Welp, that was quite a ride, wasn’t it? On Wednesday night, not only did Big Brother name yet another seasonal champion — but host Julie Chen also addressed the rampant racism and sexism that plagued the reality show all summer long. First, though, the program narrowed down its final three to a final two. After winning the first part of the three-part final Head of Household competition, Michie got to sit out part two, meaning it came down to Nicole and Holly in a mental and physical battle. Unfortunately for former, she came up three minutes short, which basically ended her game. Granted, she campaigned as best she could. But she simply stood no chance against the Season 21 showmance. In the end, she lost to Michie by one question. This is where things got interesting… Before revealing the winner — but after the vote to keep things as fair as possible with a sequestered jury — Chen brought out the evicted HouseGuests who’d already gone home. And who therefore were able to watch how the season played out. What followed was actually sort of interesting: candid conversation about perceived racism and sexism in the house, led mostly by Jack, Jackson, Christie and Nick. Jack offered up what sounded like a sincere apology to Kemi after she called out all four and hoped they would grow as people form this incident. Also addressed on the finale? That moment when Gr8ful barred Nicole from the Head of the Household room while they were trash-talking her and her game (thanks to Isabella’s duplicity), which many — including Ovi and Nicole — saw as a bullying moment. “I was very frustrated [in that moment],” Nicole confessed, adding: “I’m a very big advocate for being an upstander, don’t be a bystander, and a lot of people in that room were bystanders and they were part of it. And I wasn’t even allowed in the room to advocate for myself or defend myself, or shut it down. “They just locked me out and continued to have their little funfest.” Now, on to the winner and the jury deliberations… Those in charge of the season’s fate called out Michie for his more aggressive and potentially damaging social game, while also laying into Holly for her under-the-radar strategy. In the end, Michie was rewarded for his bold playing style — although he didn’t exactly jump up and down upon winning. “I did it for my family,” he told Chen. “I did it for my mom and I did it for my dad. And at the end of the day, what matters more to me than the half a million is that they’re proud of me. I just hope that everything’s alright.” Later on, talking to Entertainment Weekly, Michie spoke openly about accusations of racism and sexism against him. “I know who I am and I know who I’m not, and I respect women more than anything,” he told EW, continuing as follows; “I’m very abrasive and I have a lot of energy and passion in everything I say and do. And I’m that way toward everyone. “And is it right? No. I know that I need to work on it and tone it down in a lot of areas, but I don’t see race or gender or anyone when I’m having a conversation. “And if someone upsets me, they upset me the same way that a guy would.” It’s very silly, of course, for anyone to say he doesn’t “see race or gender.” That’s just dumb. It’s fine to see race or gender. It’s a good thing! Just be respectful of people’s differences. “I’m an only child and I’m a mama’s boy at heart and I love my mom to death, but I know who I am and I know not. And I truly do respect women,” Michie concluded. “I hate that someone may think that out there.”
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Big Brother Crowns Winner, Addresses Racism and Sexism and Other Terrible Stuff
