In a candid interview, Zach Cornell shares his feelings about his recent eviction from Big Brother 27, discussing the shock of betrayal and his game strategy.
Zach Cornell Reflects on His Big Brother Eviction
The following interview contains Big Brother 27 spoilers. Read at your own risk!
Zach Cornell expresses that he is still in shock over his eviction during Thursday night’s episode of Big Brother. The 27-year-old marketing manager from Cartersville, Ga., was evicted 8-2 against Vince Panaro after being placed on the block by someone he considered an ally — Ava Pearl.
“I’m numb. That’s the best way I can describe it,” he tells Gold Derby. “I was there for 38 days, focused on game strategy, improving relationships, and finding moments for myself. I even dreamt last night that I was still in the Big Brother house.”
The Shock of Betrayal
The week took a turn for Zach when Ava’s unexpected nominations were announced. “She promised me she wouldn’t put me up,” he recalls. “I saved Ava in Week 1 by giving her immunity as a Have-Not. We shared a strong game relationship, voted the same way, and had deep conversations. When someone gives me their word, I trust them. It was a shell shock, but I thought I would be safe this week. I believed I was just a pawn.”
Despite his eviction, he maintains, “I love that girl.” He adds humorously, “I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my life, but I will share a cigarette with Ava Pearl because she means that much to me. She has a great heart and has blossomed into a beautiful butterfly while retaining her New York flavor.”
Game Strategy and Regrets
Zach explains that the reason he didn’t use his secret power to save himself was not just about protecting Morgan Pope. “I genuinely thought I was safe,” he admits. “Nobody indicated I was going home. My plan was to win the Veto, give it to Vince, and then use the power on myself. I believed Morgan would be the only one from our alliance on the block, and we would be fine. Clearly, I played too selflessly and ended up facing the competition beast, Keanu Soto, in the BB Block Buster.”
“If Keanu had been up against either Vince or me, we would have been fine,” he continues. “There was only one path this week that could lead to my eviction, and unfortunately, that was the path I took.”
Final Thoughts
Read on for our full interview with Zach.
Gold Derby: Were you hopeful right up to the moment host Julie Chen Moonves announced your eviction?
Zach Cornell: I knew there was a group of four deciding between me and Vince. I remained hopeful, but Ashley Hollis warned me that morning, “I don’t think you have the votes anymore.” At that moment, I realized I had to win this Block Buster. When I hugged people before my final speech, they were telling me, “Good job,” so the writing was on the wall.
What was it like to be smacked in the head by Julie?
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Well, I can say I’m one of the few to have that experience. It was a high-risk, high-reward situation — or high-risk, high-stupidity, depending on how you look at it. But I thought if I made it through this week with Vince, our alliance would be solid. I love Julie, and my parents do too. I saved her on Day 1, so I got the full experience with her — from saving her in Week 1 to getting smacked upside the head at the end.
Future Predictions
Rachel is the new HOH. Who’s in trouble?
Vince, Morgan, and Mickey Lee are likely to be the nominees. It depends on who Rachel wants to backdoor. I suspect it might be Vince, but if Mickey stays in the game, she could win it all. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rachel backdoors Mickey. I’m eager to see how it unfolds.
Since your exit, Vince approached Rachel about being backdoored, and she replied, “I love how you think you’re a big enough threat to backdoor.”
That’s iconic. Rachel is amazing. It felt like she was on her own island, grasping for straws. But that’s the beauty of Big Brother. You put someone in the HOH spot, and everything changes. I respect Rachel immensely; she was one of the reasons I would have backdoored her if I had won HOH. She has the power to flip the house upside down, and as a fan of Big Brother, I will definitely be tuning in this week.
Who is in the best position to win right now?
Mickey. She has influence over everyone but does it in a way that’s not devious, unlike Vince. She comes off as a nurturing figure, which gives her a lot of sway. However, with Rachel as HOH, she could flip the house again, and Mickey might be in danger. If Mickey survives this week, she will be in the best position.
Who do you want to win?
I’m rooting for Vince, Morgan, Mickey, Lauren, or Will. Those are the five I hope will win. It’s crazy that three of them might end up on the block, so we’ll see what happens.
