Cierra Ortega's abrupt departure in episode 30 of Love Island USA Season 7 has stirred a divided reaction online.
Narrator Iain Stirling stated her exit was due to a "personal situation," but fans pointed to a resurfaced social media post where Ortega used a racial slur targeting Chinese people.
The online response was mixed. While many supported the network's swift decision to remove her, others argued that intent matters and called her actions ignorant rather than malicious.
Some defended Ortega, saying her actions were from 2015 and lacked harmful intention. Others disagreed, stating that repeated use of the slur warranted her removal.
Ortega’s partner, Nic, was left uncertain in the villa, noting they were "closed off" and officially together at the time of her exit. The show did not confirm the exact cause of her removal, but fans widely linked it to the backlash following the resurfaced Instagram post.
This marks the second removal from Love Island USA Season 7 over racial issues, with Yulissa Escobar being ejected earlier for using the N-word in a podcast clip.
Ortega’s exit is another reminder that public opinion now plays a major role in shaping a contestant’s fate.
Love Island USA Season 7 episodes air daily, except Wednesdays, at 9 pm ET on Peacock.
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