Big Brother 27 Houseguest Rylie Jeffries said it was “heartbreaking” to see viewers’ reactions to his behavior toward showmance partner Katherine Woodman upon leaving the house on August 21.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly a week after his eviction, Rylie, 27, defended his behavior, which many live feed watchers saw as controlling and verbally abusive.
“I understand how things may have come across, but I speak with passion,” he said in the story, published Thursday, August 28. “I love with my whole heart, and maybe that intensity was misunderstood. I would never intentionally disrespect anyone, especially Katherine.”
There were a number of instances shown on the feeds (but not in episodes) that concerned fans, including Rylie becoming upset with Katherine, 23, for not wanting to kiss him or sleep in the same bed, as well as telling her, “I’m being with you outside of this, whether you like it or not.”
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Now outside of the house, Rylie said that Katherine is “her own person, makes her own choices.”
“I think some moments just don’t reflect who I truly am,” he said. “My intentions have always come from a place of care and loyalty, not control.”
“It’s heartbreaking to be misunderstood,” he continued. “People online don’t know me, but my friends, family, fellow Houseguests and Katherine do, and that’s what’s important. I spent every day in that house with people who truly know me, who see the real me: someone who’s loving, funny and full of heart. It hurts to be painted as aggressive when all I’ve ever done is lead with passion and care.”
But fans aren’t the only ones who were concerned by Riley’s behavior. Katherine’s parents have spoken out as well, with her father, Matt, calling the feeds “very hard to watch.”
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“It seems like they took the live feeds, and if it was going in a way they didn’t want, they would stop the feeds, and then they’d come back when everything was happy,” Matt told TikTok creator Mr. Rogers after Rylie’s eviction. “They didn’t show much of it, but the stuff that got out there was disturbing.”
Rylie’s mom, Michelle, also spoke out, telling TMZ in a story published August 20 that her son has “a great heart and wears it on his sleeve.”
“If Rylie’s happy, we’re happy, and that’s all that matters to me,” she added.
Big Brother airs on CBS on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can watch live feeds from the house anytime on Paramount+.
