Love Island USA Under Fire: Will Cierra Ortega Be Fired for Racist Slurs?
She has already lost over 200,000 Instagram followers in just a few days
Season 7 of Love Island USA is facing a major controversy. Cierra Ortega, one of this season’s standout contestants, is under fire after old social media posts resurfaced showing her using an anti-Asian slur. The backlash has been swift, sparking outrage among fans and crisis talks behind the scenes with producers.
What did Cierra say—and when? According to Reality Blurb, in a now-deleted 2015 post, Cierra used a racist slur in a selfie, captioned: “Still ch*nkin’ at the top.” Then in 2023, another post resurfaced where she used the same slur while commenting on her eyes during a Botox appointment. Reports say she allegedly used the “C-word” (a derogatory term targeting East Asian people) to explain why her eyes looked a certain way when she smiled.
Since the controversy broke, Cierra has lost over 200,000 Instagram followers in just a few days. Social media has erupted with hashtags like #CierraOut, and fans have even started Change.org petitions demanding her removal from the show with the #stopasianhate.
Love Island USA’s Cierra Ortega lost over 120k Instagram followers within 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/4xk3rEwO30
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) July 2, 2025
Will Cierra Ortega Be Fired from Love Island USA?
According to insiders, Love Island USA producers are holding urgent “crisis meetings” to decide how to handle the controversy. One source told Mint that staff are “furious” and view the language as “unacceptable,” with many pushing for Cierra’s removal—especially given the precedent set earlier this season when islander Yulissa Escobar was dismissed for similar racial slurs.
Till now, no official decision has been made. Cierra remains on the show, and neither Love Island nor Peacock has released a public statement. Behind the scenes, however, producers are reportedly weighing their options, aware that a quick and consistent response may be necessary to avoid accusations of double standards.
@loveislandusa @peacock Get Cierra Ortega off your show. This is now the third time I’m seeing she used the slur for asians. Y’all rightfully kicked off Yulissa for saying the n word, what about Cierra? Or does racism against asians not matter to you guys? pic.twitter.com/nxlbtGGGvZ
— cassrabbit (@cassrabbit) July 3, 2025
The stakes are high: fans are demanding accountability, and Cierra has already lost hundreds of thousands of followers. Whether or not she stays, the show will need to respond soon—either with a public statement or a major move.