Vince Panaro on Big Brother 27 finale: ‘I don’t know if I’ve ever been more frustrated in my life’

Vince Panaro came into Big Brother 27 as a physical force, racking up four Head of Household wins and claiming a pivotal BB Block Buster victory. But when it mattered most, his momentum stalled. He fell short in both parts of the final HOH — losing to Morgan Pope in Part 1 and Ashley Hollis in Part 2 — before Ashley cut Morgan and dragged him to the finale. Facing the jury, Vince’s competitive résumé wasn’t enough to overcome questions about his social game and broken promises. He walked away as runner-up in a 6-1 vote, settling for the $75,000 second-place prize.

Read on for our full Q&A with Vince (or watch the video above) as he reflects on his game, what went wrong in the finale, and why the Big Brother house proved to be such an emotional rollercoaster.

Gold Derby: Congratulations on an incredible season. You came up short at the worst moment, but second place is still impressive.

Vince: I tried my best. It’s a high-pressure situation playing that game. I did what I could, and second place it is.

Gold Derby: Why does Big Brother mean so much to you?

I’d been a fan for so long. The show got me through highs and lows in my life, and I loved the live feeds. If I was ever bored or lonely, I’d watch and feel like I had these friends. Finally getting the opportunity was a dream come true.

Gold Derby: Kelley Jorgensen branded you “lyin‘ and cryin’ Vince.” Do you feel you got caught up in too many lies, or was deception just part of the game?

The game moved so fast I almost lost track of what I was saying. I didn’t intend to play a dirty game, but the Block Buster twist made it tricky. You don’t want to tell someone they’re going home if they could win and stay. So yeah, lies came out. I assumed everyone else was lying too, so I just did the best I could.

Gold Derby: Part 2 of the final HOH looked brutal. You had a lead but couldn’t figure out the passcode. What happened?

I don’t know if I’ve ever been more frustrated in my life. I studied the days so much, but I second guessed myself. The gears just stopped turning. It felt like a $750,000 competition, and the pressure got to me. I should’ve kept my composure better.

Gold Derby: Keanu told me if you had cut Morgan, you would’ve had his vote. Would you have taken Ashley or Morgan to the end?

I really don’t know. I thought I’d lose to Morgan if she took me, but maybe I had a chance if I took her, showing loyalty to at least one person. With five HOHs, I thought that could earn respect. But honestly, I was torn.

Gold Derby: Did you underestimate Ashley’s game?

That’s a testament to her. I didn’t know anything about her game because we had little working relationship. When she gave her final speech, my eyes opened. I thought, “Good on you. Great speech.” She’s an excellent speaker.

Gold Derby: You were smirking during her speech. What was going through your mind?

Just that she was good. Credit where it’s due — she spoke very well.

Gold Derby: The jury was tough on you. Did you feel immediately on the defense?

Yeah, for sure. I had a bad feeling I’d get roasted. Ashley had a lot of friends in the jury, and I had former friends I burned. Jury management-wise, I knew I was screwing up relationships in real time. I expected to get grilled.

Gold Derby: Why was this season so emotional for you and the rest of the house?

It’s an alternate reality with life-changing money on the line. I’m an introverted guy, not emotional in my normal life, but in there everything felt extreme. It’s a pressure cooker — you just want to survive another week. I didn’t expect that side of myself to come out.

Gold Derby: There was speculation about you and Morgan, even zinged by Zingbot. Did that affect your game?

I didn’t even know people were talking about it. Everyone was cozy in the house and she was like a best friend to me. She was one of the only people I deeply trusted. Zingbot zinged me twice, but I don’t know if it really mattered.

Gold Derby: After three months locked away, what are you most looking forward to now?

Seeing my friends and family, getting back to normal life, seeing Kelsey — watching football with my parents, visiting my brother, just the regular stuff I left behind before entering the house.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.