Love Island

Cierra Ortega is sharing memories and showing love after her unexpected exit from "Love Island USA," following a racism controversy that cut her time on the show short.

Cierra took to Instagram on Saturday to reflect on her experience -- and gave her blessing to ex-partner Nic Vansteenberghe and his new connection, Olandria Carthen writing ... "People, moments, and memories I’ll cherish forever, she captioned a carousel of photos featuring her fellow Islanders.

She continued by saying her journey on the show didn't end the way she hoped but says she felt there was real connection, love and growth. "There’s still so much more growing to do -- and for that, I’ll always be grateful," she wrote.

Taylor Williams and Clarke Carraway were voted off "Love Island USA" this week when America decided who their favorite couple is so far -- their pairing was dead last, so they got a one-way ticket home ... but they tell us their relationship wasn't given a fair chance!!!

If there's anyone they'd sacrifice for a spot back on the island, they'd throw Huda Mustafa and her connection with Chris Seeley overboard without hesitation -- saying their relationship is way more genuine than people know, and Huda's stubbornness ruined what she had going with Chris ... nothing new for our problematic queen.

Huda has been blasted with intense heat this season, online and from other islanders. Taylor and Clarke think there's no chance of her rekindling the connection with Chris, because she's stubbornly hard-headed.

A casting director is calling out the producers of "Love Island USA" for not doing their due diligence when casting not one, but two contestants who've been exposed for their past racist comments ... the casting pro says it's shocking the show hasn't learned from reality TV history.

It's no secret "Love Island USA" dropped the ball on background checks this season -- Cierra Ortega and Yulissa Escobar each got the boot for their previous racist commentary -- and fans are furious these two women were platformed without the show doing proper research.

But, the talent recruiters themselves may not be the department that deserves the blame in this case ... 'cause our source defends the casting community -- saying this sort of background check should've been vetted by production -- and doesn't understand how something like this gets missed.

Former "Love Island USA" cast member Yulissa Escobar says her N-word scandal went from folks holding her accountable to people sending her death threats and vile scorn ... and she's sharing some of the hateful messages she says she's been getting.

Yulissa just posted a bunch of direct messages she says she's received since being booted from the hit reality show ... and there are threats of violence, comments on her appearance and folks telling her to kill herself.

She says the hateful messages have been pouring in daily since she was kicked out of the 'Love Island' villa after fans found out she had casually dropped the N-word on podcasts in the past.

Folks can't get enough of "Love Island USA" ... because music from the summer's hottest show is doing big numbers on Spotify ... and fans are creating playlists for their favorite contestants.

Our sources over at Spotify tell us streams of the 'Love Island' theme song -- "Make Me Feel - EDX Dubai Skyline Remix" by Janelle Monae and EDX -- have spiked nearly 2,000% in the U.S. since June 3, when the latest season debuted.

We're told fans are also flocking to Spotify to create their own "Love Island" playlists ... with the music streaming platform seeing a 6,300% increase in the 'LI' lists.

"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.