'Love Island' winner Amaya Espinal weighs in on Cierra Ortega's racism controversy
Straight from the "Love Island USA" villa in Fiji, Amaya Espinal, the freshly crowned winner of the dating competition series, is the newest guest on "Call Her Daddy." Espinal, who was lovingly dubbed "Amaya Papaya" by the show's viewers, sat down with host Alex Cooper on the July 16 episode to spill on being a bombshell, winning America's heart with her sensitivity, and taking the prize money home.
Espinal, 25, won the final public vote alongside Bryan Arenales during the Season 7 finale on July 13. Alongside their bragging rights as the fan-favorite couple, the two split a $100,000 prize.
The New York native and cardiac nurse also got candid on "Love Island" castmate Cierra Ortega, who was abruptly ousted from the show following a racism controversy.
"We all genuinely did not know," Espinal said. "We did not get the chance to say goodbye. We weren't able to see her pack her bags. It literally just happened in the flash of an eye. It felt very unreal."
In the week leading up to Ortega's departure, screenshots of alleged Instagram posts showed the contestant — whose family is of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage — using a racist slur against people of Asian descent to negatively refer to her eyes.
Within days of leaving the villa, Ortega posted a nearly five-minute "accountability video" apologizing to "the entire Asian community" and saying she "had no idea that the word held as much pain, as much harm, and came with the history that it did."
Amaya Espinal's message to 'Love Island' castmate Cierra Ortega after racism scandal
Ortega wasn't the only "Love Island" contestant to spark backlash due to online commentary.
Starting cast member Yulissa Escobar unceremoniously exited off-camera three days into the series with limited acknowledgement. Before the show even premiered, the Miami businesswoman received backlash when several clips of her using a racial slur on a podcast surfaced. She later posted a written apology "for using a word I had no right in using."
While reflecting on Ortega's "Love Island" exit, Espinal stressed the importance of using inclusive language.
"I definitely do think words matter, and everyone should be respected," Espinal said. "I just hope that she learns from her consequences. She is a grown woman, so hopefully moving forward, this should not be repeated."
Amaya Espinal talks historic 'Love Island' win
Espinal, who is of Dominican descent, made "Love Island USA" history with Arenales as the first Latino couple to win the show.
The fan-favorite contestants' victory earned praise on social media for its positive media representation of the Latino community, especially amid the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.
"It's really, really huge," Espinal told Cooper of the milestone. "My parents literally came from the Dominican Republic and didn't have the best upbringing. So, Latino culture to me is very, very huge. I feel blessed, and I feel so much gratitude."
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
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