Love Island's Cierra Ortega says she got death threats after controversial exit from show, calls it ‘excuse for cruelty’
Cierra Ortega has released a new statement addressing her exit from Love Island USA Season 7 and the growing backlash.
Cierra Ortega was removed from Love Island USA Season 7 after resurfaced social media posts revealed her past use of racist language, including an anti-Asian slur. On Sunday, Cierra shared a screenshot of the multiple abusive messages and death threats that she has received in the wake of the backlash, and penned a statement sharing that she carries ‘nothing but love in my heart.’ (Also read: After Cierra Ortega's exit, Love Island fans react to Nic pairing up with Olandria Carthen: ‘Manifestation is real’)
What Cierra shared
On her Instagram Stories, Cierra shared screenshots of multiple users sending her abusive messages and death threats. Some of the messages threatened harm to her and her family. In the caption, Cieera simply wrote: “Hey so is this still about accountability or…?”
Cierra pens new statement
Cierra posted a picture of herself in her Instagram Stories and wrote a long note in the caption. It began, “Unfortunately for those who wish harm on me, I carry nothing but love in my heart. For my life, the people in it, and every waking moment I get to spend on this earth. What should be a collective opportunity to address derogatory language and the harm they carry, has instead snowballed into an excuse for cruelty.”
{{/usCountry}}Cierra posted a picture of herself in her Instagram Stories and wrote a long note in the caption. It began, “Unfortunately for those who wish harm on me, I carry nothing but love in my heart. For my life, the people in it, and every waking moment I get to spend on this earth. What should be a collective opportunity to address derogatory language and the harm they carry, has instead snowballed into an excuse for cruelty.”
{{/usCountry}}She added, “Still, I refuse to let misery find company here. I'll keep living with love, presence, and gratitude. Especially in the painful moments, because they, too, shape who we are. I have every belief that all this energy can be alchemized into something with real impact. If even a fraction of it was used to uplift the community directly impacted- to continue amplifying Asian voices and their healing- imagine how much further we could be as a collective.”
{{/usCountry}}She added, “Still, I refuse to let misery find company here. I'll keep living with love, presence, and gratitude. Especially in the painful moments, because they, too, shape who we are. I have every belief that all this energy can be alchemized into something with real impact. If even a fraction of it was used to uplift the community directly impacted- to continue amplifying Asian voices and their healing- imagine how much further we could be as a collective.”
{{/usCountry}}The note concluded with the words, “Be kind to someone today. And tomorrow. And every day after that. Love will always go further.”
Cierra Ortega on Love Island
A few days ago. Cierra had shared a public apology to address the backlash through an Instagram video. “I do want to hold my hands up and say that I take accountability for using the word, but I do want it to be known that I genuinely had no idea that it was a slur. I had no idea of its meaning, and it wasn’t until I made the public story post in 2024 when a follower of mine reached out to correct me and let me know that what I was saying was incredibly hurtful,” she stressed.
