Los Angeles, California - Love Island USA star Cierra Ortega has broken her silence after she abruptly exited the hit reality TV show this week.

The 25-year-old took to her Instagram on Wednesday to address her shock departure, which was blamed on a "personal situation" by the show.

But Cierra addressed what many fans assumed to be the real reason behind it – resurfaced social media posts in which she had used a racial slur – in a new apology video.

"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," she said.

Elon Musk Elon Musk trolls Trump and dumps MAGA friends over closing of Epstein case

Brad Pitt Brad Pitt hits Angelina Jolie with new filing amid bitter winery war!

"And before I get into the details, 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."

In one of the alleged posts, reportedly shared in 2023, Cierra used a slur considered offensive towards Asian people to describe how her eyes look when she smiles.

"I had no ill intention when I was using it, but that's absolutely no excuse because intent doesn't excuse ignorance," she said in the video. "It just doesn't."

The reality star clarified that she did not want the post to be an "apology" but rather an "accountability video," pleading with fans to allow her to grow and do better in the future.

While she said she "completely agrees" with the show's decision to remove her, she also called out the vitriolic hate that has come her way amid the scandal.

Cierra revealed she has received death threats over the controversy, and her loved ones have been targeted as well.

She explained that her family "doesn't feel safe in their own home" and has even had Immigration and Customs Enforcement called on them.

"There is no need to fight hate with hate. I don't think that that's justice," she added.

Cardi B Cardi B tells haters to "shut the f*** up" amid Stefon Diggs split rumors

Sabrina Carpenter Sabrina Carpenter flaunts coquette style in new alternate cover for Man's Best Friend

After Love Island USA announced Cierra's exit, her parents shared a message on her Instagram story ahead of her arrival back home, writing that they were "not here to justify or ignore what's surfaced" but urged the show's fans to stop attacking their daughter and other family members.

"The threats. The cruel messages. The attacks on her family, her friends, even her supporters, it's heartbreaking, it's uncalled for," they wrote. "And no one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistake they've made."

Love Island USA is filmed in real time, with most episodes featuring footage captured one or two days prior. Fans can affect the drama as the season progresses through at-home voting, which often influences which contestants are eliminated.

Cierra is not the first contestant to exit in the wake of offensive social media posts discovered by fans this season. After resurfaced podcast clips showed Yulissa Escobar using the N-word, she quietly left the Villa in the second episode.