‘Big Brother’ Producers Were Surprised by the ‘Ferociously Territorial’ Backlash Against ‘Survivor’ Stars

The arrival of Survivor stars Dee Valladares and Rick Devens on Big Brother 28 sparked an unexpectedly fierce reaction from some longtime fans and former contestants, revealing just how protective parts of the Big Brother community can be of their franchise. Even the show’s executive producers were caught off guard by the intensity of the backlash, particularly as Dee and Devens began making their mark on the competition.

For a reality television franchise that has welcomed contestants from other shows before, the reaction raised an intriguing question: Why did some fans seem so determined to keep the Survivor players from winning?

The controversy went beyond ordinary disagreements over strategy or individual houseguests. A significant number of viewers — along with former Big Brother contestants — appeared to oppose Dee and Devens largely because of their previous experience on another reality competition.

And as the two Survivor veterans gained momentum, the resistance became increasingly noticeable.

‘This Is Our Kingdom’: Why Some ‘Big Brother’ Veterans Resented the Crossover

Big Brother has always inspired passionate debate. In Season 28, as in previous seasons, viewers could find supporters and critics of virtually every houseguest across social media.

But this time, something different was happening. Some fans and former contestants were not simply criticizing Dee and Devens for their gameplay. They seemed uncomfortable with the idea of Survivor players entering the Big Brother house and potentially taking control of the game.

For certain members of the Big Brother community, the issue appeared to be about protecting the identity and prestige of their own franchise.

Former Big Brother legends Danielle Reyes and Britney Haynes expressed that sentiment during a midseason interview with Page Six.

“If you’re Big Brother alumni, we do not want them to win,” Danielle explained. “We want to see them play the game, but we don’t want them to win because that’s our kingdom.”

She acknowledged that the crossover also touched on a long-running debate among reality television fans: Which competition is harder, Big Brother or Survivor?

Watching contestants from one franchise potentially conquer the other made that rivalry feel more personal.

Britney agreed, pointing to the historical significance of Dee potentially winning both shows.

“Winning both shows, which Dee the potential to do, that is something that has never been done,” she said. “So of course, there’s that piece of you that wants the Big Brother person to be the first one to do it.”

For these longtime players, the prospect of a Survivor contestant winning Big Brother was not merely another possible outcome. It represented a chance for an outsider to claim a distinction that many believed should belong to a Big Brother veteran.

James Gunn Reveals Just How Many People Were Rooting Against Dee and Devens

The territorial attitude was not limited to former contestants.

Celebrity Big Brother fan James Gunn brought the tension into the open when he appeared onstage with Big Brother Unlocked hosts Taylor Hale and Derrick Levasseur, both former winners of the franchise. After watching an episode unfold backstage, Gunn shared what he had noticed among the people around him.

“I’m in a room of people who are really rooting against Rick and Dee,” he revealed.

His observation offered another indication that the resistance to the two Survivor veterans extended beyond a small group of vocal critics online.

Even host Julie Chen Moonves appeared to take a playful jab at Devens early in the season. In comments to Entertainment Weekly, she mocked his initial approach to the competition, declaring: “This ain’t Survivor, honey. This here, Big Brother.”

The remark captured the central tension surrounding the crossover: Dee and Devens might have arrived with impressive reputations, but they were now playing a different game, under a different set of rules, in a house that longtime fans considered their own territory.

Why Was Cirie Fields Welcomed When She Joined ‘Big Brother’?

The intensity of the reaction was particularly surprising because Big Brother had already welcomed a major Survivor personality without generating the same level of controversy.

Three years earlier, Cirie Fields made history by becoming the first Survivor contestant to compete on Big Brother. She entered Season 25 alongside her son, Jared, and ultimately finished in fifth place.

Her appearance followed earlier crossovers in the opposite direction, when Big Brother contestants Hayden Moss and Caleb “Beast Mode Cowboy” Reynolds went on to compete on Survivor.

Cirie was embraced by much of the Big Brother community and proved herself a formidable competitor. Her season also included memorable moments involving fellow houseguest Felicia Cannon, who famously farted and trimmed her toenails on Cirie’s bed.

Given that history, the negative reaction to Dee and Devens was difficult to overlook.

Was the difference that two Survivor contestants entered the house together this time? Did their growing influence on the game fuel resentment? Or did the advantages they received during Season 28 contribute to the backlash?

The reaction may have reflected a combination of factors, but the contrast with Cirie’s experience was striking. Whatever the explanation, some longtime fans and former players appeared far more protective of Big Brother this season.

