Cierra Ortega has finally broken her silence on her racial slur scandal!
As Perezcious readers know, the 25-year-old was removed from Love Island USA on Sunday night’s episode after resurfaced posts of her using a derogatory term directed at Asians emerged online.
On Wednesday night (the series’ off evening), Cierra took to her Instagram to address the controversy. In a video, she sits in front of her bed while wearing a sweatshirt that appears to say “EMPATH,” saying:
“People have been waiting for me to speak up about the news that has come to light recently, and now that I’ve been back in the US 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’m not the victim in this situation.”
Related: What Love Island USA Cast Was Told Cierra Did Following Her Exit…
Cierra went on:
“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’ve 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. I just need you to know that I am so sorry.”
Just like her parents suggested she would, Cierra pointed out that she is holding herself accountable for what she’s done, rather than just begging for forgiveness, noting:
“But this is not an apology video, this is an accountability video. I do want to hold my hands up and say that I take accountability for using the word, but I do want it to be known that I genuinely had no idea that it was a slur, I had no idea of its meaning.”
She then clarified the timeline of events, which has become confused online due to various screenshots emerging with slightly different timestamps. Addressing the main post that led to this scandal unfolding – a selfie of her discussing Botox on her IG Story, she said:
“It wasn’t until I made the public Story post in 2024, when a follower of mine reached out to correct me and let me know that what I was saying was incredibly hurtful. It was a derogatory term, it was a slur, and in that moment, I was embarrassed. I, of course, immediately deleted the post. I was apologetic, and I educated not only myself on the true meaning and history of the word, but also anyone around me who was accidentally holding space for this slur. When this person did message me — which I’m so grateful that she did — I had a good conversation with her about it, I made the correction immediately, the word was immediately removed from my vocabulary.”
In the video, she included a screenshot of her response to the follower, which was sent on January 27, 2024. Cierra replied at the time:
“Hey Brit, thank you so much for this message, truly. I am SO embarrassed for being so naive and unaware. It’s no excuse as the damage is already done. You have every right to be upset for my careless misuse of the world. I do hope you know I had zero ill intention and didn’t mean to cause any harm
Being a poc & minority myself, I should be a lot more careful with the messages I’m spreading. Thank you for educating me and I can assure you this word has been removed from my vocabulary and I’ll make an honest effort to make sure no other derogatory words or terms leave my mouth or are shared to my audience. Thank you again and I’m so so sorry!!! Making a promise to do better.”
Cierra insisted she never used the word again after this interaction — despite what it has seemed like online, adding in the video:
“And I think right now, there are tons of things floating around, different screenshots with different timestamps, 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. Like the truth is, in that moment, the lesson was learned, the word was removed, and it was a true learning moment for me, and I think from 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.”
Despite likely being very disappointed she was removed from the dating competition, Cierra insisted she stands by Peacock’s choice to pull her:
“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. I think the backlash has obviously been very hard to deal with but I understand that people are kind of confused on why I would’ve even said it, you know, why I would’ve been doubling down and continuing to use it. So, I understand where the hate is coming from.”
With all that said, she won’t stand by and let her family and loved ones be attacked for a mistake she made. Calling out the over-the-top ways haters have sought retaliation for her slur usage, she continued:
“I can do my best to drown out the noise and pay attention to the truth. But what’s been extremely, extremely difficult is the way people are approaching my family and my loved ones. They have had ICE called on them. My family doesn’t feel safe in their own home. I’m receiving death threats.”
Jeez. Calling ICE on her family?? That’s going way too far, y’all. Cierra urged her critics to calm down with the violence, expressing:
“There’s no need to fight hate with hate. I don’t think that that’s justice, and if you want to know that you’re heard and that I’m sorry and that I will move differently, I promise you, that’s what will happen. I know that no apology could ever be enough for the harm that I’ve caused and the offense that’s taken place. I know that moving forward, my actions and how I decide to live my life from here on out is gonna speak louder than any apology ever could, but I do need it to be known that I am sorry and I did mean no harm.”
She concluded:
“Hopefully, there are people out there that can use my mistake as a learning moment, and to just be better, because that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna take today and tomorrow and I’m gonna take strides to be better. All I can ask for is, even if you don’t give me forgiveness, if you can just allow me to grow with grace. 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. I’m deeply sorry, again, and I thank anyone who’s listening.”
Watch the full video (below):
She also posted a written statement on her Story, elaborating:
“I do not, and have never, condoned racism or the repression of any cultural group in any form. I would never intentionally use any word, especially a slur, to tear down anyone’s culture or community.
When I used that word, I didn’t fully understand what it meant or how much pain it carries. I learned how deeply wrong it was when I was called out for it in 2024, and as you can see in the screenshot I shared in my video, I was genuinely ashamed and wanted to do whatever I could in that moment to make sure I never made that careless mistake again. I know an apology means nothing without real accountability and change, and that’s what I’ve done my best to live up to since then and what I will continue to do.
Addressing her time on Love Island, she kinda threw a little shade by implying she thinks viewers saw a “highly edited” version on herself on screen! She wrote:
“While I had no ill intention, I fully understand that impact matters more than intent. I don’t expect forgiveness overnight, I just hope that in time I can show that I’m more than a mistake, a label, or a character on a highly edited reality show. I’m someone trying to spread love and light, even when I get it wrong, and I hope my actions fro here speak louder than this mistake ever did.
My experience in the villa was nothing short of magical. The memories I made and the place I met are ones I’ll cherish forever. While I’m heartbroken my journey had to be cut short, I understand that mistakes, especially ones like this, deserve consequences. Once again, to the Asian community, I am deeply sorry for my thoughtless mistake and the harm it caused. With love & humility, C”
It’s good to see she’s not making excuses for herself! Especially for someone who might’ve been dragged out of the villa screaming, she seems very composed and understanding now!
What do U think? Was this a sincere apology? Sound OFF in the comments!
[Image via Peacock & Cierra Ortega/Instagram]
The post <i>Love Island USA</i>’s Cierra Ortega Finally Addresses Racial Slur Scandal — Says Fans Called ICE On Her Family! appeared first on Perez Hilton.