Big Brother has a storied history filled with unexpected twists and turns since it first premiered in 2000. However, the show also has a troubling history of inappropriate behavior and speech, which are often caught on the continuous live feeds. The most recent incident involves Luke Valentine, a 30-year-old illustrator from Coral Springs, Fla., who used a racial slur in front of three other houseguests. As a result, CBS has made the decision to remove him from the game. In a statement, CBS and the producers of Big Brother emphasized that using racial slurs goes against the code of conduct, and there is zero tolerance for such behavior in the Big Brother house. Viewers can expect Luke’s departure to be addressed in Thursday night’s episode.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning when Luke found himself in a room with Cory Wurtenberger, Hisam Goueli, and Jared Fields. Luke uttered the offensive word while describing his location in the house, but he quickly realized his mistake. Cory and Hisam remained silent while Jared off-camera responded with laughter, saying, “You’re off the ledge.” After Cory and Hisam left the room, Luke revealed to Jared that Cory seemed more upset about the incident than him, downplaying the severity of his slip of the tongue. Jared, who is Black, responded nonchalantly, though it is unclear if he was genuinely unaffected or simply trying to maintain his relationship with Luke in the game. Luke eventually acknowledged the potential consequences of his actions, admitting, “Well, I’m in trouble now,” and mentioning that he had been in worse situations in the past.
It should be noted that problematic speech and behavior are not unique to Big Brother. However, what sets this show apart is the 24/7 live feeds that capture every moment on camera, making controversy more likely. While this continuous coverage contributes to the unique experience of Big Brother and enhances fan engagement, it also exposes the contestants and their words to scrutiny. In Big Brother Canada’s latest season, the live feeds were eliminated, but Taylor Hale, the most recent winner of the U.S. edition of the show, defended the decision to keep them. She explained that the live feeds functioned as a safety net for her and allowed the true nature of events to be revealed. Taylor emphasized that the live feeds provide transparency and help dispel misperceptions, stating, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and to me, the live feeds are the sun.”
Unfortunately, Luke Valentine’s journey on Big Brother has come to an end as a consequence of his inappropriate language. Stay updated with the latest TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews, and more by signing up for Entertainment Weekly’s free daily newsletter.