"Love Island USA Faces Backlash as Cierra Ortega Exits Amid Racism Controversy"

"Cierra Ortega has left Love Island USA after being criticized for old derogatory social media posts, prompting her family to call for compassion amid escalating online hate directed at her. This comes alongside the departure of fellow islander Yulissa Escobar, who also faced backlash for using a racial slur."

Cierra Ortega, a 25-year-old content creator from Los Angeles, has exited Love Island USA due to "personal reasons," following the resurfacing of troubling past social media content. Notably, a 2015 video regarding Botox treatments has sparked criticism, especially a derogatory term aimed at Chinese individuals present in her Instagram post.

In response to the backlash, Cierra's parents stated that she has been the subject of a hate campaign, urging for understanding and compassion from the public. They mentioned that they had taken over managing her social media while she was in the villa and reported receiving threats and "cruel messages." Describing the past week as "one of the most painful weeks of our lives," they expressed that the level of animosity directed at Cierra was unjustifiable regardless of her past mistakes.

They emphasized, "We’re not here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced... What’s happening online right now has gone far beyond that. No-one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistakes they’ve made." They also noted that Cierra has not yet had a chance to process the situation or speak for herself and expressed belief that when she returns, she will tackle the issues with "honesty, growth and grace."

This incident coincides with the departure of fellow contestant Yulissa Escobar, who faced backlash after older clips of her using a racial slur on a podcast emerged. Yulissa has publicly apologized, stating that her use of the term was done ignorantly and without a full understanding of its impact. She revealed that upon her departure, she felt as if she was returning to a "warzone" due to the overwhelming negative attention and death threats received. Yulissa stated, "I've taken the time to reflect, to learn, and to grow," highlighting the importance of recognizing one's mistakes and moving forward with accountability.

BBC Newsbeat has reached out to Peacock, the producers of Love Island USA, for further comments on these developments.