’t a large enough serving.

During celebrations like those following a Casa Amor challenge victory, where it seems like an open bar is available, Siegel pointed out that the drinks were actually diluted significantly.

As a devoted devotee, I juggle two demanding roles as the storyteller for both “Love Island UK” and “Love Island USA,” all while keeping a strict schedule during production.

In the afternoon of 12 U.K. time, as the Scottish comedian explained to TODAY in 2024, he would sign into Love Island UK. Since the show was almost over by then, we’d spend the next two to three hours writing. By 4 pm or so, my workday would end. Then I’d prepare dinner for my child, followed by bath time and bedtime. Although I wished it were more glamorous, that was my daily routine. Afterward, around 8:30 pm, which is quite early in Fiji time, I would tune into Love Island USA.

At home, Stirling watches a preliminary edit of the show via Zoom, as Parrish, the executive producer, shared with The Wrap. He and the writers are merely noting humorous elements within each scene or reminders of past storylines, which they record from their homes using their microphones.

The story he tells is incorporated into the episode prior to it being submitted to Peacock’s legal and standards department, who occasionally suggest modifications that need to be made at the very last minute.

In this scenario, Stirling mentioned that they aim to wrap up between 12 or 1 AM. Afterward, he might stay awake until 2:30 AM, which is when the U.S. broadcast of the show continues. If he could dream, he’d keep going till 5 or 6 in the morning without sleeping, but that’s not feasible for him.

Evidence of an enduring connection within the franchise: In 2020, Stirling tied the knot with Laura Whitmore, who was previously the host of Love Island UK. They were blessed with a child in March 2021.

The music on “Love Island USA,” ranging from Janelle Monae’s “Make Me Feel” to the theme song “From Fiji With Love” by The Daniel Pemberton TV Orchestra and various pop songs in between, creates a unique atmosphere or feel.

In his interview with Rolling Stone in June 2025, James Barker, executive producer of Love Island USA, expressed that watching Love Island UK for the first time was a significant moment for him. He felt it was a step up from ordinary reality TV and a new way to tell stories by combining personal connections to popular songs with storytelling in a TV show. This experience sparked two thoughts in his mind: one, this concept is fantastic, and more shows should adopt similar approaches; two, he wanted to work on Love Island.

Instead of choosing songs on the spot for a given situation, a music clearance company prepares well in advance to secure licenses for tracks from artists such as Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, and Olivia Rodrigo, ensuring everything is legally set before they’re required.

As a dedicated follower, I’m constantly crafting hundreds, even thousands of songs, never knowing where the narrative leads. “This tune could serve as the anthem for someone’s eventual heartbreak, or it might just be the ideal choice for their first kiss when the moment arises.

Interestingly, the inhabitants of the villa find themselves unable to enjoy music due to complications related to copyright clearance, and additionally, since music may interfere with the recording capabilities of concealed cameras and microphones, it’s best if they keep the tunes at bay.

In specific scenarios like competitions, slow motion dance events, or even when entering a taxi for a date and the driver has music playing, there can be instances where songs are heard in real time rather than the general rule.

To make sure the women always look confidently styled on camera, the production team offers makeup and skincare products in the shared living space. They’re welcome to bring their own as well, but for any recognizable branding on personal items, it will be removed during editing process.

For more intricate grooming needs, there are experts available to help. As Love Island UK season five alum Lucie Dolan shared with Capital FM in 2021, we would get our nails, hair, and similar treatments done every two or three weeks. Spending such extensive time inside means the nights can feel incredibly long, and the true length often goes unnoticed. To recharge and unwind, a break is essential.

In their free Saturdays, especially when there’s no performance, as Whitmore shared with OK!, they usually get their eyelashes and acrylic nails retouched.

In the past, inhabitants needed to travel elsewhere, however, today’s production cannot allow contestants to be out in nature while filming the show.

According to Whitmore, it seemed that in the initial season, they stepped out of the villa to get their hair styled at a salon. However, since the show has grown significantly, they’re unable to do so now. Instead, someone comes to them to touch up their roots.

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

In simple terms, “Love Island USA” executive producer Ben Thursby-Palmer stated to The Wrap in 2024 that they follow the current events happening within the villa. If everyone is content in their relationships, there’s no necessity for recoupling. Conversely, if all contestants are sleeping separately throughout the villa, it necessitates a reset and rearrangement to bring them back together again.

According to Samie Elishi from Love Island UK’s ninth season, who shared this in a YouTube video from April 2023, the show wasn’t scripted at all. However, he clarified that producers would suggest conversations with specific couples or people involved in arguments, but what was discussed during those conversations was entirely up to the participants themselves.

The production supplies the residents with devices for communication purposes such as making calls and sending messages, capturing images, and receiving updates on upcoming events which can be vocalized.

Liana Isadora Van Riel from Love Island UK’s second season stated to The Sun in 2019 that the phones provided are quite simple, primarily used for texting each other, but not much actual communication happens. They serve more as a prop for the ‘I have a text’ scene.

In other words, as Love Island USA’s Siegel explained on TikTok, there are restrictions: You can’t search online, you can’t watch television, you can’t use your social media, and you can’t send texts to anyone not involved in the show.

In the classic manner of peacekeepers in reality TV competitions, Love Island USA‘s host Ariana Madix needs to act as if she remains unaffected by the events she oversees.

Sometimes I feel the urge to join in, 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.

In the same instance, she intervened during season six when Andrea Carmona was eliminated and Rob Rausch initially declared his intention to depart alongside her. However, Madix diplomatically suggested he reconsider, which ultimately led him to remain in the show.

In such intense emotional situations, it’s not wise to make significant decisions, as Madix pointed out. Moreover, there was a part of him that considered testing his friend’s intentions, since he genuinely believed his friend wasn’t serious about leaving.

Madix mentioned that no cameramen were visible to the islanders. However, cameras were positioned all over the villa, with movable cameramen concealed behind walls using sliders. The islanders generally weren’t aware of the cameramen, and there were no hidden spots in the house where conversations might be considered private, so any perceived secret talks in corners would not actually be confidential.

A secluded area free of cameras: The kitchen pantry where the snacks are, as per Elishi from Love Island UK. She mentioned in her April 2023 video that it’s a place where only one person can enter at a time due to past incidents involving a couple in the pantry prior to this.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but share an interesting tidbit about Love Island UK: it seems that several contestants have mentioned the presence of branded condoms scattered throughout the villa. These are restocked whenever they run out, ensuring the safety and comfort of all residents.

Before the bombshells arrive, which could change the current situation, they are permitted to watch the performance to refresh their memory about the events that have occurred thus far.

Chloe Burrows, a contestant on Love Island UK, shared during an April 2023 episode of her podcast “Chloe vs. The World,” that she only watches episodes except for the one airing before she joins the show, and then she chooses her top three favorite islanders among those already there.

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 mealtime apply here – no discussing gossip or resolving conflicts during the current day. Additionally, because they don’t have specific dates set for their days off, male and female workers are not allowed to sleep in the same bed at night.

During his interview with This Morning UK in 2017, Kem Cetinay from Love Island UK’s third season explained that when contestants remove their microphones, they are not permitted to discuss anything related to the show. They can still chat among themselves, but they need to be cautious about the topics they discuss since the producers want to ensure everything is captured on video for viewers at home. It’s essentially a break from all the intense games, dates, and deciding who they like or dislike.

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2025-07-28 18:49