Love Island contestant Cierra Ortega has started a firestorm. Now one of her old social media posts has come back to bite her, showing that she used a highly derogatory term for members of the Asian community. The recent incident has raised an enormous amount of outrage among fans and critics, causing Ortega to release a statement about the controversy.
That debate first flared up with a vengeance early in 2024. One of Ortega’s Twitter followers reached out directly to Ortega, pointing out the inherently racist nature of her comment. Recognizing the outcry from artists, Ortega quickly took down the post. Later, she released a long statement on Instagram apologizing. She explained that when she used that term she meant “no ill intention,” but was genuinely ashamed and wanted to atone. Ortega claimed that she did not know that the word was a slur, “until someone pointed it out” to her.
“I would never intentionally use any word, especially a slur, to tear down anyone’s culture or community,” Ortega stated. Her remarks came on the heels of a powerful tsunami of outrage. A lot of fans would argue that their reaction was entirely appropriate, given the term’s derogatory implications. She reiterated her pledge to not tolerate racism or the suppression of any cultural community.
Given all that happened, Ortega said she understood the network’s decision to pull her out of the villa. In her resignation, she cited a personal family circumstance as her reason for departure. Her exit occurred right as the public began to react to her previous, racist comments.
Ortega’s parents weighed in on the situation, sharing a statement on Instagram that conveyed their family’s pain during this challenging time. They acknowledged the severity of the backlash, stating, “As Cierra’s parents, this has been one of the most painful weeks of our lives.” They shared their appreciation for the passion and anger felt by the public and reiterated their insistence that accountability is necessary.
We’re not trying to apologize for all that’s come to light, they added. But what’s taking place online today has exceeded even that extraordinary level. The threats. The cruel messages. The attacks on her family, her friends, even her supporters, it‘s tragic. In response, civil and human rights advocates denounced the rampant hate and harassment targeting Ortega and her family. They made the point that no one should be treated that way, regardless of their wrongdoing.
Ortega posted an “accountability video” in response to all the backlash over her old post. Speaking in this video shortly after her ordeal, she hoped that she’d learned something and would grow from it. “Hopefully there are people out there that can use my mistake as a learning moment and to just be better,” she remarked.
People expressed a range of excitement and skepticism toward Ortega’s apology. Some fans celebrate as she takes steps toward making amends, some continue to boo given her past actions. Ortega now has a heavy lift from the reactionary backlash. She continues operating under a petri dish of public scrutiny while doing her utmost to demonstrate her merit.
“The backlash … has been difficult to navigate,” she said. Ortega is looking forward to a chance to “mature and develop.” She’s determined to show that it’s possible to both share joy and have fun while uplifting other, unique cultures.
