“That’s the only thing they said to us” — Love Island USA star Zak breaks silence on producers hinting Cierra Ortega’s exit

Love Island USA contestant Zak Srakaew has spoken out about what cast members were told throughout the dramatic reaction to Cierra Ortega's eviction on July 6. Zak stated in a TikTok Live shortly after her departure that the gang was left to piece together the reality on their own because the producers provided little explanation.

Zak recalled the producers addressing the villa,

"The producers gathered us all together, and then they said, 'Unfortunately, Cierra has broken some of the policies of our guidelines. She will no longer be here in the villa, and that’s the only information we can give you guys,'" he shared. "So when we were all in there, we didn’t really know what was going on, but that’s the only thing they said to us."

Zak also considered the response of his then-partner, Nic Vansteenberghe, emphasizing Nic's precarious situation: he was angry but unable to completely communicate his feelings as he didn't know why Cierra was leaving. Nic was forced to navigate an abrupt emotional void due to the lack of clarity.

Inside Cierra Ortega’s sudden Love Island USA exit and what led to it

The villa was left reeling after Cierra Ortega abruptly left, leaving Love Island USA fans stunned when they saw the July 6 episode. Speculation immediately spread both within and outside the villa after producers gave little notice and merely a brief note. Why was Cierra's departure so unclear, and what happened to her?

Cast left in the dark

Producers gathered the villa at a stressful scene in the episode airing on July 6 and delivered the group a quick, ambiguous statement stating that Cierra had broken show rules and would not be coming back.

There was no further information given to the group, which left the Islanders feeling uneasy and perplexed. Love Island USA's Nic, Cierra's companion, attempted to digest his feelings in the dark, while Zak subsequently disclosed that the cast was taken by surprise and left to conjecture.

Old posts triggered removal

The reemergence of several racist social media posts, including derogatory remarks directed at Asian people in 2015 and 2023, soon led to Cierra's departure. Public outrage grew after followers discovered and shared the posts, leading to a petition and numerous demands for her removal. She was quickly removed by the producers in accordance with the show's rules.

Balancing accountability with compassion

After she left Love Island USA, Cierra's parents condemned the online abuse directed at her family and acknowledged the seriousness of what she had said. Calling it an "accountability video," she apologized and accepted responsibility.

The show's strong stance on disrespect and inclusion violations is highlighted by the contentious removal, which is the second this season due to racism-related offenses (Yulissa Escobar was previously eliminated under identical circumstances).

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Watch all the episodes of Love Island USA Season 7 on Peacock.

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