Love Island

"Love Island" alum Sharon Gaffka is not buying what Cierra Ortega is selling in her apology video for using an Asian slur ... Sharon says Cierra knew full well what the hateful word implied.

Sharon -- who was on "Love Island" back in 2021 -- joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and we asked for her reaction to Cierra's apology video for some past use of a racial slur online.

The thing that bothered Sharon the most was Cierra saying she didn't know the "word held as much pain, as much harm, and came with the history that it did" -- Cierra's from Arizona, and Sharon says anyone with access to the internet in America should know it's a hateful slur.

"Love Island USA" contestant Cierra Ortega is owning up to the racial slur that got her booted from the show -- but while she's apologizing, her grandma's clapping back, slamming the backlash coming her way.

Magdalena Carrillo tells TMZ in no uncertain terms -- her granddaughter is not a racist, and neither is anyone in their family ... pointing out they're immigrants themselves, so the outlandish accusation just doesn’t track.

Magdalena tells us the whole thing's gotten out of hand -- she's honestly shocked and heartbroken to see all the hate her granddaughter's recently endured.

Cierra Ortega is owning the racial slur that got her booted from "Love Island USA" -- and says she agrees with production's decision to cut her from the show.

In a lengthy video and written statement she shared on Instagram Wednesday evening, Cierra says she's been back home for 48 hours and is ready to address herself "very naively using an incredibly offensive and derogatory term."

First and foremost, she apologizes to the Asian community and everyone she offended, 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."

Before this sweet lil' kid with pigtails turned into a radio deejay and TV personality, she was just growing up in Bristol, London, loving the color pink ... and gettin' ready to move to the city to start her career ...

Her role models were Davina McCall and June Sarpong -- fellow TV presenters. In 2014, she covered the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. That same year, she hit up MTV and was a presenter for "The Wrap Up." She's been a guest judge on "RuPaul's Drag Race."

Need one more clue? She hosts "Love Island" UK!

Kalani Brown looked ready to be pulled for a chat ahead of the Phoenix Mercury game on Monday -- channeling her inner "Love Island" bombshell as she made her way to the locker rooms!!

The WNBA center arrived in style at the Footprint Center for the showdown against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings ... rocking a sexy, two-piece orange dress for the occasion.

Brown certainly understood the assignment ... looking stunning before throwing on her jersey and sneakers.

Cierra Ortega from "Love Island USA" just got kicked off the show after old posts of her using racial slurs against Asians went viral -- but her family has her full support, backing her up as she goes through the scandal.

Her parents hit up her IG Story on Sunday after her exit, saying that while they weren't brushing off what’s come to light, the week had been one of the toughest they'd ever faced ... and they begged people to show their daughter some compassion.

The post blasted the hate flooding online ... calling it uncalled for and heartbreaking, stressing no one deserves that level of intense hostility, no matter the mistakes they've made.

Huda Mustafa needs to remember to lean on her friends and family amid all the online hate she's getting ... this according to another former "Love Island" star.

We caught up with Andrea Carmona -- a star on season 6 of the show who was on the receiving end of fan ire during her time on the show from the second she left the villa -- and, she says her support system is the only reason she was able to get through the hard times.

ICYMI ... Huda's been getting hate for her actions on the show -- especially for a few emotional outbursts and allegedly manipulative behavior.

"Love Island USA" is heating up our screens -- and guess who’s feeling the fire? Kendall and Kylie Jenner, who just dropped their own cheeky reenactments of the show’s juiciest bombshell behavior!

TBH, you’d think they’d packed their bags for Casa Amor -- Kylie, Kendall, their pals Stassie, and Victoria had the lingo down cold. From "Can I pull you for a chat?" to "I want to explore other connections," they were serving full-on drama queen energy.

You have to see the video -- Stassie pulls Kylie for a chat like a true bombshell, while Kendall and Victoria lurk in the background, shamelessly earwigging. Peak villa behavior -- if you’re not chatting, you’re creeping!

"Love Island USA" contestant Vanna Einerson might raise eyebrows for getting so much work done at her age -- but a top celeb doc tells TMZ, despite it all she’s looking damn good!

