Big Brother’s Julie Chen Moonves Defends Kelley Amid Fan Criticism: She ‘Has Become the Dark Horse’

Big Brother host Julie Chen Moonves has an opinion on the state of the Big Brother 27 house — and it’s probably not what fans are expecting.

“I think Kelley [Jorgensen] has become the dark horse,” Chen Moonves, 55, told Entertainment Weekly in an interview published Friday, August 1. “As long as the BB Block Buster exists, she can keep this going. She is good at comps and focused.”

Kelley, 29, has caught the ire of Big Brother fans for volunteering to be nominated for eviction each week of the game so far. In weeks 1 and 3, she won the BB Block Buster competition on eviction night to earn her safety, and in Week 2, was able to win an individual power of veto competition to save her game.

In the Week 3 eviction, which aired Thursday night, July 31, Kelley’s win resulted in Adrian Rocha being evicted in an emotional 8-4 vote. Adrian, 23, is a Big Brother superfan, and on his way out the door, accused his fellow houseguests of playing scared in the game’s early weeks.

Chen Moonves agreed, with one notable exception.

“I think he had the assessment right,” she said. “I do agree that no one but Kelley is taking risks and playing hard.”

Compare that to some of the criticism Kelley has faced from former Big Brother houseguests.

“Im sick I wanted Kelley Gone #bb27,” Big Brother 19 winner Josh Martinez wrote via X after Kelley saved her game on Thursday.

“I think that dummy Kelley will go home tonight,” Big Brother 8 winner Dick Donato added. “And that’s what she gets for volunteering to be on the block. And even dumber thinking volunteering to be on the block would ‘help her resume.’”

“This bish has Happy Gilmore level luck,” wrote Big Brother 20’s Angela “Rockstar” Lantry.

While Chen Moonves defended Kelley, she still had sympathy for Adrian, who told fans before the season about the extensive training he put himself through to prepare for the Big Brother house. That included sleeping on the floor to simulate being a “Have Not,” and building his own version of common competitions in his backyard.

While in the house, he often spoke about how he was playing the game for his family, hoping to win the $750,000 grand prize to help them.

“Everyone knows Adrian is a good kid who loves the game, came to the house for his family and has no enemies,” Chen Moonves said. “They were gutted knowing he was going to get evicted. They didn’t want to hurt him, but it’s the nature of the game.”