Cierra Ortega, a contestant on “Love Island USA,” has recently opened up about her experiences as a Filipino American and the challenges of encountering anti-Asian hate. This announcement comes during a tough week for Ortega, whose week of villa departure followed by returning home due to a personal emergency. Narrator Iain Stirling announced her leaving on air during an episode on Sunday night. This unexpected news sent shockwaves through fandom leaving fans deeply concerned for her well-being.
Ortega, a first-generation American, has been outspoken about her experience in the midst of the persisting epidemic of Asian hate. She said that “Asian hate is very much the invisible hate, it’s dismissed and downplayed. As a first-generation American, I have witnessed and felt the realities and painfulness of statements such as these in very real and tangible ways. It is my hope that this situation can help shed light on how big of an issue anti-Asian hate actually is.” Her eloquent words strike a chord with all of us. Yet in this time, we have seen the horrors that the Asian community have faced during this pandemic.
Ortega’s controversy grew when past posts from her personal social media account came back to bite her. These posts were said to include the N-word as well as an Asian insult. The backlash on social media was immediate, with a Change.org petition attracting more than 17,000 signatures in a matter of days demanding that she be fired. When tragedy struck, Ortega’s parents found themselves navigating the tragedy through her Instagram story. They publicly appealed to the public for “understanding” and “patience.”
“While she’ll always be our little girl, she’s also a woman, one who will take responsibility in her own time and her own voice,” – Cierra Ortega’s family
In an emotional and deeply personal statement, Ortega’s parents expressed their anguish. They opened up about how the past week has been one of the hardest times of their lives. They highlighted their daughter’s desire for privacy to allow her time to process what happened and requested the public to be patient and understanding.
“We’ve seen the posts, the headlines, the hurt and the hate. And while Cierra hasn’t seen any of it yet, we have. And so have the people who love her,” – Cierra Ortega’s family
On the show, Ortega had paired up with Nic Vansteenberghe, forming strong connections and a friendship that won over audiences. Her surprise departure stunned readers, not to mention the contenders. Now, they’re furiously speculating about her future on the program and how she’ll react to the backlash.
In the past couple years, the fight against anti-Asian hate has received unprecedented attention. This has opened up an essential dialogue on representation and the negative effect of racism in television and media. Bella-A Walker, another contestant from Love Island USA, thanked the producers for taking a strong anti-racist position.
“As a proud Asian American woman, I’m deeply appreciative of the Love Island USA producers for taking a stand and making it clear that racism of any kind is not tolerated,” – Bella-A Walker
Walker’s statements signal a larger trend of reality television stars increasingly using their platforms to combat racism and discrimination in the meta-reality of American culture.
