Rachel Reilly’s time on Big Brother came to an abrupt end this week in a twist that stunned both houseguests inside the house and viewers at home, despite the episode not airing yet on CBS.
The live feeds returned Saturday morning after being down since the end of Thursday’s live eviction show. At the conclusion of Thursday’s show, host Julie Chen Moonves revealed the White Locust twist, which would see one houseguest not return to the game.
As live feed viewers learned Saturday, the houseguest who was eliminated was Rachel.
Rachel’s picture on the Memory Wall was grayed out, and she was missing from the feeds. All other houseguests have been accounted for.
The twist quickly set off a wave of backlash online, with fans accusing production of robbing Reilly of the chance to fight for her spot.
“I can’t believe Rachel was sent home like that. No vote, no comp, no nothing. Damn production. That’s not fair to her or the fans who wanted to see her fight,” one viewer wrote on social media.
Reilly, who previously won Big Brother 13 and has become one of the most recognizable players in the show’s history, was expected to be a major force this season.
“Rachel is a legend and a Big Brother icon. To have her eliminated without even giving her a chance feels like such a slap in the face,” another fan wrote in a private message.
Some fans went further, questioning whether the twist went too far off course from the show’s format, which balances social strategy with physical and mental competitions.
Even those who admitted they weren’t always rooting for Reilly acknowledged how much her presence brought to the house.
“Say what you want about Rachel, but she always brought the drama and entertainment. To lose her in this way is just wrong,” a fan shared on Facebook.
As of now, CBS has not publicly addressed the backlash or explained the reasoning behind the twist, having not replied to a request from FWRD AXIS News to comment.
Rachel Reilly’s Big Brother Legacy
Reilly first appeared on Big Brother 12 in 2010, where she quickly became known for her fiery personality and memorable diary room moments. She returned the following year for Big Brother 13, winning the season. Over the years, she has remained one of the franchise’s most polarizing houseguests, making appearances on past seasons and competing alongside her husband, fellow Big Brother alum Brendon Villegas.
With the season still unfolding, Reilly’s elimination is one of the most controversial moments of the show’s 25-year history — and fans have threatened to stop watching to see how the house moves forward without one of the show’s biggest personalities.
