Latest news with #NicVansteenberg
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Love Island USA' Contestant Cierra Ortega Addresses Exit From Season 7 After Surfacing of Racist Post: 'I Am Not a Victim'
Love Island USA bombshell Cierra Ortega is speaking out after departing season seven of Peacock's hit reality series a week before the finale. 'Now that I've been back in the U.S. for about 48 hours and I've had the chance to process, I now feel like I'm at a space where I can speak about this without being highly emotional because I am not the victim in this situation,' she began in a more than four-minute video posted on Instagram. More from The Hollywood Reporter Streaming Ratings: 'Ginny & Georgia' Has Its Biggest Week Ever With Season 3 Premiere Tour de France 2025 Livestream: Here's How to Watch the Cycling Race Online 'Love Island USA' Narrator Responds to "Visceral Reaction" From Fans to Jeremiah Joke During the July 6 episode, the show's narrator, Iain Stirling, announced that Ortega had 'left the villa due to a personal situation,' leaving Nic Vansteenberg, with whom she had been in a couple during most of her time in the villa, 'officially single.' No other details regarding Ortega's abrupt exit from the show were shared; however, it came amid backlash after a social media post from her resurfaced, showing her using a racial slur. Love Island USA fans had been calling for her removal from the show due to the offensive post. Ortega continued in her video, 'While I was in the Villa, there were some posts that resurfaced from my past where I was very naively using an incredibly offensive and derogatory term. And before I get into the details, I want to first start by addressing not just anyone that I have hurt or deeply offended, but most importantly, the entire Asian community. I am deeply, truly, honestly, so sorry. I had no idea that the word held as much pain, as much harm, and came with the history that it did, or I never would have used it. I had no ill intention when I was using it, but that's absolutely no excuse because intent doesn't excuse ignorance. It just doesn't. And I just need you to know that I am so sorry, but this is not an apology video. This is an accountability video.' 'I think right now there are tons of things floating around, different screenshots with different time stamps and fueling this narrative that I sort of doubled down once people tried to correct me and was like, 'Oh, like I don't know, I'm still gonna use it,' but that was not the case,' she said in the lengthy video. 'The truth is that in that moment, the lesson was learned, the word was removed and it was a true learning moment for me and I think since that moment I've done so much growing as an individual, and I've tried my best to educate others who might be accidentally holding space for these types of words that could be offensive in their vocabulary.' Ortega added that she 'completely agrees with the network's decision to remove me from the Villa. I think that this is something that deserved punishment, and the punishment has absolutely been received for sure.' She also addressed the online hate she's received after the racial posts resurfaced, noting that her 'family doesn't feel safe in their own home' and that she's been receiving death threats. 'There's no need to fight hate with hate,' Ortega said in the video. 'I don't think that that's justice, and if you want to know that you are heard and that I'm sorry and that I will move differently, I promise you that's what will happen.' 'All I can ask for is even if you won't give me forgiveness, if you can just allow me to grow with grace and hopefully, instead of sitting here and trying to convince you that I am this amazing person who spreads light in the world and celebrates cultures and dynamics and backgrounds, then one day you can see that from me,' she concluded. 'I'm deeply sorry again, and I thank anyone who's listening.' Earlier in the season, contestant Yulissa Escobar was also removed from the Peacock series after clips of her using racial slurs resurfaced online. Following her departure, she shared in a statement, 'First, I want to apologize for using a word I had no right in using. Podcast clips from years ago have recently resurfaced, and I want to address it directly. In those clips, I used a word I never should've used, a racial slur. I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it. I wasn't trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn't excuse impact. And the impact of that word is real. It's tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use.' Love Island USA season seven is currently streaming on Peacock, with Ariana Madix returning as host. The current remaining Islanders as of Wednesday night include Chelley and Ace, Huda and Chris, Olandria and Nic, Amaya and Bryan, and Iris and Pepe. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cierra Leaves ‘Love Island USA' Due to a ‘Personal Situation' Amid Backlash Over Resurfaced Post
'Love Island USA' casually dropped a bombshell during this season's 30th episode, revealing Cierra Ortega is no longer appearing on the reality competition dating show. The show's narrator, Iain Stirling, confirmed via voiceover that Cierra 'left the villa due to a personal situation' and therefore Nic Vansteenberg, who she had been in an exclusive couple with for several episodes, was now 'officially single.' No reason was given for Cierra's departure other than it being for 'personal' reasons. The show cut to a conversation between Nic and fellow contestant Ace Greene, with Nic sharing confusion and disappointment now that Cierra is now longer in the villa. Nic said he was unsure what he will do next. Cierra was an original contestant and had been on the show from the start of the season. More from Variety Ariana Madix and Iain Stirling on 'Love Island USA' Season 7 Surprises, Heart-Rate Challenge Aftermath and Toxic Fans: 'To Be Cringe Is to Be Free' Jeremiah Brown on His 'Love Island USA' Romance With Huda Mustafa and Ace Greene's Clique Voting Him Off: 'That's Some Bulls--!' Ariana Madix on the Character She Creates for 'Love Island USA,' the Power of Female Rage and Saying Goodbye to 'Vanderpump Rules' Cierra's abrupt exit from 'Love Island USA' came amid an avalanche of backlash against her on social media after an alleged social media post from her past resurfaced online in which she used racist language. Fans were calling for Cierra's removal in the wake of the offensive post resurfacing. Another original contestant, Yulissa Escobar, was kicked off the show after two episodes for using racial slurs in old podcast clips that resurfaced online. 