‘That Was a Surprise’: Producers Admit They Underestimated the Backlash

Executive producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan were surprised by the strength of the reaction.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Grodner acknowledged that the rivalry between the two franchises had created a sense of ownership among former contestants that the production team had not fully anticipated.

“That was a surprise for sure,” Grodner said. “Everyone has their tribe, right? It’s like the UCLA versus USC kind of idea. We’re all under the CBS banner and it’s all part of the same family, but there’s definitely a territorial thing that happens. And I don’t think we realized how important that would be to our alumni.”

Her comparison to the rivalry between UCLA and USC captured the underlying dynamic. Although both shows operate under the same network umbrella, their communities can still develop fierce loyalties to their respective franchises.

For some former Big Brother contestants, seeing two Survivor veterans compete — and potentially dominate — appeared to challenge that sense of identity.

Meehan, however, said he viewed Dee and Devens differently. Rather than seeing them as outsiders invading the Big Brother house, he regarded them as contestants who had earned their place in the competition.

“I think our previous houseguests, they wanted to have their Big Brother flag — you know, like, ‘This is a Big Brother show!’ But I always just saw [Dee and Devens] as houseguests. Once they were on our show, they were just houseguests. And look, they were really good ones.”

His comments suggested that the production team had approached the casting decision with a straightforward goal: finding people who could succeed in Big Brother, regardless of where they had competed previously.

Producers Were Looking for Great ‘Big Brother’ Players, Not Just ‘Survivor’ Legends

Meehan explained that Dee and Devens were selected because the producers believed they had the qualities needed to thrive in the Big Brother environment.

Their reputations on Survivor were certainly impressive, but their previous achievements were not the only consideration.

“When we were thinking of who we wanted to bring on, it was always about who would be a great Big Brother player,” Meehan explained.

“So yes, they have their Survivor legacy and they’re amazing Survivor players, but we’re like, ‘Well, who’s actually gonna be good at this game and who has the personality and the ability to endure three months?’”

The distinction is important. Success on Survivor does not automatically guarantee success on Big Brother, where contestants must navigate a different social environment and remain in the house for an extended period.

By Meehan’s account, the producers were interested in whether Dee and Devens possessed the competitive instincts, personalities and resilience necessary to make an impact in their new surroundings.

Their previous experience was part of their appeal, but the casting decision was ultimately about their potential as Big Brother houseguests.

Angela Murray Had No Problem Welcoming the ‘Survivor’ Stars

Not everyone inside the Big Brother community shared the territorial attitude.

Angela Murray, a devoted Survivor fan who competed alongside Dee and Devens, was enthusiastic about having the two veterans in the house.

Grodner specifically pointed to Angela as an example of someone who did not view the crossover as a threat.

“Angela didn’t feel that way in the house,” Grodner said. “She became part of that group, and she never really saw it that way.”

Angela’s response offered a contrast to the resistance expressed by some former contestants and fans. While others appeared concerned about protecting Big Brother’s identity, she was willing to embrace the newcomers and compete alongside them.

For Grodner, the difference highlighted how strongly the reaction depended on individual perspectives and loyalties.

Still, the producers could not ignore the intensity of the response from some of the franchise’s most devoted alumni.

“I was surprised that our alumni really became very ferociously territorial,” Grodner admitted.

Rick Devens’ Victory May Have Made the Rivalry Even More Complicated

The controversy took on an additional dimension after Devens went on to win Big Brother 28 and the America’s Favorite Houseguest fan vote.

His double success meant that a Survivor veteran did not simply make a strong impression on the competition. He ultimately claimed the season’s top prize and another major show of audience support.

For those who had been rooting against the crossover contestants, the outcome may have been particularly difficult to accept.

For the producers, however, the result reinforced the distinction Meehan had emphasized from the beginning: Dee and Devens were not simply Survivor players visiting another franchise. They were contestants who had entered the Big Brother house and competed for the same prize as everyone else.

The larger question now is whether the reaction will influence how fans and former players respond to future crossovers.

Both franchises have built devoted communities, and that loyalty is part of what makes reality television so compelling. But when pride in one show turns into resistance toward contestants from another, it can also expose the boundaries fans draw around their favorite competitions.

As Grodner’s comments make clear, even the people behind Big Brother did not fully anticipate how fiercely some alumni would defend their franchise.

And with Rick Devens having won both the game and America’s Favorite Houseguest, the debate over who truly belongs in the Big Brother house may be far from over.