Big Brother’s Keanu Praised as a Role Model After AFP Win

As the glitter settled and the congratulatory embraces for Big Brother 27 champion Ashley Hollis faded away, the program was left with one last honor to bestow—though there was little suspense surrounding America’s Favorite Player.

Keanu Soto emerged victorious in this category, pocketing the substantial $50,000 award by garnering an impressive 65 percent of the public vote. Following the live finale on September 28, Keanu, 33, shared a poignant interaction with an audience member that may shed light on his undeniable appeal to viewers.

“One woman in the crowd mentioned that it was refreshing to have a role model on the show for her son,” he told Us Weekly in an exclusive statement. “That meant a lot to me. I entered the competition aiming for the grand $750,000 prize, but I firmly believed that compromising my values wasn’t worth the gamble.”

While Keanu struggled to identify a single defining moment that cemented his fan-favorite status, there were numerous episodes both on-screen and for live streamers that resonated. The unifying theme? Keanu remained authentically true to himself throughout the experience.

“Perhaps it was how I supported [runner-up] Vince [Panaro] when he broke down emotionally,” Keanu speculated. “I tried to show him that being vulnerable is part of being human.”

The dynamic between Keanu and Vince, 34, was heavily scrutinized during the show, particularly given Keanu’s repeated attempts to remain loyal despite Vince’s consistent betrayals. Even after every setback, Keanu found the resolve to motivate Vince, encouraging him to embrace audacity and take ownership of his decisions.

Such an attitude, however, sometimes led to humorously chaotic exchanges, including a memorable moment with Jimmy Heagerty. When this 25-year-old contestant unleashed a barrage of witty retorts aimed at Keanu, the latter replied with a feather-light jab, asking, “Did it take you long to come up with that?”

Keanu recounted feeling increasingly frustrated when other contestants began to view him as deceitful, culminating in a now-infamous address where he threatened to eliminate the houseguests incrementally—“one by one.”

“In hindsight, I perhaps should have dialed it back a notch,” he admitted. “That might have fostered a stronger social game to begin with rather than feel like I was constantly on the defensive.”

Interestingly, Keanu ventured into the house without the fervor of a Big Brother aficionado but made a commendable effort to grasp the intricacies of the game as he progressed. A critical element contributing to his widespread popularity was his intriguing rapport with Big Brother icon Rachel Reilly. Although it can be argued that his failure to heed her counsel regarding Vince may have been his Achilles’ heel, Keanu acknowledges that he derived substantial insights from observing Rachel, 40, in action.

“She imparted numerous lessons through direct communication, but I gained far more by simply watching her gameplay,” Keanu reflected. “Her methodology during her Head of Household reign, including her initial selection of Mickey [Lee], Morgan [Pope], and Vince, showcased a masterclass in social dynamics—even if it ended up with Riley [Jeffries] being the target, she captivated them completely by the week’s conclusion.”