Cierra Ortega, a 25-year-old contestant on Love Island USA, is facing intense public backlash and calls for her removal from the villa. This follows the resurfacing of old social media posts, shared by Ortega, that contained a derogatory racial slur aimed at individuals of East Asian descent. The controversy has led to urgent discussions among production executives, with a source indicating Ortega is “in deep trouble.”
The offensive phrase, commonly understood as a mocking and demeaning imitation of East Asian languages, was reportedly used by Ortega in an Instagram Story. In the post, while discussing getting Botox, she stated, “I can also be a little chinky when I laugh/smile so I love getting a mini brow lift to open up my eyes and get that snatched look. This is not me encouraging but more so sharing.”
Viewer Outcry and Production Response
Fans of the show were quick to demand Ortega’s removal, drawing parallels to a previous incident this season. Earlier in Season 7, contestant Yulissa Escobar was swiftly removed from the villa after old podcast clips of her using another racial slur resurfaced. Viewers are now highlighting a perceived “double standard” if Ortega is allowed to remain.
One viewer wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “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 commented: “Cierra Ortega used a racist word now we have to cancel her if she did it once she’ll do it again.”
@loveislandusa @peacock 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? pic.twitter.com/nxlbtGGGvZ
— cassrabbit (@cassrabbit) July 3, 2025
cierra literally said racial slur but no one gives a fuck and everyone is saying that its not offensive. racism towards asians will never be taken seriously and i already knew that but ugh its just so frustrating pic.twitter.com/cWJ8kBSWea
— sabina ×͜× ISO GRACIE MSG N1 (@foolsgoldlover) July 1, 2025
A production source for Love Island USA told The US Sun that “Cierra is in deep trouble, that is for sure. This kind of word is unacceptable. It was a huge disappointment when we saw it. Everyone is very, very bothered and pissed about that.” The source added that a meeting would be held to decide her fate, noting, “a lot of us want to take her out of the show as soon as possible… This kind of behavior and use of this kind of word is unacceptable, and we condemn all kinds of racism, discrimination and insults towards anyone.”
Read more: ‘Chingchong’: Liam Gallagher Apologizes for Using Racial Slur Ahead of Oasis Reunion Tour
The resurfaced posts, including one from January 2015 and another from February 2023, went viral while Ortega remains in the Fiji villa, seemingly unaware of the growing backlash. Since the comments surfaced online, Ortega has lost over 200,000 followers on Instagram, seeing her tally drop from 920,000 to 698,000.
