Love Island USA Star Kicked Off for Racism Says ICE Called on Family

A Love Island USA cast member who was removed from the reality dating show after past racist slurs she used resurfaced is breaking her silence to detail the disturbing reaction she received from some fans. 

Cierra Ortega, a 25-year-old content creator from Los Angeles, claimed in an apology video posted to Instagram on Wednesday that her family has had ‘ICE [US Immigration and Customs Enforcement] called’ on them, leading family members to no longer ‘feel safe in their own home.’

Her claims come amid ICE raids that have terrorized immigrant communities in Los Angeles, while the Trump administration plans to unleash the agency on five more major cities run by Democratic politicians, according to MSNBC.

The backlash against Ortega began earlier this month, when two social media posts separated by several years in which she used a racist slur directed at Chinese people and Asians in general.

One post from January 2015 showed a photo of her at the top of a mountain, using a version of the slur to describe how she smiles.

It was followed eight years later by an Instagram Stories post from February 2023 that showed Ortega getting Botox treatments and again using the slur to describe her smile.

Cierra Ortega, who was kicked off Love Island USA this week for using a racist slur offensive to Asians in years-old social media posts, claimed her family has had ‘ICE [US Immigration and Customs Enforcement] called’ on them in response in an apology video posted Wednesday

She said her family no longer ‘feel safe in their own home’ and claimed that she had been ‘receiving death threats’ since she was kicked off Love Island (pictured). ‘There’s no need to fight hate with hate,’ she said

In addition to fans’ alleged attempts to get family members deported, Ortega also claimed that she had been ‘receiving death threats’ since she was kicked off Love Island.

‘There’s no need to fight hate with hate,’ she said. ‘I don’t think that’s justice. And if you want to know that you are heard and that I’m sorry and that I will move differently, I promise you, that’s what will happen.’

Before highlighting the extreme reaction to the two resurfaced posts, Ortega opened her video with an apology, though she clarified that she wanted her post to be an ‘accountability’ video.

‘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 said. ‘And 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,’ she continued. ‘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 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 claimed. ‘I had no idea of its meaning, and it wasn’t until I 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.’

‘In that moment, I was embarrassed,’ she said, adding that she ‘immediately deleted’ the offending post.

Surprisingly, Ortega said she agreed with the network’s decision to remove her from Love Island USA, and she said she should have been punished for the years-old posts, despite her claims that she didn’t know the word was offensive and that she had learned her lesson after previously being called out.

Ortega began her video with a long apology. ‘I am deeply, truly, honestly so sorry,’ she continued, before claiming she was unaware of the word’s offensive meaning

She claimed she only learned it was offensive when a follower reached out to her in 2024. ‘In that moment, I was embarrassed,’ she said, adding that she ‘immediately deleted’ the offending post

Surprisingly, Ortega said she agreed with the network’s decision to remove her from Love Island USA, and she said she should have been punished for the years-old posts, despite claims that she didn’t know the word was offensive and that she had learned her lesson 

‘I was apologetic and I educated — not only myself — on the true meaning and history of the word, but also anyone around me,’ she continued, before admitting, ‘I think the backlash has obviously been very hard to deal with.’

Ortega also issued a written statement in her Instagram Stories on Wednesday night to accompany her video.

‘I do not, and never have, condoned racism or the repression of any cultural group in any form. I would never intentionally use any word, especially a slur, to tear down anyone’s culture or community,’ she wrote.

Ortega reiterated that she ‘didn’t fully understand’ the meaning behind the offensive term she used, but claimed that she was ‘genuinely ashamed’ after being called out and resolved to never make ‘that careless mistake again.’ 

She acknowledged that she shouldn’t ‘expect forgiveness overnight,’ but said she hoped that over time she could show that she was ‘more than a mistake, a label, or a character on a highly edited reality show.’ 

Ortega added that her ‘experience in the villa was nothing short of magical,’ and she said she would forever ‘cherish’ the memories she made with her costars. 

‘While I’m heartbroken that my journey had to be cut short, I understand that mistakes, especially ones like this, deserve consequences,’ she wrote.

