Latest news with #Ortega
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Love Island' winner Amaya Espinal weighs in on Cierra Ortega's racism controversy
Paya-heads, tap in. 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
Express Tribune
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Nic Vansteenberghe speaks on Cierra Ortega's exit
In a July 15 interview on Chicks in the Office, Love Island USA Season 7 alum Nic Vansteenberghe addressed former partner Cierra Ortega's departure from the show following resurfaced social media posts that included a racial slur. Ortega exited the villa during the July 6 episode. At the time, her removal was described on air as related to a 'personal situation.' Vansteenberghe explained that he was not informed of the actual reason for her departure while still in the villa. 'It was a completely normal day,' he said. 'She just left.' He added that producers provided only a 'very vague' explanation, citing a 'personal reason' and offering no further details. Vansteenberghe, 24, said he had a 'really close' relationship with Ortega and was considering leaving the show alongside her. Ultimately, he chose to remain. 'If whatever is happening in the outside world is something I don't align with, then that could be perceived as me supporting that,' he said. After filming concluded, Vansteenberghe learned about the resurfaced content and said he was now able to 'have a better perception' of the situation based on his values. In response to criticism that he moved on quickly with contestant Olandria Carthen, Vansteenberghe clarified that their connection formed gradually. 'It took a lot of time and conversation,' he said. 'We both felt lost and confused together.' Ortega issued a public video statement on July 9 acknowledging the slur and stating she was unaware of its offensive nature at the time. She said she agreed with the network's decision to remove her from the show and accepted responsibility.
Time Magazine
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Magazine
Why Tomatoes Are Becoming a Lot More Expensive
Food prices have been quickly climbing for years now, and now there's another staple that could see prices soon shoot up: tomatoes. Mexican tomatoes are immediately being slapped with a 17% tariff, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce said on July 14, announcing it was withdrawing from a 2019 agreement that suspended tariffs on tomatoes imported from Mexico. That could affect a lot of grocery store tomatoes. Although the fruit—or vegetable, depending on who you ask—is also grown in Florida, about 70% of fresh tomatoes consumed in the U.S. come from Mexico, says David Ortega, a food economist at Michigan State University. Although the price of a bunch of tomatoes may only increase by a few dozen cents, the increase comes at a time when consumers are already sick of inflation, and when tariffs threatened by the Trump Administration could further drive up prices, he says. 'This is one of the most widely consumed fruits or vegetables in the U.S., and it's important to put it in the context of consumers' experience with food prices over the past few years,' Ortega says. 'They're stretched thin, and even a few cents adds up, especially for low-income households.' Why tomato prices are rising The spat between Mexican and U.S. farmers has a long history. In 1996, U.S. farmers complained to a trade court that Mexican farmers were 'dumping' tomatoes, meaning they were selling tomatoes to the U.S. at an artificially low price. In response to the complaint, Mexican farmers agreed to set a floor price on tomatoes in an effort to ensure that U.S. farmers were not being undercut. In exchange, the U.S. paused an investigation into whether Mexican farmers were unfairly dumping tomatoes in the U.S. market. The U.S. and Mexico have come to new agreements about the floor price for tomatoes four times since then, but farmers have complained that Mexico is still engaging in unfair trade practices. The market share of U.S. tomatoes has dropped to 30% from 80% since 1996, according to the Florida Farm Bureau, while Mexican tomato imports have increased 400%. Read More: The 9 Most Underrated Healthy Foods The Commerce Department first announced in April that it was withdrawing from the truce, which was called the Tomato Suspension Agreement, but said at the time that the tariffs on Mexico tomato imports would be 20.9%. That tariff was slightly reduced in Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's July 14 announcement formalizing the plans to withdraw. 'For far too long our farmers have been crushed by unfair trade practices that undercut pricing on produce like tomatoes,' he said. 'That ends today.' U.S. consumers may not see the effect of the new tariffs until the fall, says Ortega, because tomatoes are currently in season in the U.S. We rely on imported tomatoes more heavily in the winter. Why other food prices are going up, too The levying of tomato tariffs came a day before new government inflation data showed that food prices were continuing to rise. The Consumer Price Index, or CPI, showed that prices of beef and veal were up 10.6% in June from a year ago, that egg prices were up 27.3% and that coffee prices were up 13.4%. Overall, inflation rose 2.7% from a year ago. The rising prices of beef, eggs, and coffee are not directly related to tariffs, says Ortega. The price of beef is going up because a 2022 drought made it too expensive for farmers to keep livestock, and now the cattle inventory in the U.S. is extremely low. Americans still demand beef, though, so low supply and high demand is causing prices to surge. Egg prices increased from a year ago because of avian flu, although their price actually fell from a month ago. And coffee prices are climbing because climate change has affected crops in places like Brazil and Vietnam, Ortega says. Read More: Food Dyes Are Lurking in Surprising Places Still, tariffs aren't helping: U.S. producers depend on certain types of lean beef from Brazil to make ground beef, for instance, Ortega says, and the 10% tariff on almost all food imports is making that more expensive. Those 10% tariffs are affecting other food products as well. 