Cierra Ortega is breaking her silence.
The Love Island USA season 7 alum opened up in a collection of candid TikTok Q&A movies on July 27, giving followers her facet of the story for the primary time since she was abruptly faraway from the Peacock actuality collection earlier this month. The 25-year-old was kicked off the present on July 6 after a previous Instagram submit resurfaced during which she used a racial slur—and now she’s lastly revealing the way it all went down.
How She Was Pulled From the Villa
“[Producers] broke us for lunch,” Cierra recalled. “I bear in mind I used to be having a chat with the women, and I used to be like, ‘I’m gonna be so unhappy to go away you guys. You guys have been such an incredible a part of my expertise. Saying goodbye is gonna be so exhausting.’”
She added, “I used to be telling Huda [Mustafa], ‘I can’t await FaceTime dates along with your daughter,’ and I obtained pulled to a producer chat.”
Whereas solo chats with producers are frequent within the Love Island format, Cierra mentioned this one felt completely different. “They only mentioned to me level clean, ‘There’s been some posts which have surfaced in your social media that don’t align with our values,’” she shared. “‘They don’t align with the community’s values, and we don’t have any alternative however to take away you from the present.’”
@cierraortega half 4: stance on nicolandria, style + hair + jewlery, thanks for being right here ❤️🩹
“That they had confirmed me the posts, and I simply broke down,” she continued. “I began crying. My instant response was, ‘OK, I perceive. That is actually critical.’”
Sadly, Cierra didn’t get to say goodbye to any of her fellow Islanders earlier than being whisked away. “That was the toughest half,” she mentioned. “Particularly since I had simply been speaking with them about how exhausting it’s going to be for me to say goodbye to them. It actually, actually harm. Issues have been ending and I didn’t have any closure.”
Days after her exit, Cierra publicly addressed the controversy in a July 9 Instagram video. “I need to first begin by addressing not simply anybody that I’ve harm or deeply offended, however most significantly, all the Asian group,” she mentioned. “I’m deeply, actually, truthfully so sorry.”
“I had no concept that the phrase held as a lot ache, as a lot hurt, and got here with the historical past that it did, or I by no means would have used it,” she added. “I had no unwell intention once I was utilizing it. However that’s completely no excuse, as a result of intent doesn’t excuse ignorance.”
The place She Stands With Nic and Olandria
Cierra additionally opened up about the place issues stand along with her former connection Nic Vansteenberghe—whom she was coupled up with when she exited the villa—and his present companion, Olandria Thompson.
“I got here out considering Nic and I are on this superb place,” she mentioned. “We’re closed off and have these robust emotions for one another.”
However when she returned house and noticed that followers—and even Nic’s household—had been rooting for him to couple up with Olandria as a substitute, it “harm.” Watching their connection develop post-show made issues much more painful. Nonetheless, Cierra mentioned, “Two issues can exist without delay. I could be unhappy for myself that I’m mourning this relationship… and I can be glad for 2 folks I care about.”
Nevertheless, the harm deepened when she didn’t hear from both Nic or Olandria as soon as the present wrapped. “The extra harm I turned,” she admitted. “As the times went on, it simply form of felt like I by no means existed.”
As for the place issues stand now? “The reply is that we don’t. We don’t stand on any enterprise,” she mentioned bluntly.
Whereas she hasn’t confirmed whether or not she reached out to them herself, fellow Islander Chelley Bissainthe not too long ago acknowledged that Cierra had been reaching out to solid members.
Is She Going to the Reunion?
Sadly for anybody hoping for a dramatic reunion second, don’t maintain your breath. Cierra confirmed she gained’t be attending the Love Island USA season 7 reunion. She ended her video by saying she’s needed to settle for she gained’t get closure from Nic—and it appears like followers gained’t both.
