Former “Love Island USA” reality contestant Cierra Ortega addressed her prior use of an anti-Asian slur just days after she was abruptly removed from the show, saying Immigration and Customs Enforcement was called on her family as part of the intense backlash.
Ortega, 25, posted what she described as an “accountability video” to her Instagram on Wednesday night addressing resurfaced social media posts that used the slur. She began the video by apologizing to the Asian community.
“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,” Ortega said. “I had no ill intention when I was using it.”
Though Ortega mentions multiple posts that resurfaced, she only addressed one from last year that she said a follower had called her out for. According to screenshots online, Ortega posted an Instagram Story telling her followers she was getting Botox to “open up” her eyes.
That post used a derogatory term that historically originated as an insult against Chinese people but is often used more generally toward East Asians.
Ortega posted a screenshot of a follower replying to the Instagram Story calling her out for using the slur. The reality star said she deleted the Instagram post and apologized to the person who called her out.
“I made the correction immediately, the word was immediately removed from my vocabulary,” Ortega said.
While Ortega refers to multiple posts resurfacing, she did not address any others, including one that appears to go back as far as 2015. She did appear to deny the authenticity of a screenshot that allegedly showed Ortega was told about the slur and doubled down.
Ortega referred to it and added, “That was not the case.”
She went on to say that she “completely” agreed with the decision to remove her from the show but that the aggressive backlash against her family was “extremely, extremely difficult.” Ortega, who is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, added that her family “have had ICE called on them.”
“My family doesn’t feel safe in their own home,” Ortega said. “I’m receiving death threats … there’s no need to fight hate with hate. I don’t think that that’s justice.”
Responses to Ortega’s video were mixed, with some people supporting the 25-year-old and others expressing skepticism at her response.
“Love this response and the accountability,” one commenter wrote. “I truly hope that community forgives you and sees how sincere you are.”
A few comments accused her of being “calculated,” referring to her clothing choices for the video and disbelief that Ortega didn’t know what the word meant.
“Empathy sweater and jade necklace,” one person wrote. “She is so calculated and you guys are falling for it.”
Another commenter made it clear she did not find Ortega’s video credible, but wrote that she believed Ortega “deserved grace” and hoped the reality star would “genuinely learn from this.”
Many noted that regardless of their opinion, it was unacceptable to send death threats and report Ortega’s family to immigration officials over the issue.
Ortega is the second contestant to be booted from the show this season, as Yulissa Escobar abruptly exited last month after video clips surfaced appearing to show her using a racist slur while on a podcast.
Escobar wrote an apology after leaving the show, saying that she used the slur “not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it.”
“Love Island” streams on Peacock, which is owned by NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News.