Tensions inside the Big Brother house are escalating as Drag Race star Salina EsTitties faces possible eviction amid a growing controversy over comments made by fellow contestant Kamuela “Kamu” Kirk.
The first weeks of Big Brother season 28 have already delivered fractured alliances, betrayals and heated confrontations.
Heading into the season’s second eviction, Jason De Puy — best known to RuPaul’s Drag Race audiences as Salina EsTitties — is among the contestants on the block.
De Puy, the first professional drag queen to compete as a houseguest on the US version of Big Brother, was nominated alongside Melody Morris and Lyric Medeiros by Head of Household Rick Devens. After the Power of Veto was used, Rome Seymour replaced Lyric, leaving De Puy, Morris and Seymour facing eviction.
Kamu Kirk’s Comments Spark Backlash
The controversy began after Kirk, a professional mixed martial arts fighter, discussed traditionally feminine clothing with Devens during a conversation captured on the programme’s live feeds.
The pair were talking about housemate Drew Campbell wearing unicorn-themed pyjamas when Devens reportedly asked whether the men were “dressed in women’s clothes”.
Kirk said he had also been invited to wear the pyjamas but declined.
“Bro, miss me with the drag stuff. Miss me. I’m still an MMA guy, and I have an image to uphold,” Kirk said.
The remark quickly circulated across social media, where some viewers interpreted it as suggesting that wearing feminine clothing would damage Kirk’s masculine public image.
Frankie Grande Calls Remarks “Homophobic”
Former Big Brother contestant Frankie Grande, who is a close friend of De Puy, strongly criticised the conversation after seeing the clip online.
“Um. What the f— is this horses—t?! Get these homophobic bigots out of the f—ing house IMMEDIATELY,” Grande wrote.
“Both of them. Ew, this conversation makes me sick to my stomach. I’m disgusted. This better be the biggest thing ever when I wake up tomorrow or I’m flipping a table… f—. Ew. Gross.”
Grande initially condemned both Kirk and Devens but later reconsidered his assessment of the Survivor alumnus, acknowledging that Devens may have been engaging with Kirk for strategic reasons.
“Ok. I concede there is not enough info in the clip to understand Deven’s motivations. Hopefully he was just tapping into Kamu’s energy for game reasons,” Grande wrote.
“Regardless, men behaving in a repulsed or shocked way when a man dresses feminine or in women’s clothing is homophobic. Period.”
Former Contestants Join the Criticism
Grande was not the only Big Brother alumnus to respond.
Jimmy Heagerty, an openly gay strategy consultant who competed on season 27, reportedly described Kirk as “disgusting” and “the opposite of masculinity”.
Other viewers called on former contestants and prominent members of the Big Brother community to address Kirk’s remarks, although relatively few had publicly responded.
The controversy has also renewed debate about whether a contestant simply declining to wear feminine clothing should be considered homophobic.
Some fans argued Kirk was entitled to refuse clothing he did not feel comfortable wearing. Others said his emphasis on protecting his image as an MMA fighter revealed a belief that femininity was embarrassing, inferior or incompatible with masculinity.
Salina EsTitties Remains Unaware of Debate
De Puy remains inside the house and is likely unaware of the argument unfolding among viewers and former contestants.
The controversy comes at a precarious point in the competition, with De Puy facing the possibility of becoming the season’s second evicted houseguest.
CBS has not publicly announced disciplinary action against Kirk. Big Brother representatives were approached for comment following the circulation of his remarks.
