‘Love Island USA’ star Yulissa Escobar reacts to Cierra Ortega’s sudden departure
Former “Love Island USA” contestant Yulissa Escobar is addressing Cierra Ortega’s departure from the show, calling for compassion over cyberbullying .
In a TikTok video posted July 7, Escobar, 27, drew parallels between her experience and Ortega’s abrupt removal from the villa in Episode 30.
Both left “Love Island USA” after posts containing racial slurs resurfaced. A spokesperson for Peacock declined to comment to TODAY.com. (Peacock is owned by NBCUniversal, TODAY and NBC News’ parent company.)
“I know what she did was wrong but we need to stop fighting hate with hate,” Escobar said in the video. “The cyberbullying has gone to another level.”
Following her removal from the show in June after Episode 2, Escobar issued an apology.
In her recent video, the former Islander acknowledged that both she and Ortega made mistakes and didn’t minimize the harm caused by their words.
“I’m not justifying what I did, I know what I did and what I said was wrong, and I know what Cierra said was wrong and I know it hurt communities,” she said.
Escobar emphasized that while she doesn’t condone the language used, the online harassment both women have faced crosses a line.
“When I was in that hotel room in Fiji and I was looking at those messages I was getting, I was honestly scared to come home,” Escobar said. “I was like, is something going to happen to me? Is someone going to do something to me? Because it was just a lot to take in, and even my family was worried.”
Now, she’s worried about Ortega facing similar threats.
“Instead of sending such disgusting messages to her and her family … try to educate us,” Escobar said. “Her, me, I said something in the past that was wrong, she did too, like try to educate people so we can grow as a community.”
Escobar expressed particular concern for Ortega’s mental health, noting that she doesn’t know if the former Islander is “OK” and saying she wished she could check on her well-being.
“I’m speaking up for everybody in that island, I’m speaking up for Cierra, not because I don’t know what she did was wrong … but I just feel for her mental health and I’m scared, I’m worried for her,” she said.
Escobar concluded her video with a message of unity.
“We need to stick together, we can’t continue this division we need to unite and teach people. That’s how we’re going to grow as a community, and we have younger generations that are watching this show and we’re not teaching them to be better,” she said.
The “Love Island USA” finale is set to air on July 13, with the recent controversies casting a shadow on the season’s conclusion.
Ortega has not publicly addressed her departure. Her parents issued a statement posted to her Instagram story, both acknowledging Ortega’s actions and asking for an end to “threats” and “cruel messages.”
“As Cierra’s parents, this has been one of the most painful weeks of our lives,” the post began.
“We’re not here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced. We understand people are upset, and we know accountability matters. But what’s happening online right now has gone far beyond that.”
The post said Ortega will “face this with honesty, growth and grace” when she returns from Fiji, where the show is filmed.
“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,” the post read.