'In those clips, I used a word I never should've used, a racial slur,' Escobar wrote on her Instagram account in an apology post after her removal. 'I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it. I wasn't trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn't excuse impact. And the impact of that word is real. It's tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use.' She continued: 'At the time, I was speaking casually in conversation, not thinking deeply or critically about what I was saying. But that doesn't take away from how wrong it was. The truth is, I didn't know better then, but I do now. I've taken the time to reflect, to learn, and to grow from that moment.' 'Love Island USA' only has one more week of episodes until the winners are announced. Best of Variety Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cierra Ortega Takes Full Responsibility After Love Island USA Season 7 Exit: 'I Am So Sorry To The Asian Community'
Cierra Ortega is finally speaking out after her abrupt and highly scrutinized exit from Love Island USA Season 7. In a candid, emotionally raw Instagram video shared on Tuesday, the reality TV bombshell addressed the growing controversy surrounding her departure, taking accountability for a resurfaced social media post in which she used a racial slur, and acknowledging the pain caused by her actions. Her exit, announced vaguely on the July 6 episode by narrator Iain Stirling as being due to 'a personal situation,' left both fans and fellow Islanders stunned, particularly her on-screen partner Nic Vansteenberg, who was rendered 'officially single' with just one week to go before the finale. But behind the scenes, the situation was spiraling into something far more serious, and public backlash was reaching a boiling point. 'Now that I've been back in the U.S. for about 48 hours and I've had the chance to process, I now feel like I'm at a space where I can speak about this without being highly emotional because I am not the victim in this situation,' Ortega opened in her four-minute-plus video, which has already been viewed over 1.3 million times on Instagram and reposted widely across TikTok and X. The 24-year-old reality star confirmed that during her time inside the Villa, a post from her past had resurfaced in which she used a racial slur directed at the Asian community, an incident fans had already been loudly condemning online and calling for action from producers. 'While I was in the Villa, there were some posts that resurfaced from my past where I was very naively using an incredibly offensive and derogatory term,' she said. 'Before I get into the details, I want to first start by addressing not just anyone that I have hurt or deeply offended, but most importantly, the entire Asian community. I am deeply, truly, honestly, so sorry.' Ortega emphasized that her statement was not an apology tour but a moment of ownership. 'This is not an apology video,' she declared. 'This is an accountability video.' She went on to explain that she did not understand the historical pain and violent legacy behind the word she used, but firmly stated that ignorance is not a justification. 'I had no ill intention when I was using it, but that's absolutely no excuse because intent doesn't excuse ignorance. It just doesn't.' Addressing claims that she had doubled down or dismissed criticism at the time, Ortega pushed back: 'The truth is that in that moment, the lesson was learned, the word was removed and it was a true learning moment for me… I think since that moment I've done so much growing as an individual.' She also revealed that she agreed with her removal from the show. 'I completely agree with the network's decision to remove me from the Villa. I think that this is something that deserved punishment, and the punishment has absolutely been received for sure.' Ortega's video also highlighted the personal toll the backlash has taken, not just on her, but on her loved ones. 'My family doesn't feel safe in their own home,' she said tearfully. 'I've been receiving death threats. There's no need to fight hate with hate. I don't think that that's justice.' While Ortega did not disclose whether she is pursuing any form of protective measures or legal recourse, she urged viewers to recognize the difference between accountability and destruction. 'All I can ask for is even if you won't give me forgiveness if you can just allow me to grow with grace.' Ortega is the second contestant to be removed from Love Island USA Season 7 for racially insensitive language. Earlier this season, contestant Yulissa Escobar was also ousted after old podcast clips surfaced showing her using a racial slur. Like Ortega, Escobar also issued a formal statement acknowledging the harm. 'In those clips, I used a word I never should've used, a racial slur,' Escobar said. 'I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it… The impact of that word is real. It's tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use.' While Peacock and ITV have not commented in depth on either removal, both women's exits appear to indicate a zero-tolerance approach from the network moving forward. Despite the controversy swirling outside the Villa, Love Island USA continues to steam ahead toward its dramatic finale. Ariana Madix, fresh off her triumphant hosting return, is still guiding the action, and the couples currently left standing include: Chelley and Ace Huda and Chris Olandria and Nic Amaya and Bryan Iris and Pepe The finale is expected to air next week on Peacock, with fans still reeling from the emotional fallout. In closing, Ortega made it clear she doesn't expect instant redemption. Instead, she's hoping for time and space to prove her growth. 'Hopefully… instead of sitting here and trying to convince you that I am this amazing person who spreads light in the world and celebrates cultures and dynamics and backgrounds, then one day you can see that from me,' she said. 'I'm deeply sorry again, and I thank anyone who's listening.' Whether that day comes is now in the hands of the public and time. Love Island USA Season 7 is currently streaming on Peacock. The post Cierra Ortega Takes Full Responsibility After Love Island USA Season 7 Exit: 'I Am So Sorry To The Asian Community' appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
