In a recent episode of **Love Island USA**, aired on **July 11, 2023**, Nic Vansteenberghe’s family openly expressed their support for his budding romance with Olandria Carthen, raising questions about any mention of Cierra Ortega following her unexpected departure from the villa. During the episode, Nic’s mother and sister conveyed their enthusiasm, declaring themselves “Day 1 supporters” of his connection with Olandria, while Nic acknowledged the trials he and Olandria had faced together.
While there was no direct discussion regarding Cierra, Nic has made a few comments since her exit earlier in the season. Nic and Olandria emerged as a fan-favorite couple during season 7, even while they were involved with other contestants. Nic was coupled with Cierra, and Olandria was exploring a future with Taylor Williams. Despite their original pairings, fans rallied for Nic and Olandria to interact, creating social media edits and pleas for the producers to facilitate their connection.
The opportunity for them to couple up arose when both were eliminated during the **Casa Amor** twist, but they were not removed from the villa entirely. Instead, they were allowed to form a new bond. Ultimately, Nic returned to Cierra shortly after, while Olandria remained single until Cierra’s shocking exit. Cierra departed the villa following the resurfacing of a problematic social media post, allowing Nic to rekindle his relationship with Olandria.
Reflecting on the situation, Nic expressed mixed feelings, stating, “It is bittersweet. I was kind of really excited to feel closed off with somebody. It took a lot for me to get to that point but it was just not meant to be.”
Cierra displayed a degree of support for Nic and Olandria by liking a fan edit shared on Nic’s Instagram, just days after addressing the controversy that led to her removal from the show. In an Instagram video posted on **July 10**, Cierra stated, “I am not the victim in the situation,” while addressing the resurfaced offensive remarks from her past. She apologized directly to the **Asian community**, saying, “I am deeply, truly, honestly, so sorry.” Cierra explained that she had been unaware of the derogatory nature of the term she used in a **2024** post, emphasizing her lack of ill intention but acknowledging that ignorance is not an excuse.
Further in her video, Cierra reflected on Peacock’s decision to remove her from the show, stating, “The truth is that in that moment, the lesson was learned, the word was removed and it was a true learning moment for me.” She expressed understanding of the network’s actions, asserting that the consequences were justified and that she has since focused on personal growth and educating others about language that could be harmful.
As the drama unfolds, new episodes of **Love Island USA** are set to air six days a week on **Peacock**, with the season 7 finale scheduled for **July 13, 2023**. The evolving dynamics among the contestants continue to captivate audiences, highlighting both the personal journeys of the individuals involved and the broader discussions surrounding accountability and growth in reality television.