Nic Vansteenberghe’s family shared their honest thoughts on his Love Island USA romance with Olandria Carthen — but did they say anything about Cierra Ortega after her abrupt exit?
During the Friday, July 11, episode of the hit Peacock series, Nic got to see his mother and sister, who showed her support for Olandria. In fact, they told Nic they were “Day 1 supporters” of his connection with Olandria.
“We really are just there for each other through all the bull*** that we have been through,” Nic replied but didn’t elaborate. While Nic didn’t discuss Cierra, he has made some rare comments since she left the villa earlier this season.
Nic and Olandria became a fan-favorite couple earlier in season 7 when they were still with other people. Despite Nic being with Cierra and Olandria considering a future with Taylor Williams, fans created edits and made pleas online for producers to find ways for Nic and Olandria to interact.
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That opportunity came when Nic and Olandria were individually eliminated amid Casa Amor. They weren’t taken out of the villa, though, and were instead offered the chance to couple up together. Nic ultimately went back to Cierra days later, and Olandria remained single until Cierra’s shocking departure.
After a racist post from her past resurfaced, Cierra left the villa, and Nic rekindled his connection with Olandria.
“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.”
Cierra subtly showed her support for Nic and Olandria went she “liked” a fan edit posted on his Instagram by his family. This came days after she broke her silence about the scandal that sent her home.
“I am not the victim in the situation,” Cierra said in an Instagram video shared on Wednesday. “While I was in the villa, there were some posts that resurfaced from my past where I was very naively using an incredibly offensive and derogatory term. I want to first start by addressing not just anyone that I have hurt or deeply offended — but most importantly — the entire Asian community. I am deeply, truly, honestly, so sorry.”
Cierra claimed she didn’t know she was using a slur in the 2024 post that caused online backlash, adding, “I had no idea that the word held as much pain, as much harm and came with the history that it did or I never would have used it. I had no ill intention when I was using it but that’s absolutely no excuse because intent doesn’t excuse ignorance. It just doesn’t.”
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Elsewhere in the video, Cierra addressed Peacock’s decision to pull her from season 7.
“The truth is that in that moment, the lesson was learned, the word was removed and it was a true learning moment for me. Since that moment, I’ve done so much growing as an individual and I’ve tried my best to educate others who might be accidentally holding space for these types of words that could be offensive in their vocabulary,” she continued. “I completely agree with the network’s decision to remove me from the villa. I think that this is something that deserved punishment and the punishment has absolutely been received for sure.”
New episodes of Love Island USA will be released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock. The season 7 finale is set to air Sunday, July 13.
