Cierra Ortega, a former Love Island USA Season 7 contestant, has responded publicly to the death threats and backlash following her departure from the show. On July 13, just ahead of the season finale, Ortega addressed the online harassment through her Instagram Stories, urging fans to “be kind” while questioning the intentions behind the ongoing criticism.
Ortega exited the Love Island villa earlier in the season after past footage of her using a racial slur resurfaced and went viral. While some might have expected her to limit interactions on social media, Ortega kept her comments and direct messages open, choosing instead to confront the situation directly.
In her Instagram Story, Ortega compiled several hateful and threatening messages she received, including calls to report her family to immigration authorities and threats of violence. She captioned the post, “Hey so is this still about accountability or...?” to highlight the disproportionate nature of the response.
She followed with a statement expressing concern over the tone of the discourse. “I carry nothing but love in my heart,” she wrote, calling out those who attacked her instead of using the moment to address the harm caused by racial slurs. “What should be a collective opportunity to address derogatory language and the harm they carry has instead snowballed into an excuse for cruelty.”
Ortega emphasized the potential for growth, adding, “Imagine how much further we could be as a collective” if that outrage were transformed into advocacy for impacted communities.
She concluded by asking her followers to “be kind.” As of now, her social media profiles remain open to the public.
The official Love Island USA Instagram account echoed a similar message, calling for viewers to treat all cast members with respect and positivity.
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