‘Big Brother 26’ exit interview with [SPOILER]: ‘I was gonna win this game,’ and now ‘I’m rooting for everyone’
Warning: this story contains spoilers from the October 3 episode of “Big Brother 26.” Read at your own risk!
Week 11 in the “Big Brother” house ended on Thursday night, with Kimo Apaka being evicted by a 2-to-0 vote over Rubina Bernabe. (Read our minute-by-minute live blog.) The 35-year-old mattress sales representative from Hilo, Hawaii became the 12th houseguest evicted from Season 26 and the fifth member of the jury.
“I was gonna win this game,” Kimo stated while jokingly doing a hair flip during his exit interview with host Julie Chen Moonves. In his opinion, that’s why his fellow houseguests — Chelsie Baham, Cam Sullivan-Brown and Makensy Manbeck — decided to send him to the jury house over Rubina.
He added, “At this point, the numbers are so small. It’s a tough choice either way we go. I am so happy that Rubina stayed and that she’s able to continue on. I’m rooting for her — I’m rooting for everyone.”
When Julie asked whether Cam made a mistake with his vote, Kimo replied, “Of course, hello!” He then clarified, “Everybody is gonna do whatever’s best for their game, and I respect any decision that’s made.”
Kimo theorized that things went wrong for his alliance mid-game because they were all “so visibly tight with each other.” The Hawaiian houseguest explained, “That just became a threat to everyone. We’re a strong trio. But for me, being in this house, I needed people. We all kind of needed people. The target just ended up on us because … friendship.”
Julie brought up Kimo’s older brother, who passed away before he could watch him live out his TV dreams. “I’m so happy that I got this opportunity,” he said while wiping away tears. “Thank you to everyone that allowed this to happen. It meant the world to me. I just know that he was so proud of me doing it in the first place. And how far I got? Like, an island kid? Top 5? Hello, what?!”
He finished his live Q&A by declaring “Big Brother” to be a “wild and incredible experience” and thanking Julie for being someone he could “relate to on television.”
Kimo now joins Quinn Martin, T’kor Clottey, Leah Peters and Angela Murray in the jury house. They will all help decide the winner during the October 13 season finale. Who do YOU think will win “BB26”? Make your “Big Brother” predictions right now!
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