Week Four: Cierra Ortega and Reality TV’s Cancel Culture
Every season of Love Island gives fans a new cast to obsess over. For Season seven, Cierra Ortega quickly became one of the most talked-about contestants. From her fiery villa moments to how fans dissected her every move online, she became a tool for both attention and criticism. But was the backlash fair? Or is Cierra simply the latest reality star caught in the unforgiving cycle of cancel culture? In this blog, I’ll unpack the controversies surrounding her, fan reactions, and how cancellations on reality TV compare to those faced by influencers on platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
From Villa Entrance to Viral Fame-
When Cierra Ortega entered the Love Island villa, she instantly stood out. Confident, outspoken, she was exactly the kind of contestant who sparks drama and makes for great television. The producers sometimes edit messily, but Cierra was always being herself when the cameras were filming.
Reality TV fans are quick to turn contestants into categories: the “villain,” the “sweetheart,” the “chaos agent.” Cierra was often painted as the first option. Viewers debated her choices in relationships, the way she clashed with other contestants, and even her mannerisms. While many admired her confidence, others began labeling her as “toxic” or even “fake.” In my personal opinion, she didn't stand out to me, and she seemed to be obsessed with her partner, "Nick," which felt forced to me.
The “Cancellations” Begin... Inside the villa-
Cierra’s biggest “cancel moment” came during a heated argument in the villa, which quickly spread across TikTok and Twitter. Memes were made, hashtags spread, and within days, she was made one of the “mean girls” in the villa. Fans began talking and wondering if she studied Love Island, and wanted to be someone she wasn't, just to gain followers after the experience. She seemed to be fake, talking weird, and just moving around weird in general.
Then boom... She got canceled again, but this time outside of the villa. As clips of her circulated, fans began digging through her past social media, looking for anything controversial. She was removed from the villa, and all the cast kind of acted as if nothing had occurred. But deep down, I think they knew before leaving themselves to see it all over social media.
What had resurfaced were some tweets of her being racist in her past. That is never okay, especially when you are on the biggest show being watched. It was shocking to see.
What’s interesting about Cierra’s case is the fan divide. On one side, critics used every platform to cancel her, including comment sections, Reddit threads, and Twitter.
But some people really enjoyed her and ended up sticking up for her, pointing out that reality TV heavily relies on editing. Many argued that she was unfairly portrayed, with producers cutting hours of footage into short clips designed to spark drama. But isn't that all reality TV?
Supporters also emphasized her relatability; she wasn’t afraid to be herself, even if it meant being messy. This authenticity, for some, was a reason to root for her rather than cancel her.
Fans this season, in general, were doing way too much, making hate trains towards different islanders. What fans didn't realize is that they were ruining the show for many, always having something negative to say, and worrying everyone that when the islanders got out, they would be distraught coming home to that much hate. I think that Cierra doesn't apply to this narrative; she really did do something wrong in the outside world. What do you think?
Cancel culture on Reality TV vs. Influencers-
Cierra’s case shows that cancellations in reality TV differ from those faced by influencers like James Charles or Tana Mongeau.
On YouTube or TikTok, cancellation usually follows an exact controversy, or exposed DM, an old video resurfacing, or problematic behavior that fans decide they can’t ignore. But on Love Island, contestants are often “cancelled” because of how they are edited to look, or if they deserve it.
Unlike influencers, who control their content, reality stars are at the hands of producers and editors. Fans then react as though those moments are her entire personality, creating a distorted perception that can linger long after the season ends.
Or fans can dig up everything from your past to try and cancel you before you leave the villa....
The Meme Machine-
One inevitable part of current cancel culture is memes. In Cierra’s case, her facial expressions quickly became viral content. Memes can be funny, but some people also see them as bullying. For Cierra, this meant her most dramatic or awkward moments lived on long after the episode aired. While influencers can laugh it off, those who are new to being in the public eye don't know how to do that as well.
Once Cierra left the villa, she faced another challenge. Rebranding herself outside of the Love Island bubble. Like many reality stars, she transitioned into social media influencing, securing brand deals and sponsored content. But most people didn't hit the follow button for her. They already viewed her as weird and canceled.
Some fans argue she should be held accountable for her actions in the villa, while others push back, saying that judging someone based on a heavily edited reality show is unfair. Regardless, she got hated on outside of the villa for a reason: her tweets. Cierra still posts and even made an apology video after, which fans found to be heavily PR trained. So who knows if she learned her lesson, the world may never know.
Conclusion-
Cierra Ortega’s time on Love Island shows just how intense cancel culture has become for reality TV stars. Whether you loved her or hated her, she sparked conversations that kept the season entertaining and memorable. Personally, I think Cierra deserves more grace. Reality TV is designed to exaggerate conflict, and it’s unfair to judge someone’s entire character based on how they were edited for entertainment. Even with the drama and backlash, I still find her confidence and realness refreshing. At the end of the day, she’s human and figuring it out like everyone else. And that’s exactly why people can’t stop talking about her.
What do you guys think?
Stay tuned for the next blog post!
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