Luke Valentine - BIG BROTHER SEASON 25.Photo:Sonja Flemming/CBS
Sonja Flemming/CBS
Big Brotheris addressing the eviction of houseguestLuke Valentineafter he was caught using the n-word on a Paramount+ live feed.
During Thursday’s episode of the CBS reality show, hostJulie Chen Moonvesbrought up Valentine’s exit, saying the cast learned their fellow houseguest had been evicted the night prior.
“It was an emotional 24 hours in theBig Brotherhouse as the houseguests learned that one of their own broke theBig BrotherCode of Conduct and was removed from the game,” she said, before the exact moment where Valentine said the racial slur was shown.
After the moment, Fields told cameras: “My reaction in the moment, being the only Black male in this house, I don’t know what to say. Anything I do or say can come off aggressive.” He later told Valentine, “That should’ve made you feel uncomfortable. Like, whoa, bro, what’d you just say?”
But Fields also appeared to laugh it off with Valentine as they discussed how Wurtenberger and Goueli left the room after he used the slur. “They just don’t know how to handle that, which is so funny to me. In situations that should be uncomfortable for a Black man, White people get more uncomfortable,” he said.
“Bro, I’m in trouble now,” Valentine joked as the duo continued laughing over the matter.
Later, Valentine was called to a separate room downstairs, where he was seemingly informed of his eviction. (Cameras were not inside the room for the moment.) Shortly after, houseguest Reilly Smedley informed the rest of the cast that Valentine had been “removed from the house” after he violated the Code of Conduct for using a racial slur.
“[He] will no longer be participating in theBig Brothergame,” Smedley added. “The game goes on and the live vote and eviction will go on as scheduled.”
Red Utley, Hisam Goueli, Cory Wurtrnberger, Matt Klotz, Jag Bains, Cameron Harding, Jared Fields and Luke Valentine.CBS
CBS
Goueli then denied hearing the slur, while Fields told the group, “Listen, I respect exactly what you’re saying, Cory, but considering what the situation was, it’s not fair to try to have this as a family convo. I’ve had friends like Luke in the past. It’s really weird to try to have that conversation. That’s why I didn’t tell anybody. I don’t associate ignorance with malice. Whether Luke meant it in that way or not, it was rules and regulations and we were told clearly before walking into this house.”
“It’s hard to help people understand where you’re coming from, especially being the only Black man in this house,” he added. “With that being said, Luke, I wish you the best, bro. I really do hope it was a learning situation for you.”
The response comes one day after CBS andBig Brother’s producers confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE that Valentine had been removed from the series following the incident.
“Luke violated the Big Brother code of conduct and there is zero tolerance in the house for using a racial slur. He has been removed from the house," the statement read, confirming that it would be addressed on Thursday’s episode of the reality series.
Valentine was caughtusing the n-wordon Paramount+’s live feeds on Wednesday. The moment eventuallywent viraland led to fans and viewers calling for Valentine’s removal on social media.
“Production should remove Luke. Set an example. Show current and future players that language like that will not be tolerated,”tweetedAndy Herren, who wonBig Brotherin season 15. “Hoping they actually do the right thing and address Luke’s comment. The way it so casually came out of his mouth is really upsetting.”
Big Brotherseason 21 competitor Kat Dunnwrote, “Big Brother needs to expel Luke, it’s just how it is. At this point, keeping him in the house would be a slap in the face to every person who has stood up for or tried to change the racist allegations that the show has experienced in the past. We’ve come too far for some random dude to come in and ruin it week 1. #BB25”
That same season, fans slammed the CBS reality show foralleged racist remarks and behaviorafter three contestants of color were eliminated. In a statement to PEOPLE at the time, CBS addressed the backlash and denied that the show’s casting was “racially motivated.”
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Big Brotherairs Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
source: people.com