‘Once again, to the Asian community, I am deeply sorry for my thoughtless mistake and the harm it caused,’ Ortega concluded, signing off with ‘love & humility.’ 

Earlier this week, Love Island USA cast members revealed what they were told behind the scenes regarding Ortega’s racist slur scandal 

On Sunday night’s episode which streamed on Peacock, narrator Iain Stirling confirmed that Ortega (pictured) ‘left the villa due to a personal situation’ and had left Nic Vansteenberghe ‘officially single’

Earlier this week, Love Island USA cast members revealed what they were told behind the scenes regarding Ortega’s racist slur scandal.

On Sunday night’s episode, which streamed on Peacock, narrator Iain Stirling confirmed that Ortega ‘left the villa due to a personal situation’ and had left Nic Vansteenberghe ‘officially single.’ 

A following scene showed him talking to Ace Green and saying he wasn’t sure what he would do next — which comes just one week before the season is set to conclude. 

While she was filming in Fiji, sequestered from social media, multiple racist posts from her Instagram was uncovered by Love Island fans, in which she used a slur offensive to Chinese people on two separate occasions.

Now, castmate Zak Srakaew has revealed how the cast were notified of Ortega’s departure in a rare behind the scenes revelation.

The 30-year-old Thai-British model explained: ‘When Cierra left, the producers gathered us all together.

‘They said, “Unfortunately, Cierra has broken some of the policies and our guidelines and she will no longer be here in the villa. That is the only information we can give you guys.”‘

Despite Zak saying he couldn’t say much about the matter he did say that the cast did have a basic understanding of the reason behind her exit.

Now, castmate Zak Srakaew has revealed how the cast were notified of Ortega’s departure in a rare behind the scenes revelation

The 30-year-old Thai-British model explained: ‘When Cierra left, the producers gathered us all together. They said, “Unfortunately, Cierra has broken some of the policies and our guidelines and she will no longer be here in the villa. That is the only information we can give you guys”‘

He said: ‘So when we were all in there, we didn’t really know what was going on.

‘But that is all they said to us. And if we needed someone to speak to, we can speak to them.’

Zak said that the aforementioned Nic — who Cierra was coupled up with at the time — took the news the hardest but seemingly didn’t know how to react.

He explained: ‘Nic was really upset that she left, but at the same time, he couldn’t really be super upset or he couldn’t express how he felt about the situation until he found out what she had done or said.

‘At the end of the day, as much as you want to feel sorry for somebody, if you know they got removed from a show for saying something offensive, you can’t really feel sorry for them until you know what it is.’

Jeremiah Brown — who was one of the most loved stars of the reality show before he was voted off by his fellow cast members — has also addressed the offscreen racism controversy. 

On Monday, Jeremiah was asked about his thoughts on the scandal during a TikTok Live.

He said: ‘I don’t condone no type of racial slurs. That racial stuff is weird to me. 

‘I have been dealing with that my whole life. Racial stuff is never cool.’

Jeremiah Brown – who was one of the most loved stars of the reality show before he was voted off by his fellow castmembers – has also addressed the offscreen racism controversy 

Jeremiah said: ‘I don’t condone no type of racial slurs. That racial stuff is weird to me. I have been dealing with that my whole life. Racial stuff is never cool.

On Sunday, the 25-year-old reality star’s parents shared a statement via Instastory on her account about ‘the most painful weeks of our lives’ 

This came after Ortega’s parents broke their silence after their daughter was removed from season seven for past derogatory social media posts. 

On Sunday, the 25-year-old reality star’s parents shared a statement via Instastory on her account about ‘the most painful weeks of our lives.’

Cierra’s parents wrote: ‘We’ve seen the posts, the headlines, the hurt and the hate. And while Cierra hasn’t seen any of it, we have. And so have people who love her,’ the statement began.

‘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.’

They continued: ‘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.’

This season of Love Island USA has been mired in controversy as another cast member sparked backlash for past racial slurs and was booted off of the show and was also fired when fans uncovered an offscreen racism scandal.

Weeks ago, Yulissa Escobar departed from season seven after being introduced as an OG islander — and after the axed islander hit back at online trolls and cancel culture.