Dr. Michael Salzhauer -- AKA Dr. Miami -- tells TMZ the hate Vanna’s getting is totally overblown, especially by Miami standards. He says there’s zero reason to judge, as long as she knows the risks and benefits -- which, at 21, she absolutely should.

Dr. Miami admits Vanna may’ve gone a little too enthusiastic with the tweaks -- but says she most likely was intentionally chasing a more mature vibe.

Can you guess which "Love Island" hottie put his washboard abs on full display in this eye-popping shot?! Your eyes may wander below (rightfully so), but stay focused and hone in on these clues:

He first hit the "LI" scene back in 2018 and brought his dashing looks back again in 2022. Before he got engaged last year, he appeared on "Celebs Go Dating."

'Love Island USA' star Charlie Georgiou's previous match Hannah Fields got voted off the island this week -- and he's telling TMZ all about his feelings watching her pack her bags after her dramatic turn on the show.

The British babe tells us he was actually more blown away at the fact his former Fiji bestie -- Jeremiah Brown -- had been voted off, rather than his own villa vixen!!!

Watch the clip ... Charlie admits to us he misses making Hannah coffee in the morning, and only time will tell what's in store for the couple once Hannah joins Charlie in the outside world.

“Love Island” contestant Cashel Barnett has been held in a Utah jail since last month, facing charges of allegedly brutally assaulting his ex-girlfriend in front of their child ... and now he's facing even more felonies for allegedly sexually assaulting the same victim.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ … Utah prosecutors leveled three new charges against the reality star on Tuesday -- including aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, and domestic violence in the presence of a child.

Per the docs ... Cashel slapped and choked his ex-girlfriend while sexually assaulting her last November. This after he allegedly withheld any physical contact for a month because the alleged victim asked him to get a job to help support their child.

Just when you thought "Love Island USA" couldn’t get messier -- boom! The girls get whisked away to Casa Amor, while the boys play tonsil hockey with a fresh batch of bombshells!!!

Yup, you heard right -- 5 new hotties snuck into the villa and got to kiss every guy while they were blindfolded. The twist? The boys had no clue who they were making out with … until they took off everything.

As you can guess, the boys were shook -- and that’s when host Ariana Madix dropped the bomb ... the girls are off at Casa Amor, and everyone’s officially single. Time to test new connections … and loyalties.

Who's ready for the 'best day of their life?!' There's simply no better way to kick off Ariana Madix's big 4-0 than to pump and bump you with her sexiest shots! If there's anything sarung with putting Ariana on blast, we don't want to be right!

From "Vanderpump Rules" to the Broadway stage, Madix has leveraged her 10+ years in the spotlight -- currently nailing her 2nd round on Peacock's hit show "Love Island," out of the park -- and no question she brought the L.A. heat to Fiji!

Check out this lil' sneak preview of what's to come ... Curves on display, Ariana may indeed work hard, but she plays even harder, as she should! "Scandoval" who?!

Thursday's episode of "Love Island USA" turned into softcore porn ... coupled-up Hannah Fields and Pepe Garcia-Gonzalez got down and dirty under the covers -- and it was all caught on camera for fans to see!

The cameras were rolling last night when the two lovebirds snuggled up in bed together ... check out the clip ... Hannah licks her fingertips and Pepe scooches in close and some rustling under the covers follows -- sure looks like an intimate encounter between the sheets.

For context -- in case you're not a woman in her 20s, or her boyfriend/husband being forced to watch the show -- Hannah came in as a "bombshell" ... that's the term for a new islander that enters the show ... and only coupled up with Pepe days before this saucy, sneaky scene.

Megan Thee Stallion is bringing Hot Girl Summer to the villa ... 'cause this bombshell just made waves on "Love Island USA" by flaunting her bangin' bikini bod while hosting a twerk comp!

Talk about body-ody ... the singer exudes confidence while strutting onto the latest episode of the hit series in a teeny gold thong bikini.

The "WAP" hitmaker made sure the attention wasn't all on her -- she had islanders participate in a twerking contest ... and some of their moves were hot enough to melt the sun!