‘Big Brother’ player called out for ‘emotional cheating’ on girlfriend back home
“Big Brother 27” player Vince Panaro is under fire for his cozy dynamic with fellow houseguest Morgan Pope.
Vince, 34, has been open about having a girlfriend of 7 years named Kelsey. But he and Morgan, 33, can often be found sleeping in the same bed and sharing long hugs, complete with back and arm rubbing. “Big Brother” fans have taken note, as have Vince and Morgan’s costars.
“What show are we on? We’re on Cheating Island,” Keanu Soto joked during the Wednesday, Sept. 17, episode of “Big Brother” after one of Vince and Morgan’s particularly long embraces.
“The optics don’t look very good. To me, it looks like emotional cheating,” Keanu said during a confessional. And he’s not the only one who feels that way.
Ava Pearl called Vince and Morgan’s behavior “a little suspicious,” and Kelly Jorgensen said she’d be “pissed” if she were Vince’s girlfriend watching from home.
Even Zingbot, the infamous robot who shows up every season to roast “Big Brother” players, had something to say about the so-called “cheatmance.”
“Morgan, what do you call someone who lights up when Vince answers the room, gives him long, passionate hugs and warm, affectionate cuddles? His girlfriend,” Zingbot said during his visit to the house.
The houseguests all looked stunned and uncomfortable, and Morgan awkwardly walked away and started cutting a pizza. During a subsequent conversation with Vince and Keanu, Morgan said she’s “done everything” to be “respectful” of Vince’s relationship.
“It’d be different if I’m trying to hold his hand or rub his back,” Morgan said.
“You have rubbed his back,” Keanu retorted.
“Whatever,” Morgan replied.
Both Morgan and Vince denied any funny business in confessionals.
“I just hope America doesn’t think that either of us are doing anything unethical. It’s on camera 24/7, so it’s not like I’m trying to do anything sneaky,” Vince said, later adding that his relationship with Morgan is “100 percent platonic.”
“I never once in my mind thought it was like that, ever. Like, literally ever,” Morgan said. “I’m not his girlfriend, I don’t want to be his girlfriend.”
“Big Brother” airs on CBS and Paramount+ on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET. Episodes are available to stream on Paramount+ the day after they air.
