Big Brother 27: “She Was Spreading Lies” – Zae Speaks Out on Rachel Reilly Drama

In an exclusive post-eviction interview with Parade, Big Brother 27 houseguest Isaiah “Zae” Frederich opened up about his headline-making confrontation with veteran player Rachel Reilly—shedding light on the strategic reasons behind one of Week 1’s most explosive moments.

Not Just Personal — Zae Says It Was Strategy

Zae clarified that his clash with Rachel wasn’t born out of personal animosity, but rather a calculated response to what he saw as manipulative gameplay.

“She was spreading lies,” Zae explained, referring to Rachel allegedly telling Keanu that Zae was planning to target him—something Zae firmly denies. “That wasn’t true, and I had to clear the air.”

Read More: Big Brother 27 Week 2 Secret Powers Emerge, Threaten Jimmy’s HoH Control

Feeling cornered and placed in a dangerous narrative early on, Zae said he chose to confront Rachel publicly so the house could see through what he called “expanded truths” and outright misinformation.

“It made her more of a target.… It kind of painted a target on our back because we called her out for it and we told the whole house that she was lying.”

Zae’s Game Was on the Line

With Zae already on the block during the first-ever “BB Blockbuster” twist of the season, he knew he had little room to play a quiet game. Rather than remain passive, Zae embraced an aggressive strategy—owning his position and pushing back against narratives that could send him home.

He told Parade that calling Rachel out was part of controlling his own storyline in the house, hoping it would resonate with other players and reveal Rachel as a threat rather than himself.

The Fallout — And an Unexpected Shift

While the move didn’t save Zae—who was evicted in a 9–5 vote—he believes the confrontation may have shifted suspicion onto Rachel in the long term.

“Standing up for myself meant people finally saw what was going on,” Zae explained. “And I think it worked, even if I didn’t stay.”

Context & Controversy

Zae’s time in the house wasn’t without controversy. His heated interaction with Rachel included an ableist slur, for which he later issued a public apology, stating he regretted it “as soon as I said it.”

Still, the core of his defense remains centered on game integrity and house dynamics, not personal grudges.

What It Means for Rachel

With Zae out of the game but his accusations still echoing, Rachel’s credibility may take a hit moving forward—especially as new powers, alliances, and rivalries emerge in Week 2. The question remains: did Zae’s parting move set the stage for Rachel’s downfall, or will she use her experience to survive the heat?

Big Brother 27 continues to deliver tension and twists, and Zae’s eviction leaves a ripple effect that could shape the coming weeks. Whether viewers see him as a hero or a firestarter, Zae made sure he didn’t go down quietly.