‘Big Brother 26’s’ Matt: I ‘absolutely’ forgive Angela
Matt Hardeman was only in the “Big Brother 26” house for one week, but was it a memorable one. He was the target of Angela‘s 10-minute rant, in which she called him “Crazy Eyes,” before being her renom. After losing the AI Arena to Kimo, Matt remained on the block with his best pal Kenney and became the season’s first evictee with an 8-3 vote on Thursday.
The entire Angela situation “affected everything,” Matt tells Gold Derby (watch above). “When things get personal, it’s hard. That ‘Crazy Eyes’ comment was hard … considering my heritage, my ethnicity. Attacking someone’s physical appearance is hard. To be on the side of that was difficult. It affected my game up and down. It put me in a situation where if anyone thought that was wrong, I would hope they would fight for me to be there just to show that they don’t approve that as right. Later in the game, I did think it was kind of unfair to look at the game. It was a lot more than that. I would’ve never done it. I couldn’t have ever done it.”
More from GoldDerby
'Big Brother 26's' Lisa on her eviction: 'Shellshocked is an understatement'
'Big Brother 26' spoilers: The Week 3 HOH doesn't know who to nominate for the third spot
Lisa Weintraub ('Big Brother 26') exit interview: Angela 'has been bullying me since the beginning'
SEE ‘Big Brother 26’ episode 5 recap: Matt evicted
Angela and Matt talked things out inside the house, and the 25-year-old has said multiple times that he’s forgiven her, including in his final speech. And that wasn’t just a plea for votes — he “absolutely” means it.
“You will never hear a moment where I’m talking or communicating about it where you will hear any different. If I do, I deserve the attack and criticism of all of BB nation. Because that will never happen,” Matt says. “In light of exiting the house and hearing about what’s happening on our country, we have gotta move forward with a better message than hate and anger. We have to. We have no other choice. And even in our situation … I will always forgive Angela. And whether she thinks that she needs it or wants to accept it or ever wants to hear that out and also ask for forgiveness as well, I can control what Matt can control. I’m mature in my life to understand that. The rhetoric has always been ‘I forgive Angela’ and it always will be.”
PREDICT Who will win ‘Big Brother’?
Be sure to make your predictions to influence our reality TV racetrack odds. You can keep changing your predictions until just before the eviction episode airs live on CBS. You’ll compete to win a $100 Amazon gift card and a spot on our “BB26” leaderboard. See our contest rules and sound off with other fans in our reality TV forum. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.
Best of GoldDerby
Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.