Love Island USA has found itself in hot water yet again—this time over resurfaced allegations of racism linked to contestant Cierra Ortega. The uproar reached boiling point as fans demanded accountability, while show host Ariana Madix faced heat for what some claimed was her silence on the issue. Now, the Vanderpump Rules alum has spoken out.
The controversy erupted when social media users dug up an old post allegedly shared by Cierra prior to her appearance on the show. The post contained racial slurs, sparking widespread outrage online. As the scandal gained traction, fans flooded Ariana Madix’s social media with criticism, questioning why she hadn’t addressed the incident publicly.
One fan commented under a behind-the-scenes video from the Fiji set, accusing Ariana of prioritising political posts over addressing the racism row: "Just wanna get this right—you’re posting left-leaning videos about immigration but staying quiet on Cierra? Interesting..." Ariana swiftly clapped back, writing: "Not silent. You don’t know what you’re talking about."
Behind the scenes, however, production appears to be in full damage control. According to a source close to Love Island USA, the team is currently holding internal discussions about Cierra’s future on the show. “Cierra is in serious trouble,” the insider revealed. “This kind of language is completely unacceptable. Many of us want her gone immediately.”
The source also drew parallels to a similar case earlier in the season, when contestant Yulissa Escobar was removed after racially offensive remarks surfaced online. “We acted quickly then, and we intend to treat this situation just as seriously,” the insider added. As the debate continues to rage online, fans are watching closely to see if the network will take definitive action. With tensions running high and the show's reputation on the line, Love Island USA faces growing pressure to hold its cast to account.
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