In the latest episode of Reality Derby, Gold Derby’s weekly dive into the chaotic world of reality TV, senior editors Marcus James Dixon and Denton Davidson sat down with Big Brother 27 evictee Mickey Lee for an exclusive post-eviction interview. The 35-year-old event curator from Atlanta was sent packing in a 6-1 vote against Ashley Hollis on Thursday’s episode, following a strategic nomination by Head of Household Keanu Soto. With her journey in the Big Brother house abruptly ended, Mickey opened up about her gameplay, her regrets, and a surprising revelation: not a single houseguest has reached out to her allies Morgan Pope and Vince Panaro since her exit. Warning: Big Brother 27 spoilers ahead!
Despite her eviction, Mickey remains unshaken. “I’m feeling as confident as ever,” she told Gold Derby. Stepping into the Big Brother house as a first-time player, Mickey faced the challenge of navigating a cutthroat game without the safety net of prior experience or study guides. “I went into that house by myself and had to finagle and figure out all these things while being disconnected from everything I’ve known and loved for my entire life,” she said. “For a first-time player, I think I did fairly decent. For that, I am proud.”
Mickey sensed her fate shifting in the house weeks before her eviction. “I didn’t do a lot of investigating,” she admitted. “I was going to let fate take its course. That was a prayer I prayed: ‘Hey, God, whatever you see fit for me, let it be.’” Whispers and subtle changes in the house dynamics hinted at trouble, but Mickey chose to embrace the outcome. “I anticipated myself being evicted first into jury, but I think I prefer it this way. I get to go out and live my life a little bit before coming back for finale.”
Post-eviction, Mickey learned about the secretive Judges alliance, composed of Ashley Hollis, Morgan Pope, Vince Panaro, Rachel Reilly, and Will Williams. The revelation didn’t entirely shock her. “The signs were there,” she reflected. Had she won the Block Buster competition, Mickey believes she could have disrupted the alliance’s plans. “Eliminating one of them would have shaken it up,” she said. “They would have had to change their trajectory.”
One regret lingers: her decision during the week Morgan was on the block alongside Rylie Jeffries. “My gut was telling me to let Morgan go,” Mickey confessed. “If I had done that, it probably would have allowed me a few extra weeks in the house.” Instead, her loyalty to Morgan kept her in the game, a choice that may have sealed her own fate.
When asked about rumors that she threw the Block Buster competition to Vince, Mickey clarified her intentions. “That was supposed to be the goal because I didn’t want to vote out Ashley,” she explained. While she didn’t fully throw the competition, she admitted to holding back. “Did I go as hard as I normally would? No, I didn’t. I let up just a little bit, but I tried.” Her decision stemmed from her personal connection to Ashley, despite their occasional misalignment in the game.
Mickey wasn’t surprised when Keanu nominated her alongside Vince and Morgan. “Let’s be honest—Keanu has been trying to get me and Morgan out since Week 2,” she said. “He definitely had a great HOH.” She acknowledged Keanu’s move as a smart one, recognizing her own strength as a competitor. “I was someone that could have won my way through a few more weeks. Getting me out was a good move for him.”
One of Mickey’s boldest moves came in Week 4 when she stole Rylie’s HOH, leading to the nominations of Keanu, Rylie, and Kelley Jorgensen, and ultimately the backdoor eviction of Jimmy Heagerty. Reflecting on the decision, Mickey explained that Jimmy was at the heart of much of the house’s drama. “A lot of the things attaching me to drama in that house were including Jimmy,” she said. “He was at the center of most of my feuds, and a lot of people who wanted to put me on the block were influenced by things Jimmy had said or not said.”
Despite their close bond, Mickey noticed inconsistencies in Jimmy’s loyalty. “Jimmy swore down for a Final 3 alliance, but he had a lot of Final 3 alliances in the house,” she revealed. “When it came to debunking rumors about me and Morgan, he never did that.” In hindsight, Mickey wishes she had confronted Jimmy more directly, but by the time he was on the block, the votes were already set.
Mickey was an early favorite to win Big Brother 27, but she sensed her grip on the game slipping around Week 5. “Things felt off,” she admitted. “My social battery started dying very quickly. That’s something you have to have control over. I wasn’t giving it my all in regards to those conversations I needed to have.” Isolated and struggling to connect, Mickey found herself on an island, a turning point that marked the beginning of her downfall.
When asked if she regretted winning HOH, Mickey didn’t hesitate. “Honestly, yes,” she said. The power move painted a target on her back, and she believes she might have lasted longer had she stayed under the radar.
Mickey’s relationship with Big Brother veteran Rachel Reilly was a roller-coaster. Initially intimidated by Rachel’s status as a previous winner, Mickey grew to respect her. “I was a fan of her,” she said. “I wanted her to go into jury.” However, their dynamic soured over time. “The only time Rachel liked me was when I was praising her or speaking highly of her with no attention on me,” Mickey revealed. “When I had any moments of shine for myself, that’s when she wasn’t a fan of me.”
Mickey struggled with Rachel’s behavior, which she found “not very nice and kind of rude.” She noted, “She kept saying she didn’t want to be portrayed as that person, but what she told me and what I was seeing from her were very similar to the same people.”
One of the most intriguing developments in the house was the tight bond between Morgan and Vince, which Mickey described as a “five-minute hug” partnership. “I don’t know what’s going on with that,” she said with a laugh. “It seems like something that will last for a very long time. Whatever it is they’re trying to do or figuring out—I can see it’s very solid.”
Mickey’s early alliance with Morgan faded as Morgan gravitated toward Vince. “I don’t think Morgan was ever truly for me,” Mickey admitted. “She saw greatness in me. In Week 1 or 2, people saw me as a winner. She tried to attach herself to greatness. I was disposable.” The shift marked a significant turning point, leaving Mickey isolated as Vince—whom she dubbed “Vinny The Lip”—charmed his way through the house.
Perhaps the most shocking revelation came when Mickey shared that not a single houseguest has reached out to Morgan and Vince since her eviction. “It’s been radio silence,” she said, hinting at a potential fracture in the house dynamics. Whether this isolation is strategic or personal remains unclear, but it underscores the cutthroat nature of the game and the precarious position Morgan and Vince now face.
Had she survived the block, Mickey had a clear Week 9 plan: win HOH and target Keanu, Kelley, and potentially Rachel. As for who’s in the best position to win, Mickey pointed to Will Williams. “He is under the radar, and no one’s looking at him,” she said. “I think he’s going to turn it up a notch.” When asked who she’d like to see win, Mickey rooted for the underdogs: “I would be OK with Will winning, for sure. At this point? Maybe even Kelley.”
Mickey’s Big Brother 27 journey may have ended, but her reflections reveal a player who fought hard, trusted her instincts, and left with her head held high. As the game continues, the chilling silence surrounding Morgan and Vince hints at more drama to come. Stay tuned to Reality Derby for the latest updates on Big Brother 27 and beyond!