Big Brother 26 Champ Chelsie Defends Runner-Up Makensy From ‘Backlash’

Big Brother 26 winner Chelsie Baham has a message for those criticizing runner-up Makensy Manbeck’s decision to take her to the final two.

“We promised to walk out hand in hand, no matter the winner. That … we did. 🔐🤍,” Chelsie, 27, wrote via Instagram on Monday, October 14, one day after she was crowned the winner of the CBS reality series. “No matter the backlash … I love this woman. This game is harder than it seems. MJ handled it with class and ease. … Haters … keep hating. We’re just gonna ride our way to the bank and hold hands along the way. 🏦.”

Chelsie’s comments came as many Big Brother viewers criticized Makensy, 22, for seeming content with losing the game. After winning the final Head of Household competition, Makensy had all the power and could’ve taken Cam Sullivan-Brown to the final two instead of Chelsie.

Given her extensive competition wins, Makensy could have easily won against Cam, 25. She lost unanimously to Chelsie, who won Head of Household four times and was the most strategically dominant player of the season.

While choosing Chelsie over Cam cost Makensy $675,000 — the winner of Big Brother gets a $750K prize while the runner-up gets $75K — she has zero regrets.

“For everyone dying to know … I wouldn’t change a thing I did this season. My decisions in this game are a testament to my character, loyalty and faith,” Makensy wrote via Instagram on Monday. “Some of you may not agree with how I chose to play and that’s okay. The only title I need is comp beast 😉.”

After the finale aired on Sunday, October 13, Makensy exclusively told Us Weekly that she wanted her decisions in the game to reflect her values in the real world.

“I came into this house wanting to be truly authentically myself, show who I am and show that you can play Big Brother in an honest … kind, respectable way, and still get far,” she said. “And that’s exactly what I did. And I was loyal, maybe to a fault, but what I can say is that being loyal to a fault is something that I would lose to any day of the week because it shows who I am and what I value in life. … At the end of the day, it is a game. Yes, $750,000 is a lot of money, and I would’ve loved it. But $75,000 is just enough. And being able to sit there in the final two on day 90 was accomplishment enough.”

Some Big Brother alums praised Makensy for making good on her promise to take Chelsie to the final two. Season 25 champion Jag Bains commented on her recent Instagram post, “SO MUCH RESPECT for you for staying loyal.”

Big Brother 23 runner-up Derek Frazier chimed in, “YOU ARE LOYAL AND IT WAS REFRESHING TO SEE THAT! You are [a] true Gem Queen !!”

Big Brother 15 winner Andy Herren, however, expressed frustration with Makensy’s decision.

“I’m sorry but someone who chooses loyalty over a guaranteed win should never be invited back for another season,” he wrote via X on Sunday. “Such blatant disrespect for the game OFFENDS me!!!!!! #BB26.”

Makensy’s choice was yet another testament to Chelsie’s social game. Not only did Chelsie make it to the final three, but she got there with two allies who both would’ve taken her to the final two despite knowing she was the best player.