This came after the episode which aired that night on Peacock where narrator Iain Stirling confirmed that Ortega ‘left the villa due to a personal situation’ and had left Nic Vansteenberghe ‘officially single’ 

While she was filming in Fiji , sequestered from social media, multiple racist posts from her Instagram was uncovered by Love Island fans, in which she used a slur offensive to Chinese people on two separate occasions 

One post from January 2015 showed a snap of her at the top of a mountain, using a version of the slur to describe how she smiles.

There was also an Instagram story post from February 2023, showing her getting Botox treatments, again using the slur to describe her smile, and many fans are furious, calling for her immediate removal.

By the beginning of the second episode, she was gone with Iain Stirling simply saying in the introduction that she had ‘left the villa.’ 

The 27-year-old real estate professional from Miami had been booted in just the third day after videos surfaced of her using the N-word in a podcast. 

After the swift removal of Escobar, many fans had been anticipating the same will happen with Ortega, a 25-year-old content creator from Phoenix, who arrived on Day 2.

Past Instagram posts have surfaced of her using a racial slur towards Chinese people in two separate instances many years apart. 

One post from January 2015 showed a snap of her at the top of a mountain, using a version of the slur to describe how she smiles.

There was also an Instagram story post from February 2023, showing her getting Botox treatments, again using the slur to describe her smile, and many fans are furious, calling for her immediate removal.

While it remains to be seen if the show’s producers will remove her like they removed Escobar, Ortega has already taken a bit hit in regards to her Instagram followers.

She had lost over 200K followers since the posts had resurfaced.

Weeks ago, Yulissa Escobar (pictured) departed from season seven after being introduced as an OG islander — and after the axed islander hit back at online trolls and cancel cult

One fan – @deannacortes – shared the petition link on X, adding, ‘Send Cierra Ortega home,’ with the hashtags #racist #LoveIslandUSA #stopasianhate.

Cass Rabbit (@cassrabbit) tagged both @LoveIslandUSA and @Peacock in her tweet, which read, ‘Get Cierra Ortega off your show. This is now the third time I’m seeing she used the slur for asians. Y’all rightfully kicked off Yulissa for saying the n word, what about Cierra? Or does racism against asians not matter to you guys?’

Another X user – @h0td1lfj0hnny – asked, ‘Why has cierra not been dropped from the villa,,,, she’s f***ing racist using slurs.

X user @SSTARZZNE added, ‘cierra better be at the BOTTOM of that vote after her racist a** got exposed #LoveIslandUSA.’ 

Mai (@mainpopvirgo) said, ‘yulissa said a racial slur (the literal nword) and was kicked out of the show (as she should) bc of the rightful outrage how is this different to cierra saying another racial slur she cannot claim’

Ortega was poised to potentially cross the 1 million follower mark at some point during Love Island Season 7, but her follower tally now stands at 695K.

Many at the time had called for her to be kicked off the island. 

One fan shared the petition link on X, adding, ‘Send Cierra Ortega home,’ with the hashtags #racist #LoveIslandUSA #stopasianhate.

Another X user insisted, ‘Cierra Ortega used a racist word now we have to cancel her if she did it once she’ll do it again.’

One fan tagged both @LoveIslandUSA and @Peacock in her tweet, which read, ‘Get Cierra Ortega off your show. This is now the third time I’m seeing she used the slur for asians. Y’all rightfully kicked off Yulissa for saying the n word, what about Cierra? Or does racism against asians not matter to you guys?’

Another poster asked, ‘Why has cierra not been dropped from the villa,,,, she’s f***ing racist using slurs.

They added, ‘Yall got yulissa up out of there quick but not cierra ??? @loveislandusa #loveislandusa Cierra not been dropped from the villa…she’s f—ing racist using slurs.’

One user wrote, ‘cierra better be at the BOTTOM of that vote after her racist a** got exposed #LoveIslandUSA.’

Another viewer added, ‘yulissa said a racial slur (the literal nword) and was kicked out of the show (as she should) bc of the rightful outrage how is this different to cierra saying another racial slur she cannot claim.’