In a significant development for fans of Love Island USA Season 7, contestant Cierra Ortega was officially removed from the villa on Sunday, July 6, 2025. The 25-year-old content creator, who had been coupled with Nicolas ‘Nic’ Vansteenberghe for much of the season, departed amidst a growing controversy surrounding resurfaced social media posts containing racist language.
Ortega’s exit, which was met with mixed reactions from viewers, stemmed from a 2020 TikTok video and a 2015 Instagram Story. In these posts, she was seen using a racial slur against Asians while discussing her smile and Botox procedures. Specifically, in the 2020 post, she wrote, “I can also be a little chky when I laugh/smile so I love getting a mini brow lift,” and in 2015, “Still chkin’ at the top.” These posts quickly circulated on platforms like Reddit and TikTok, leading to a rapid decline in her social media following, with reports indicating she lost nearly 200,000 Instagram followers within 48 hours. Fans swiftly called for her removal, drawing parallels to a previous incident this season.
The show’s narrator, Iain Stirling, confirmed Ortega’s departure during Sunday’s episode, stating simply that “Cierra has left the villa due to personal reasons,” as reported by Hindustan Times and Us Magazine. This marks the second time this season that a contestant has been removed due to resurfaced problematic content. Earlier in Season 7, Yulissa Escobar was also ousted after podcast clips surfaced showing her using the N-word. A production insider, speaking to The US Sun (as cited by Hindustan Times), emphasized the show’s zero-tolerance policy, stating, “This kind of language is unacceptable… We kicked Yulissa out for racial slurs too.” This consistent action underscores the show’s commitment to addressing racially insensitive behavior, as noted by ScreenRant, sending a clear message to current and future participants.
Cierra’s sudden departure left her partner, Nic Vansteenberghe, 24, single in the villa. Faced with the choice to leave or stay, Nic opted to remain, expressing unresolved feelings for fellow Islander Olandria Carthen. Their prior connection, which had briefly rekindled after Casa Amor, may now have the opportunity to deepen. However, with Casa Amor — a segment known for introducing new temptations — still on the horizon, Nic’s future in the villa remains uncertain and will largely depend on new couplings, according to Hindustan Times.
The controversy and subsequent removal highlight the increasing scrutiny reality TV contestants face regarding their past online activities. While some fans initially accused Love Island USA of hypocrisy for not immediately removing Ortega, the eventual action reinforces the precedent set with Yulissa Escobar. This demonstrates that production is responsive to public outcry and is taking a firm stance against discriminatory language. New episodes of Love Island USA continue to air six days a week, excluding Wednesdays, on Peacock, as confirmed by Us Magazine.
