Rachel Reilly joined Season 27 of Big Brother to make history and did just that, but not in the way she hoped.
A three-time player and one-time winner of the longtime reality franchise, Rachel re-entered the house with the goal of becoming the first person in the show’s history to win twice, instead this week she became the first contestant to be eliminated without being evicted.
“[I]t’s frustrating, but I am extremely proud of the game that I did play,” she told People.com in an exit interview released Friday. “I was never nominated, never evicted by a vote, so I guess I made ‘Big Brother’ history in a different way, which is not the ideal way that I would’ve liked to make ‘Big Brother’ history. I would’ve preferred to be the first two-time ‘Big Brother’ winner, but here we are.
“I had a great journey and I think that my ‘Big Brother’ legacy continues on, and I hope people just enjoyed watching my journey this season.”
The self-proclaimed legend was eliminated on Tuesday’s episode in a challenge where she had to walk on a wheel and help a ball find its way to the end in three-and-a-half minutes. If it had been a different type of challenge, Rachel believes she could still be in the house.
“My elimination ended at the ‘White Locust’ in the hamster wheel of death,” she told People.com. “I wish that I did have a second chance to save myself. I think if I was able to save myself socially, and not just in that competition, I might have performed better.”
Other contestants this season, she said, did have that chance she was denied.
“This season is very unique to me, and last season as well, because we had three nominees, we had a chance to win an HOH [head of household], you had a chance to win a veto, and then you have the chance to win that blockbuster.” Rachel said. “So everyone that was eliminated from the season truly had three opportunities to [save themselves] this season, and I had one and a half. It was a twisty twist — but, as they say in ‘Big Brother,’ expect the unexpected.”
What was expected was Rachel departing with some choice words for her housemates.
“Don’t think I’m going to make your jury roundtable easy, because that’s what you want. You are going to have to work to win this game. You are going to have to fight and get blood on your hands because I did and I’ve done it three times now, so don’t think that you can show up in those final two chairs and I’m going to let you guys get off easy.
“Because if you want to be a legend like me you’re going to have to work for it and earn it,” she told the assembled contestants following her elimination. “Good job newbies, clap because the legend and the queen is leaving.”
That legend status helped Rachel in the house this season, she believes, but could have caused problems for her if she’d been able to stay longer.
“Being the only returning vet I was able to talk my way out of being on the block, I never got nominated,” she told People.com. “I was able to form a lot of alliances and friendships with people and give them advice and coach them throughout the whole season, so I think that that was a benefit.
“The obstacle came from feeling that, at the end of the day, I don’t know that the house really wanted to have me win this season, so I don’t know how the rest of the season would’ve played out.”
She’s also unsure which, if any, of her Season 27 housemates have what it takes to reach the level she places herself and players Janelle Pierzina, Will Kirby and Dan Gheesling in the history of ‘Big Brother.’
“I do think that there is a possibility for us to see some players this season as ‘Big Brother’ legends, but I think that they’re going to have to win the game to be completely honest,” she said in the exit interview.
“I do think that you’re going to need to sit in the final two, final three chairs to be able to be considered a ‘Big Brother’ legend, and if you can’t get yourself there, then all the game that you’ve played maybe isn’t as legendary as you think it is.”
‘Big Brother’ airs Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays on CBS and Paramount+.
(Photos: Instagram)
5 Responses
She is a bully just like Boston Rob on Survivor. They bully and scare the other contestants if they don’t do what the bullies want them to do. It’s ridiculous that the others go along with it.
wow. she…certainly thinks highly of herself. as a long-time BB viewer (not a superfan tho), i obviously knew this. but for her to point-blank proclaim herself legend, queen, etc is giving delusions of grandeur.
Rachel is not only a childish brat but she is a flat out bully. I’ll never understand why she has a large fan base. Never.
If a man had treated people that way she did, he probably would have been thrown of the show or at least confronted by Julie in his interview like Jackson Michie was. Women need to be held accountable when they are being bullies too.
Legend in her own mind maybe. Insufferable pompous ass in reality.
Self proclaimed legend…😉