Rick Devens is the winner of Big Brother 28, but even he can hardly believe it.
After reaching the end of Survivor twice without claiming the title, Devens finally made it to the top of a reality TV show by defeating Taylor Brown in a 6-1 jury vote during Thursday’s finale. The victory also made him just the second person to win both the main Big Brother title and America’s Favorite Houseguest after Taylor Hale.
In this exclusive Gold Derby Q&A (watch above), Devens reflects on the redemption of his Big Brother victory, the support he received from fellow Survivor players, and the conspiracy theories surrounding the season. He also addresses the live-feed moment when he appeared to say he hated Taylor, and praises director James Gunn for calling him a Big Brother icon.
Rick Devens: [In a newscaster jingle voice] This just in to the Big Brother newsroom: A winner walks among us, and he’s the most unexpected winner you’ve ever seen. From the island of Fiji to the Big Brother house, Rick Devens is the new Big Brother winner. He takes home the Season 28 crown. And believe me when I say he’s as shocked as you are.
Gold Derby: Huge congratulations. What was your first thought when Julie Chen Moonves pulled out that last key and announced you were the winner?
Dude, I could not believe it. It felt like redemption for all the times I’ve come up short on Survivor. I thought I was coming up short on Big Brother several times in the last couple of weeks, and to actually reach the peak of the mountain was absolutely unreal. I was like, “Oh my gosh, I need to hug Taylor. I need to make sure I hold the door open for Taylor. There’s going to be confetti. I wonder if I’m allowed to run to Becca and Jack and Juju.” All these things were flying through my head, but mostly it was just, “Is this real? Did I actually pull it off for once?”
You are actually the second person ever to win the main show and America’s Favorite Houseguest, after Taylor Hale. Unfortunately, she’s not available to congratulate you because she is filming The Traitors right now in the castle in Scotland.
Very nice. I hope she crushes it, because believe me, I know what good company I’m in with the AFP and the Big Brother win. She’s awesome. And listen, I’m no Taylor Hale, Marcus. Everyone knows that. But any time our two circles cross over, I’ll take it.
There are actually two Survivor players in that Traitors castle right now: Michele Fitzgerald and Q Burdette. What are your thoughts on them?
Yes! This is going to be an entertaining season. Q brings entertainment everywhere he goes. Michele is outstanding on The Challenge and on Survivor. Survivor winner Michele Fitzgerald. Heck yeah. I hope that they work with Taylor and there’s some Big Brother–Survivor crossover, because the gamers need to stick together on The Traitors this season. I think those Housewives are dangerous.
A photo of you and Aubry Bracco is making its way around from Survivor 38. You guys are having a good year: she just won Survivor 50, and you just won Big Brother. Do you have a message for Aubry if she’s watching?
Aubry, I love you. I can’t believe we both won. I wish you were here to flip a coin and double the amount of money I won, but that’s OK. Aubry was a huge help when I came on Big Brother. She’s actually one of the few people I confided in that I was coming on the show, and she sent me a list of the different advantages they have. She gave me a lot of advice, great advice that I didn’t take, like lie low and try not to win things early. But Aubry could not have been more helpful. I think she was sending [my wife] Becca stuff all season long about what was happening on the live feeds, although apparently Becca was pretty informed, is the impression that I’m getting here. But no, Aubry, you have been a great friend. I’m still so happy that I was able to vote for you to win Survivor 50. And look at us now. I’m here in part because you helped me get here, so thank you, Aubry.
Speaking of the live feeds, there was a moment earlier in the week where it looked like you mouthed the words, “I hate her,” about Taylor. Do you recall doing that?
I don’t. Do you remember the context of what was going on?
I think you were all around the pool, and it looked like you were telling Drew, “I hate her.” But just to clarify, do you hate her?
No, I don’t hate Taylor at all. I like Taylor very much. She’s a very cool person. That night, she might have been smashing ants and telling me it was my fault that the ants were dying. You saw the live feeds. I think that’s what it was. I think she also told Drew that night that she was intentionally trying to bother me because that was fun for her, and she did. She did. She got under my skin. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s not true. No, I really like Taylor. That was a rough night. We’d been in the game a long time. Taylor and I have a lot of positive moments in the Big Brother house, so I don’t remember saying it, but I shouldn’t have said it. Sorry, Taylor.
There are so many conspiracy theories out there from people who believe the show was rigged for you and the icons. I’m sure you’ve heard this. Can you clarify: Did production give you any inside information, or tell you who to vote out, or was there anything shady going on?
No. I would have loved it. That would have made things a lot easier. But no, I don’t think Big Brother had any reason to rig the show for us. I think this cast was amazing, and any one of them winning would have been a great story. If anything, I think it was pretty rough coming in with just two other icons. I thought it was going to be half the cast from other reality shows and stuff. I’m like, “We’re less than 20% of the cast. They could have gotten us out at any time.” They could have gotten us out in Week 4. They could have gotten us out in Week 5. They could have gotten us out in Week 6. They had a lot of opportunities to get rid of us. I think we just played really hard. We played, I think, really well. And no, everything was above board. I have so much respect now for Big Brother production because they do an amazing job, and they have those tight deadlines. It was interesting to see the differences between Survivor and Big Brother, but they do an amazing job.
One of your biggest fans is director James Gunn. He came onto Big Brother a couple of weeks ago and as a guest on Unlocked, and he told a story about how you were supposed to be on a movie shoot but had to do this instead. He said people keep calling you a Survivor icon, and he wants everyone to know you’re also now a Big Brother icon.
He was out there talking about me? That’s incredible! He was filming in Macon, Ga., where I’m from, and my family went. Christian Hubicki went, and apparently James showed them a great time. I cannot wait to reach out to James. I will go anywhere to visit his next set. I’m a huge fan of his. He could not be nicer to me in every regard. I reached out to him once over DM, and he has just been so nice. I can’t believe he said that. Big Brother icon? I’ll take it all day, every day. Wow.
He was there the episode where you won the Block Buster and saved yourself, and I guess he was very excited and over the moon.
Oh, Marcus, thank you for filling me in. That is too cool.
You’ve been cooped up in the house for all of these months. Besides your family, what did you miss the most about the outside world?
Oh my gosh, movies and TV and everything. I’ve got to see the new Spider-Man. I’ve got to see The Odyssey. A new season of Sugar on Apple TV came out. That show is crazy. There’s so much I want to watch. And now football: I’ve missed four weeks of football. I can’t wait to catch up on that. I missed a lot. Walking the dogs, Marcus. I miss everything.
I know you’re a big fan of Lost. There’s a show you’re going to love. It’s called Widow’s Bay on Apple TV.
I watched the whole first season! Matthew Rhys, unbelievable. The woman in that is maybe my new favorite actress. She’s so good. Kate O’Flynn. And I saw her in an interview, and she’s British. I was like, “She’s an even better actress.” She doesn’t use a British accent on the show. I totally agree with you, Marcus Dixon. Widow’s Bay, incredible TV.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
