Cierra Ortega’s parents have seen the messages directed at the Love Island USA Islander and are calling for “compassion” amid the backlash and her exit from the villa.
Following Season 7, Episode 30 streaming on Peacock, Cierra’s parents released a statement on social media after it was confirmed she would no longer be part of the dating series.
“As Cierra’s parents, this has been one of the most painful weeks of our lives,” the parents said in a statement posted on Instagram. “We’ve seen the posts, the headlines, the hurt and the hate. And while Cierra hasn’t seen any of it yet, we have. And so have the people who love her.”
The statement continued, “We’re not here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced. We understand why people are upset, and we know accountability matters. But what’s happening online right now has gone far beyond that. The threats. The cruel messages. The attacks on her family, her friends, even her supporters, it’s heartbreaking. It’s uncalled for. And no one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistake they’ve made.”
An old social media post Cierra made resurfaced, where she references her eyes, and uses a racial slur that has been used to denigrate the Asian community. Since the post went viral, Cierra began losing thousands of followers. Before the backlash, Cierra was close to hitting 1M on Instagram, but when Love Island USA fans learned of her using the racial slur, her follower count began to drop, which stands at 683k now.
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Cierra’s parents noted that she had not seen anything, as she was still sequestered pending the episode’s release.
“We know our daughter. We know her heart. And when she returns, we believe she’ll face this with honesty, growth, and grace,” the parents added. “While she’ll always be our little girl, she’s also a woman, one who will take responsibility in her own time and her own voice.”
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Cierra’s parents ended the statement saying, “Until then, we’re simply asking for compassion. For patience. For basic human decency. Not just for her, but for everyone caught in the middle of this.Thank you to those who’ve continued to show love, even when it’s not easy.”
The post ‘Love Island USA’s Cierra Ortega’s Parents Call For “Compassion” Amid Backlash & Peacock Series Exit: “No One Deserves That Kind Of Hate” appeared first on Deadline.
