After diverting from the norm for its celebrity-filled season, the ever-popular Big Brother returned to its standard formatting for Season 20, which just debuted a week ago, but is already getting bogged down with complaints and criticisms about the actions and comments of several of the new Season 20 contestants. Fans viewing the show's 24/7 live feed quickly spoke up about some racially tinged conversations and inappropriate touching happening in the house, and CBS has now come out with a statement addressing the semi-controversial incidents.
Big Brother is a reality show about watching a group of people who have no privacy 24/7 --- and capturing every unfiltered moment and conversation in their lives. At times, the houseguests reveal prejudices and exhibit behavior that we do not condone. The producers have addressed two such incidents that were seen recently on the 24/7 online feed. In both cases, those involved have been warned about their inappropriate behavior and offensive comments, as well as future consequences. These events will not be part of any future Big Brother broadcast on CBS.
CBS' statement (via Deadline) probably isn't the fire-and-brimstone response hoped for by the most critical fans, many of whom were calling for certain contestants to get full-on ejected from the house. Instead of going with any decisions resembling rash, it sounds like the Big Brother producers had a sit down with the offending cast members (and possibly the rest of the group) to draw a line in the sand over what definitely cannot be done.. And all involved should absolutely follow those rules diligently, since there aren't many places to hide in a house with cameras around every corner, and the viewers have shown their unwillingness to settle for improper behavior.
For those who aren't fully in the know, fans first decried Miami native JC Mounduix for actions involving an ice cream scoop. As seen on the 24/7 feed, Mounduix was going after various houseguests and trying to use the scoop to cup their genitals. He did it to male guest Tyler Crispen, who was getting a massage at the time, and he also tried with female contestants Kaitlyn Herman and Kaycee Clark, telling the latter to open her vagina because it "feels so good." (To which she gave an understandable "No" reply.) Many called for him to be removed from the show, but that hasn't happened.
Additional backlash followed Monday night's feed, after cast members Rachel Swindler and Angela Rummans (both white) were comparing their tans and used the word "ghetto" as a descriptor. Swindler specifically said that her own tan was as dark as the skin of fellow housemate Bayleigh Dayton (who is black), and then said that she can't be in the sun for two days or she'll "change ethnicities," before then joking that she already had. At which point, Rummans declared she was looking "ghetto here with the skin coloration." Both women were criticized on social media for their comments.
This is hardly the first time Big Brother has come under fire for the less-than-savory actions of its many contestants. The show also waded through controversial waters back in 2013 when a handful of contestants -- including Aaron Gries, GinaMarie Zimmerman and Spencer Clawson -- faced real-life consequences and job losses for their racist, homophobic and sexist behavior on the show.
For now, Big Brother Season 20 is moving forward without any changes, and you can find episodes airing on CBS on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET, and on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. CT. To see what other shows are on the way in the meantime, head to our summer premiere schedule.
