Love Island USA’s Belle-A Walker is speaking out after fellow contestant Cierra Ortega abruptly left the villa amid a resurfaced post in which she used a racial slur.
“As a proud Asian American woman, I’m deeply appreciative of the Love Island USA producers for taking a stand and making it clear that racism of any kind is not tolerated,” Belle-A, 22, shared via her Instagram Story late Sunday, July 6, after Cierra’s departure was announced during the latest episode.
“When I first saw what my fellow Islander said on their social media pages, I was incredibly heartbroken,” Belle-A continued. “But I wanted to wait until they left the villa and were able to address the situation, genuinely apologize, and commit to learning from the experience before deciding how our relationship would look moving forward.”
However, she wrote, “As screenshots continued to surface, it became clear that I could no longer support this person, and made the decision to unfollow them a couple of days ago.”
“Asian hate is oftentimes overlooked and dismissed. But being a first-generation American, I have personally witnessed and experienced how real and hurtful comments like these are,” the season 7 contestant continued. “It is my hope that this situation can help shed light on how big of an issue anti-Asian hate actually is.”
“Just like so many other Asian Americans, my mom immigrated here to create a better life for her and her future family. Knowing the hardships she and so many others have faced, I could not be silent any longer,” she wrote. “Because what good is this amazing platform God and you all have given me if I don’t use it to amplify the voices of my community?”
Belle-A concluded her post, “I do not condone bigotry or racism of any kind. But I also don’t condone hate either. Please think twice before leaving unkind comments to or about this person.”
Cierra’s departure from the reality dating show was confirmed by narrator Iain Stirling during Sunday’s episode. Stirling said Cierra had “left the villa due to a personal situation,” meaning that her love interest Nic Vansteenberghe was “officially single.”
Nic originally coupled up with Belle-A at the start of season 7, however, he later opted to couple up with bombshell Cierra, 25, and Belle-A was dumped from the island on day six.
In a statement shared via her Instagram Story on Sunday, Cierra’s parents addressed the controversy surrounding her resurfaced posts and asked viewers for grace, noting that Cierra has not yet seen the backlash to her historic social media activity.
“We’re not here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced. We understand why people are upset, and we know accountability matters,” the reality star’s parents wrote, in part. “What’s happening online right now has gone far beyond [accountability]. The threats. The cruel messages. The attacks on her family, her friends, even her supporters, it’s heartbreaking. It’s uncalled for. No one deserves that kind of hate.”
“She hasn’t had the chance to process any of this or speak for herself,” they wrote. “But we know our daughter. We know her heart. And when she returns, we believe she’ll face this with honesty, growth and grace.”
The post concluded with Cierra’s parents requesting viewers have “compassion” and “patience” until she is able to address the controversy.
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