Big Brother’s Rylie Jeffries: Mother Stands by His Relationship with Katherine

Big Brother contestant Rylie Jeffries’s mother is stepping up to defend his relationship with fellow housemate Katherine Woodman amidst fan worries.

“He’s not some obsessive stalker-type person like some are suggesting,” Rylie’s mother, Michelle Jeffries, shared with TMZ on Wednesday, August 20. “He has a big heart and expresses it openly.”

The romance between the professional bull rider and Katherine has been a significant topic throughout season 27 of the popular reality series. Initially, many viewers saw Rylie and Katherine’s connection as wholesome, but concerns about the intensity of his feelings have emerged in recent episodes.

Michelle indicated that her son was merely being “over the top on TV,” noting that the house guests have very little to occupy their time each day.

“They’re confined in a house without TV, radios, or phones,” she remarked. “They’re developing personal connections that we can’t fully grasp.”

Michelle characterized Rylie as someone who loves “deeply” with his “whole heart,” and expressed her support for his new relationship.

“If Rylie’s happy, we’re happy, and that’s what matters to me,” she clarified, adding, “If she’s not happy, they will figure that out by themselves. Their relationship is theirs to manage.”

Katherine’s father opted not to comment on the relationship when approached by the outlet.

Many Big Brother fans have highlighted unsettling moments from the show’s live streams, where Rylie appeared to exhibit possessive behavior towards Katherine.

“I’m going to be with you, outside of this, whether you like it or not,” he insisted in one scene.

When Katherine suggested they could end their relationship inside the Big Brother house, Rylie responded: “We’re not going to? Why would you even say that? … I don’t think about things like that. You need to stop dwelling on such thoughts.”

Later, Rylie declared he was going to “marry” Katherine after their time on Big Brother ended, to which she simply replied: “Okay.”

When Katherine speculated that Rylie’s feelings might be “a manifestation,” he corrected her, asserting they were “a promise.”

“I get to wake up next to you forever,” he stated in another moment.

Big Brother’s passionate fanbase has voiced their concerns throughout the season, with some even calling for Rylie to be removed from the show.

“Rylie is nothing but love bombing and making passive-aggressive remarks to Katherine as if she has no say in anything. It’s alarming and upsetting,” one viewer expressed via X.

Another viewer stated: “Until Katherine comes out and clearly says she likes Rylie and feels comfortable with his behavior, I will defend her against him.”

“Rylie’s ongoing behavior towards Katherine is becoming increasingly disturbing, and the fact that production gives him a hero edit while portraying his relationship with Katherine as romantic is appalling. They need to issue a warning or expel him,” a third fan demanded.

Big Brother host Julie Chen Moonves has previously expressed her support for the “showmance,” describing Rylie and Katherine’s bond as “adorable.”

“I appreciate that they got to know each other as friends first and showed that their feelings are more significant than the game,” she told Entertainment Weekly on August 8. “Rylie was prepared to jeopardize his game for Katherine.”

A separate controversy arose when Rylie entered the Big Brother house in July, as a former partner accused him of abandoning her while she was pregnant to compete in the CBS reality show. Rylie’s mother, Michelle, asserted that he is willing to take a paternity test, although the family has “no reason to believe” Rylie is the biological father.

“[Rylie will be] extremely upset and mortified by the claim,” Michelle stated.

Big Brother airs on CBS on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can watch live feeds from the house anytime on Paramount+.