Former “Love Island USA” contestant Yulissa Escobar is addressing Cierra Ortega’s departure from the present, calling for compassion over cyberbullying .
In a TikTok video posted July 7, Escobar, 27, drew parallels between her expertise and Ortega’s abrupt removing from the villa in Episode 30.
Each left “Love Island USA” after posts containing racial slurs resurfaced. A spokesperson for Peacock declined to remark to TODAY.com. (Peacock is owned by NBCUniversal, TODAY and NBC Information’ guardian firm.)
“I do know what she did was unsuitable however we have to cease combating hate with hate,” Escobar mentioned within the video. “The cyberbullying has gone to a different stage.”
Following her removing from the present in June after Episode 2, Escobar issued an apology.
In her current video, the previous Islander acknowledged that each she and Ortega made errors and didn’t decrease the hurt attributable to their phrases.
“I’m not justifying what I did, I do know what I did and what I mentioned was unsuitable, and I do know what Cierra mentioned was unsuitable and I do know it harm communities,” she mentioned.
Escobar emphasised that whereas she doesn’t condone the language used, the net harassment each girls have confronted crosses a line.
“After I was in that resort room in Fiji and I used to be taking a look at these messages I used to be getting, I used to be actually scared to return house,” Escobar mentioned. “I used to be like, is one thing going to occur to me? Is somebody going to do one thing to me? As a result of it was only a lot to absorb, and even my household was frightened.”
Now, she’s frightened about Ortega dealing with related threats.
“As a substitute of sending such disgusting messages to her and her household … attempt to educate us,” Escobar mentioned. “Her, me, I mentioned one thing prior to now that was unsuitable, she did too, like attempt to educate individuals so we are able to develop as a neighborhood.”
Escobar expressed explicit concern for Ortega’s psychological well being, noting that she doesn’t know if the previous Islander is “OK” and saying she wished she might verify on her well-being.
“I’m talking up for everyone in that island, I’m talking up for Cierra, not as a result of I don’t know what she did was unsuitable … however I simply really feel for her psychological well being and I’m scared, I’m frightened for her,” she mentioned.
Escobar concluded her video with a message of unity.
“We have to stick collectively, we are able to’t proceed this division we have to unite and train individuals. That’s how we’re going to develop as a neighborhood, and now we have youthful generations which are watching this present and we’re not educating them to be higher,” she mentioned.
The “Love Island USA” finale is ready to air on July 13, with the current controversies casting a shadow on the season’s conclusion.
Ortega has not publicly addressed her departure. Her mother and father issued an announcement posted to her Instagram story, each acknowledging Ortega’s actions and asking for an finish to “threats” and “merciless messages.”
“As Cierra’s mother and father, this has been probably the most painful weeks of our lives,” the submit started.
“We’re not right here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced. We perceive individuals are upset, and we all know accountability issues. However what’s occurring on-line proper now has gone far past that.”
The submit mentioned Ortega will “face this with honesty, progress and style” when she returns from Fiji, the place the present is filmed.
“Whereas she’ll all the time be our little woman, she’s additionally a lady, one who will take accountability in her personal time and her personal voice,” the submit learn.