'This marks the first inflation report where tariffs are beginning to show up materially in key categories—from appliances and furnishings to apparel and groceries,' said Daniel Hornung, senior fellow at MIT, about the CPI report. It is unlikely to be the last, he says, since businesses are working through their pre-tariff inventories and will likely be forced to pass price increases along to consumers soon. Not to mention the giant tariffs that the Trump Administration has pledged to levy on some of the places we get a lot of our food, says Ortega. Trump recently threatened Brazil with 50% tariffs. If they go into effect Aug. 1 as currently planned, they will drive up the price of beef, oranges, orange juice, and more. Many of those imports from Brazil can't easily be replaced by U.S. goods. Florida orange crops, for instance, have been heavily affected by citrus greening, which is a tree disease, and by devastating hurricanes. 'If these tariffs remain in place,' Ortega says, 'they will have a notable impact on food prices.'
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Cierra Ortega responds to death threats after Love Island USA exit over resurfaced racial slur
Cierra Ortega, a former Love Island USA Season 7 contestant, has responded publicly to the death threats and backlash following her departure from the show. On July 13, just ahead of the season finale, Ortega addressed the online harassment through her Instagram Stories, urging fans to 'be kind' while questioning the intentions behind the ongoing criticism. Ortega exited the Love Island villa earlier in the season after past footage of her using a racial slur resurfaced and went viral. While some might have expected her to limit interactions on social media, Ortega kept her comments and direct messages open, choosing instead to confront the situation directly. In her Instagram Story, Ortega compiled several hateful and threatening messages she received, including calls to report her family to immigration authorities and threats of violence. She captioned the post, 'Hey so is this still about accountability or...?' to highlight the disproportionate nature of the response. She followed with a statement expressing concern over the tone of the discourse. 'I carry nothing but love in my heart,' she wrote, calling out those who attacked her instead of using the moment to address the harm caused by racial slurs. 'What should be a collective opportunity to address derogatory language and the harm they carry has instead snowballed into an excuse for cruelty.' Ortega emphasized the potential for growth, adding, 'Imagine how much further we could be as a collective' if that outrage were transformed into advocacy for impacted communities. She concluded by asking her followers to 'be kind.' As of now, her social media profiles remain open to the public. The official Love Island USA Instagram account echoed a similar message, calling for viewers to treat all cast members with respect and positivity.
Fashion Network
2 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Zara founder Ortega to buy $275 million Miami office tower
Amancio Ortega, the billionaire founder of the Zara clothing chain, is in talks to buy an office building in Miami for €235 million ($275 million). Ortega's family office, Pontegadea, is in advanced discussions to acquire the Sabadell Financial Center, located on Brickell Avenue, from KKR & Co. and Parkway, according to a spokesperson for the Spanish firm. The spokesperson confirmed earlier reports by real estate publication The Real Deal, adding that the deal has not yet been finalized. If the transaction proceeds, it will mark Pontegadea's second major deal in Florida this year, following its purchase of an apartment building in Fort Lauderdale for approximately €165 million. The family office has also acquired properties in Barcelona and Paris this year. Last week, Pontegadea confirmed it had acquired Hotel Banke in the French capital. Most of Pontegadea's income is derived from Ortega's 59% stake in Inditex SA, the Spanish clothing group that owns Zara and other brands, including Massimo Dutti. Pontegadea reinvests its dividends from Inditex primarily in real estate, but also in telecommunications and energy infrastructure. The company generally targets high-end buildings in prime urban locations, primarily across Western Europe, Canada and the United States. Transactions are typically conducted in cash. Inditex has a market valuation of €134 billion, and its headquarters are located in the northwestern Spanish city of A Coruña, where Ortega resides. His daughter, Marta Ortega, serves as chair of the company. Ortega, 89, is set to receive €3.1 billion in dividends from Inditex this year.
