McKenzie Manbeck has no regrets about the decision that cost her the win “Big Brother 26.”
During Sunday’s finale, the 22-year-old construction project manager won the final title of Head of Household and decided to oust Cam Sullivan-Brown. Chelsea Baham – who defeated Manbek in a unanimous jury vote in the final two.
Manbeck spoke exclusively with The Post about dealing with the backlash to his decision to take Baham to the end, how he felt about Baham’s final speech, getting no jury votes and more.
New York Post, I know you’ve been asked regularly about your decision to take Chelsea. What has been frustrating to explain? He?
mckenzie manbeck: I would like to thank you for asking this question because yes, it is hard to get through this and constantly have to explain to everyone that I do not regret my decision, that I am happy with the outcome and that no one will understand it. Unless you’re in my situation, really. I can say whatever I want, no matter how many times, in any way, and people will still judge me based on it and not understand. And that’s okay because they don’t have to understand it or like it because they weren’t there to create it and they don’t have the experience to know why that is.
So I played a game that I stayed true to. It’s a true testament to who I am, what player I was, and what kind of person I will be outside of this house and what I wanted to highlight. And yes, I’m tired of asking that question, but I know it’s a question that will continue to be asked? Possibly for years. Like, ‘You remember when you picked Chelsea? Why did you do this?’ You know, because I could and because I wanted to and I don’t have to explain it all the time. deal with it.
We were two great people, two great players and both deserved to win. And one did an amazing job and she won. And I’m incredibly proud of that. And you know what? I will hold on to it because I chose it to be there. I knew she could beat me and I was not afraid of her.
Are you able to talk to the jury about why none of them voted for you to win?
I chatted very briefly with Quinn, and it was more or less the fact that she believed Chelsea was a master manipulator and used me a lot and I was naive to it. Then, people will only know what they have been told. And Chelsea did a great job of painting that picture, did a great job with the jury questions. And I did a terrible job of portraying the fact that that’s not true. But at the same time, I’m the only one who really knows what my mind and my heart think. The decisions I made and why. And I have no problem with it. To show me and make me think that I have played the game well, I don’t need other people’s validation and votes because all I know and all I have is me and my own thoughts. . I know I played a good game.
How did you like Chelsea’s speech, where she took credit for some of your moves?, Which includes getting rid of Leah?
I think he believed it. And perhaps it was because we were so close personally that she felt I would not have made this decision without her influence. I wasn’t upset that he tried to make that claim. I was upset that at that moment when I looked back I realized how it was viewed. But it does paint a picture of the move Chelsea have taken.
No one could make me do this. There was no one in my heart and mind. Did I talk to Chelsea about this? Yep, because guess who I was working with? Chelsea. So I’m going to listen to him. Absolutely. Because I wasn’t just playing for myself. I was playing for both of us to reach the end. And that’s exactly what I did, that is, I brought both of us to the end. And if she wants to claim him, so be it. We can look at this in different ways. agree to disagree.
And how is your relationship with Leah now, given that she didn’t vote for you to win?
Great, I believe. She knows I thought it was a game and she knows I love her no matter what. And I’m sure our friendship will last a lifetime and I can’t wait to see it grow outside the ‘Big Brother’ house.
