Big Brother 27 runner-up Vince Panaro announced he and girlfriend Kelsey are taking time apart following speculation that he emotionally cheated on the show.
“As far as probably the more common question that everybody is asking me, is ‘What is my relationship like?’” Vince, 34, said in a YouTube video uploaded Monday, October 20, while addressing his experience on the reality competition series. “Kelsey and I have talked everything out. We have talked about everything and anything possible, and we’re currently taking time to process everything individually, and you know, figure out what things look like after that.”
Vince thanked Kelsey for being there for him when he left the Big Brother house last month despite the rumors that swirled about him throughout the season. “She was there to — first, above everything else — make sure that I was OK mentally coming out of there, knowing the backlash that I was gonna be receiving,” he said. “But at the same time, she has enough respect for herself to take her own independent time to figure out what she wants and to process her own experience … and I respect that too.”
He went on to address some of his more controversial behavior, saying, “The fact of the matter is that I was in a relationship entering that house … so that’s all on me. And I understand the way that it looked.”
Everything to Know About ‘Big Brother’ Runner-Up Vince Panaro’s GF Kelsey
Despite the impacts on his personal life, Vince said going on Big Brother was “an incredible experience” and that he’s “an even bigger fan now” than he was before competing. “But you’re in a pressure cooker environment where it’s designed to see if you crack,” he continued. “And I cracked a few times.”
Vince and Kelsey were together for seven years before he started his Big Brother journey in July. He sparked a close connection with fellow houseguest Morgan Pope, which raised eyebrows among viewers at home. The allies were often caught getting cozy on camera, and Vince admitted in his YouTube video that “lines started to blur.”
“I felt like any level of affection was normal in that alternate reality I was living in,” he explained on Monday. “And some people will say, ‘How could you be that stupid? How could you not see it?’ And I could only say, ‘Well, you’d be surprised.’”
Vince acknowledged that “in hindsight,” he realized how his behavior was “disrespectful” to Kelsey. “I’m sorry for that. And to be honest, that’s on me,” he continued. “I’m the one who set the boundaries. I was the one who was in a relationship. … But outside, I could see that’s not being respectful to having a girlfriend, and I should’ve been extra cautious. But the fact of the matter is I wasn’t.”
The reality star further insisted that he “never” wanted to “embarrass anyone” from his life outside of Big Brother — especially Kelsey. “She didn’t sign up for the show,” he said, “I did.”
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While speaking with Us Weekly after the season 27 finale in September, Vince opened up about his bond with “very good friend” Morgan, who finished in third place. (Ashley Hollis was crowned the winner and took home $750,000.)
“[Morgan] was a very good friend to me,” Vince told Us. “In the game, you’re in an environment where you can’t trust anybody.”
When asked about the duo’s more cuddly moments, Vince said he thought “everyone lays on top of each other” in the house. “Past seasons that I’ve watched live feeds, it’s just kind of the vibe, and that’s how some people are more affectionate with their closeness to you. And some people are not,” he claimed.
After taking time to reflect on the events of the season, Vince said on Monday that he “never” wanted to come out of the experience “as a villain” or hurt anyone’s feelings.
“I never had the intention to hurt anybody outside, in my normal life … and that’s something I have to live with,” he told fans.
