Big Brother season 27 premiered on July 10 with a 90-minute episode. During the premiere, season 13 winner Rachel Reilly was unmasked as the "mystery Houseguest" who would be joining the contestants in Hotel Mystère. In July 2025, Chen Moonves told Entertainment Weekly that "people should be afraid of [Reilly] and of getting in her crosshairs."

"I have learned that I can show my personal side," Chen Moonves shares about what she's learned about hosting over the past two and a half decades. She has "really evolved" from a strictly news personality to the often playful host that fans see today.

Janelle Pierzina and Rachel Reilly tease Big Brother fans with hints about the mystery houseguest in season 27

Heading into the second week of Big Brother 27, Zae Frederich had just been evicted by a 9-5 vote over Amy Bingham. That decision left 16 players in the game, including returning winner Rachel Reilly, a self-described queen whose wish came true to figuratively " behead " Zae for coming after her.

Big Brother 27's first live eviction saw this houseguest get strategically blindsided by the Queen of Big Brother, Rachel Reilly, in a stunning vote.