Big Brother might have concluded, but the swirling cloud of romance rumors among its ex-contestants is just beginning to form.
During the weekend, Chelsie Baham and Joseph Abdin ignited speculation about their dating status after sharing a selfie adorned with a heart emoji.
At House Chops Los Angeles’ watch party for the Big Brother finale on Sunday, September 28, the two decided to tackle these spicy romance rumors directly.
“I’ve held this secret close for a while. People incessantly ask, ‘Who is Chelsie dating? Is she single? What’s the scoop?’” Chelsie, 28, revealed exclusively to Us Weekly on Sunday. “You might have spotted pictures of me with Joseph from Season 24, so let me clarify: we are definitely not dating.”
However, the triumphant winner of Big Brother Season 26 did assert her single status, playfully suggesting she remains on the lookout for romance. “But here’s the thing — you never know,” she added with a laugh. “Joseph, love you. Call me.”
In a complementary interview during the watch party at Beaches Tropicana in West Hollywood, Joseph, 28, echoed Chelsie’s sentiment, affirming they’re not romantic partners.
“While Chelsie and I capture some great snapshots together, there’s a lot more that goes into forming a relationship. So, at the moment, we’re simply really good friends,” he quipped, adding humorously, “It seems that winning Big Brother comes with an unwarranted image boost when it comes to photos.”
Focusing less on romantic entanglements, Chelsie was busy celebrating another woman’s victory in the Big Brother universe. On Sunday, Ashley Hollis secured the title of winner for Season 27, triumphing 6-1 in the live finale vote, while Vince Panaro was the runner-up and Morgan Pope finished third.
Though Chelsie was “shocked” by the outcome, her enthusiasm for welcoming Ashley into the winner’s circle was palpable.
“I’m sincerely thrilled and honored to pass my crown to yet another Black woman, back-to-back!” she expressed to Us. “This is historic. I’m so proud of Ashley and welcome her into the distinguished group of Black female winners.”
Chelsie will surely cherish the opportunity to sit alongside fellow winner Taylor Hale and congratulate Ashley in person.
“Being able to go and truly hug Ashley and tell her, ‘Welcome, we are so proud,’ is an unforgettable experience. This type of representation in Big Brother is unprecedented,” Chelsie gushed. “What I cherish about this group is that there’s no rivalry. We genuinely celebrate each other’s success. We create space for all of us, especially Ashley. She’s remarkable.”
With the curtains falling on Big Brother, the spotlight now shifts to The Amazing Race. For Season 38, Chelsie teams up with her father, Jack Baham, while Joseph will be partnering with his brother, Adam Abdin.
While fans will be left to wonder about the real longevity of Chelsie and Joseph’s friendship, there’s little doubt that the reality show has not harmed their bond.
“We’re just friends for now, but who knows where this journey might lead us?” Chelsie teasingly commented to Us. “It could morph into a rumor-turned-romance. My heart is free, and my phone is too, Joseph, so feel free to reach out anytime!”
The Amazing Race continues its journey on CBS, airing Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET.
