Rachel Reilly was eliminated from Big Brother Season 27 during Week 9 as a result of the Mastermind twist, a puzzle-based chain challenge that evicted her. CBS did not air its usual Sunday episode due to the MTV VMA Awards broadcast. The news broke over the weekend when live feeds returned and fans noticed Rachel was missing from the house. Her portrait on the Memory Wall was grayed out (via Parade).
As part of the Week 9 Mastermind twist, houseguests were transported to an off-site location, White Locust Resort. According to Big Brother: Unlocked, houseguests would arrive at the resort and face an elimination. The players faced an individual timed puzzle challenge. Once one houseguest completed the puzzle, they were tasked with choosing the next competitor.
If the chosen houseguest couldn’t finish the puzzle faster than the previous person, they were immediately evicted. Rachel was selected near the end. She failed to complete the puzzle fast enough, resulting in an automatic elimination.
Can The Judges’ Alliance Be Blamed for Rachel’s Elimination?
While the Mastermind twist sealed Rachel’s fate, the choices made by her own alliance, the Judges, may have contributed to her downfall.
Ava Pearl, a key ally, had the chance to pick Rachel early, potentially giving her a better time slot. Instead, she passed the challenge to someone else, starting a chain of selections that excluded Rachel from early safety.
Vince Panaro, another Judges’ member, also bypassed the opportunity. He chose Lauren Domingue, a player from the opposing side, rather than a fellow Judge. Lauren completed her puzzle and continued the chain on the other side of the house.
Rachel was selected second-to-last when nearly all remaining competitors were from the opposing group. Her failure to complete the puzzle fast enough led her directly to the jury house and eviction. Morgan Pope didn’t compete in this puzzle.
Season 13 winner, Rachel Reilly, was one of the most controversial houseguests this season, drawing criticism from both fans and houseguests. However, many of Rachel’s fans criticized the twist and Rachel’s alliance for their strategic failures.
Apparently, she had to go despite never being nominated for elimination in season 27. However, to learn the details of whether she is in the jury house or could return, we have to wait for Tuesday’s episode.
Who Won Week 9 HOH and Veto in Big Brother Season 27?
Lauren Domingue won Head of Household for the second time this season. Her victory was aided by Vince’s choice during the Mastermind chain. It allowed her to compete early and avoid risk.
Lauren nominated Morgan Pope, Ashley Hollis, and Will Williams for eviction. Morgan was her apparent target, under the assumption that she benefited from Rachel’s loss; Morgan was last in the chain and didn’t have to compete.
However, Morgan flipped the script by winning the Week 9 Power of Veto, saving herself from the block for the second time this season. This might force Lauren to rethink her strategy heading into the vote.
| Show Name | Big Brother Season 27 |
| Current Week | Week 9 |
| Evicted | Rachel Reilly |
| Week 9 HOH | Lauren Domingue |
| Week 9 Veto | Morgan Pope |
| Streaming Platform | Paramount+ |
Rachel Reilly’s elimination was one of the most surprising moments of Big Brother Season 27. As for the unpredictable nature of the show, you never know what happens in the BB house. For now, the audience must wait for the next episode to learn the full truth.
Was this a brilliant twist or a major misstep by production? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Big Brother Season 27 airs on CBS, and the episodes can be streamed on Paramount+ (US).
