Washington DC [US], July 7: Love Island USA fans were left stunned after original contestant Cierra Ortega suddenly exited the villa for undisclosed “personal reasons,” Variety reported. The show’s narrator, Iain Stirling, confirmed Ortega’s departure via voiceover, leaving her partner Nic Vansteenberg “officially single.”
While the show cited only a “personal situation” for Ortega’s exit, her departure coincided with a wave of backlash online after an alleged past social media post resurfaced in which she used racist language, sparking calls for her removal.
Following Ortega’s abrupt exit, Love Island USA aired a conversation between Nic and fellow Islander Ace Greene, showing Nic’s confusion and disappointment over Cierra’s sudden absence.
This marks the second early departure of the season due to resurfaced racist remarks. Fellow original contestant Yulissa Escobar was removed after two episodes when old podcast clips emerged in which she used racial slurs. Escobar publicly apologized on Instagram, acknowledging the harm of her words and expressing regret. “At the time, I was speaking casually in conversation, not thinking deeply or critically…But that doesn’t take away from how wrong it was,” she wrote.
Love Island USA, adapted from the hit UK series, follows a group of Islanders who must couple up to remain in the villa, with uncoupled contestants eliminated either by recoupling or public vote.