rilins
BBC News Program
Ben Simmons/Peacock by Getty ImagesCierra Ortega, of Love Island, USA, left the villa for personal reasons after an old social media post appeared online.
The 25-year-old content creator from Los Angeles is the latest episode of Season 7, following a video about Botox treatment.
Fans shared and criticized the Instagram post, which contained derogatory words from the Chinese people.
Cierra’s parents said in a statement that she has been the target of the hate movement and called for compassion.
Cierra’s parents have been running her parents on social media in the villa, and she says she and her relatives have received threats and “brutal messages.”
They described the consequences as “the most painful weeks of our lives,” and they said no one deserves the hatred Cierra received.
“We are not here to prove or ignore the legitimacy that surfaces,” they wrote.
“We understand why people are frustrated, and we know that accountability is crucial. But what’s happening online now goes far beyond that.”
“No matter what mistakes they make, no one deserves this kind of hatred.”
Ben Simmons/Peacock by Getty ImagesCierra’s parents said she “still had no chance to deal with anything or speak for herself” when she left the villa.
“When she returns, we believe she will face this with honesty, growth and grace.
“Up until then, we were just asking for compassion. For patience. For basic human decency.”
The BBC Newsbeat has contacted Peacock, a manufacturer of Love Island, for comment.
“War Zone”
Cierra’s departure came with the company of islander Yulissa Escobar, who left the show in 2021 with a racially slandered video on the podcast and reappeared.
Yulissa later apologized, saying on Instagram: “Ignorance, not fully understand the weight, history or pain behind it”.
She apologized in the second post, saying she had encountered a death threat and “returned to a war zone” after leaving the villa.
“I take the time to reflect, learn and grow,” she said.
“Growth means recognizing when you’re wrong, even if it’s uncomfortable and choosing to move forward with humility and accountability.”
