Zach Cornell’s Final Exit from Big Brother 27 Ends With a Head-Slap From Julie Chen Moonves — And He’s Not Mad
Avery Sinclair here, your favorite cynic with a side of sarcasm and zero patience for manufactured drama. Oh, this should be *good*. Because nothing says “emotional farewell” like getting smacked upside the head by the woman who’s been narrating your downfall for weeks. Yes, that’s right — Zach Cornell, marketing manager, self-proclaimed “prayer podcast co-host,” and now former houseguest of Big Brother 27, just became the latest contestant to receive the infamous Julie Chen Moonves head-slap. And unlike most people who’d flinch at such a move, Cornell? He’s actually… okay with it. In fact, he’s calling it “iconic.”
Let’s unpack this. After being voted off the game with an unused secret power — yes, you read that right — Cornell was greeted by Julie Chen Moonves herself at the exit door. And instead of a warm handshake or a tearful goodbye, she delivered a firm smack with her notecards. Classic. The kind of moment that would’ve made Marcellas Reynolds proud (and possibly still haunted). This isn’t even new — Chen Moonves has done this before, back in Season 3 when Marcellas didn’t use his Power of Veto. But somehow, this time around, it feels less like punishment and more like a callback to reality TV’s most bizarre traditions.
Cornell, ever the smooth talker with a side of spiritual sincerity, didn’t flinch. Instead, he leaned into the absurdity. “I can be the first ‘Big Brother’ player to ever say that I saved Julie on day one, but then also got smacked upside the head by her in my final day leaving,” he told The New York Post. That’s not just a line — that’s a full-blown narrative arc. Save the host on Day 1? How exactly? Was it a prayer? A whispered blessing during the live feed? We may never know. But what we do know is that he’s clearly trying to spin this moment as a sign of divine favor rather than a slap from a woman who’s seen more betrayals than a Shakespearean tragedy.
And let’s not forget the real drama: Cornell had a secret power — $10,000 he could give to the Head of Household to remove himself from the block. But he chose not to use it. Why? Because he feared his ally Morgan Pope would be the replacement nominee. So he rolled the dice, betting on unity. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work. He was evicted anyway. Now, in hindsight, he admits he should’ve used the power — especially since Rachel Reilly, the HOH at the time, likely would’ve nominated him. “That’s a perfect reason to use the power,” he said, with the calm confidence only someone who’s already been eliminated can afford.
But here’s where things get interesting. Despite the loss, Cornell still has nothing but praise for Pope. “She was fighting tooth and nail for me that final week,” he said. “She was one of the first people to actually have deep conversations with me.” Deep conversations? In a game built on manipulation and betrayal? Sure. Let’s go with that. Maybe they discussed faith. Or maybe they just agreed to stay silent about each other’s lies. Either way, he’s giving her “flowers.” Which, honestly, is more than most players get after being voted out.
So what’s the takeaway? That Julie Chen Moonves still holds power — literally — over contestants long after they leave the house. That emotional exits are just another form of performance art. And that sometimes, the biggest lesson isn’t about strategy, but about accepting a head-slap with grace. Or at least pretending to.
And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and The New York Post
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