Nic Vansteenberghe from Love Island USA has broken his silence regarding Cierra Ortega after her unexpected exit from the villa.
On the Monday, July 7 episode of the popular Peacock reality series, Nic opened up to Ace Greene about potentially moving forward with Olandria Carthen after previously being exclusive with Cierra.
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“It is bittersweet. I was kind of really excited to feel closed off with somebody,” he admitted. “It took a lot for me to get to that point but it was just not meant to be.”
Nic and Cierra were one of season 7’s most solid couples. However, just a week before the finale, narrator Iain Stirling revealed that Cierra “left the villa due to a personal situation” and shared that Nic was “officially single.”
While chatting with the guys during the Sunday, July 6 episode, Nic expressed uncertainty about what would come next.
Read More: Cierra Ortega’s Parents Release Statement Following Love Island USA Exit Amid Racial Slur Backlash
“I don’t really know. I think now that my strongest connection has gone, I will figure it out from here,” he explained. “I was not expecting this.”
In a confessional, Nic further elaborated on his feelings. “Right before Cierra had left, my mind was clear,” he noted. “I knew what the future would look like. And now I’m lost.”
Cierra’s sudden departure followed the resurfacing of an old social media post in which she used a racial slur. After facing intense backlash offscreen, she was sent home from Fiji a fate similar to that of Yulissa Escobar, who was also removed earlier this season after videos of her using racial slurs on a podcast were shared online.
Before Cierra’s exit, her social media manager and friend MJ Hedderman announced they would step away from handling her account amid the controversy.
“Hi guys, I see your comments concerning someone I love and care about. I want to be clear that I do not condone racism, bigotry or hate in any way shape or form, nor was I aware of the recent screenshots until they were posted,” MJ wrote on Instagram Stories on Friday, July 4. “I discovered it at the same time as all of you did.”
MJ went on: “I cannot speak for anybody or make any statements besides my own, and decided to take a step back from running her account. I was asked by her family to turn off comments and refrain from speaking on her behalf. This situation has been really difficult, and I’m still processing everything.”
Cierra’s other friend Johnnie Olivia also addressed the situation with a similar statement.
“I’m sure many of you have noticed that I’ve refrained from talking about Love Island and have stopped publicly supporting my friend on the show. This was after I saw a post involving a racial slur for the first time,” she shared via Instagram on Friday. “I loved supporting her during her time on the show, but once I came across that post, I felt it was necessary to take a step back.”
Johnnie clarified her position and her decision to distance herself from Cierra. “I do not support or condone that kind of language, never have, never will. Racism in any form is unacceptable. And to be clear unless you are Asian, you do not get to decide whether or not that word is offensive. Anyone who isn’t Asian should not be speaking about the seriousness or impact of that word.”
New episodes of Love Island USA drop six days a week — except on Wednesdays — exclusively on Peacock.