zak cierra removed Love Island USA
Credit: Ben Symons/Peacock
News Love Island USA Peacock

Zak reveals what REALLY happened when Cierra was suddenly removed from Love Island USA

He even spoke on Nic's reaction

Avatar photo

ByHelen Williams

9th July 2025, 09:48

Ok, so Love Island USA has been messy this season, but the moment Cierra Ortega was removed from the villa is probably something that’ll go down in the show’s history. Now, Cierra’s co-star, Zak Srakaew, is spilling the tea on what really went down when she suddenly had to make an exit. Just a week before the season seven final, Cierra was axed, and now we’ve got some juicy details on how it all came about.

Zak takes to his socials to spill the tea

When Cierra was removed from the Love Island USA villa, it came as a shock to everyone. The show’s narrator said she left for “personal reasons.”

After people unearthed a since-deleted IG Story of her using a racial slur in a post from 2023, her time on the show was cut short. However, Peacock hasn’t confirmed this is the reason for her removal. Reality Shrine reached out to Peacock for comment.

Since the controversial post came to light and Cierra was removed, her parents spoke out via her IG Stories. A fellow axed Islander, Yulissa Escobar, also urged people to give Cierra time to reflect following her exit.

Zak explained what the moment was like for him and the rest of the cast when Cierra was told she had to go home.

He said on his live: “How did Cierra leave? I can’t really say but when Cierra left they gathered us all together, the producers gathered us all together and then they said ‘unfortunately Cierra’s broken some of the policies of our guidelines, she’ll no longer be here in the villa and that’s all the information we can give you guys’.”

Zak added Nic’s reaction to Cierra leaving

When Cierra was removed from season seven, she was coupled up with Nic Vansteenberghe. Naturally, he was probably surprised to see her go, and now Zak’s revealing his response in the moment.

“When we was all in there, we didn’t even know what was going on, but that’s what they said to us and that if we needed somebody to speak to, go speak to them.”

He dished: “Nic was really upset that she left but at the same time he coudn’t really be super upset…

“…He couldnt express how he feels about the situation until he found out what she’s done or what she’s said because at the end of the day as much as you want to feel sorry for somebody, if you know they got removed from a show for saying something offensive you cant really feel sorry for them until you know what it is, you know what im saying?”

For all the latest reality TV cast member news, scandals, gossip and updates – like Reality Shrine on Facebook.