Cierra Ortega, a contestant on Love Island USA Season 7, faced intense backlash after a 2020 TikTok video and a 2015 Instagram post resurfaced, showing her using an anti-Asian racial slur.
In the TikTok video, filmed in a doctor’s office during a cosmetic procedure, Ortega casually used the slur to describe her facial expression while discussing Botox.
The Instagram post, captioned with the same slur, referenced her smile in a selfie.
The resurfaced content, shared widely on Reddit and TikTok, led to Ortega losing nearly 200,000 Instagram followers in 48 hours, dropping from 921,000 to 726,000.
Fans demanded her removal from the show, comparing her case to Yulissa Escobar, who was swiftly removed for using a racial slur.
On July 6, 2025, Love Island USA announced Ortega’s exit from the villa, citing a “personal situation,” leaving her partner Nic Vansteenberghe single.
The scandal sparked broader discussions about anti-Asian racism in media and accusations of producer favoritism.
Ortega’s friends, including former contestant Johnnie Oliva, distanced themselves, condemning her language.
The controversy highlighted ongoing debates about accountability and consistency in addressing racism on reality TV.
