Love Island USA's Cierra Ortega has apologised for old social media posts including a derogatory term for Asian people, following her sudden removal from the hit TV show.
In a video message, the 25-year-old content creator from Los Angeles said the post in question that led to her departure was made in 2024 and that a follower messaged her to explain that it was a slur.
"In that moment, I was embarrassed," she said, adding that she "immediately deleted the post".
Ortega, who is of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, said she and her loved ones have been harassed online over the posts, including by people calling immigration authorities on members of her family and issuing death threats.
"What's been extremely, extremely difficult is the way people are approaching my family and my loved ones," she said. "They have had ICE [US Immigration and Customs Enforcement] called on them. My family doesn't feel safe in their own home. I'm receiving death threats.
