‘Big Brother 17’: Jeff Weldon Says He Was Cast With Jackie Ibarra For Ratings

Jeff Weldon was a surprise addition to the Big Brother 17 cast, and he was the third houseguest to be evicted. His Amazing Race partner, Jackie Ibarra, is still in the house, and so far appears to be on no one’s list of big game threats. Responding to a question from the Hollywood Reporter, Weldon revealed why he thinks CBS chose Jeff and Jackie to round out the BB17 cast instead of any other duo.

Jeff said that in his Amazing Race exit interviews, he admitted it was “geography” keeping him and Jackie from forming a more permanent relationship. CBS, Weldon asserts, wanted to see where Jeff and Jackie would go if placed in the close proximity of the Big Brother house. He agreed with the suggestion he was there to rebuild his relationship with Jackie.

“Yeah, and I think that’s what America wanted. They really liked and enjoyed watching Jackie and I form a relationship. It was definitely in the best interest for CBS to do, but also America wanted to see something like that.”

When asked if that was “best interest for CBS in terms of ratings,” Weldon answered, “Yeah, absolutely.”

His advice for Jackie is to lay low and up her social game. Weldon told THR she needs to be less of a floater because the floaters will eventually go home.

“[S]he does need to really step it up. Her social game is awful, I don’t even think there is a social game at this point.”

Weldon was somewhat controversial during his time in the Big Brother 17 house, with outside media reporting he made an uncouth advance against fellow housemate Liz Nolan. When asked about that alleged incident by Big Brother Network, Weldon said it didn’t happen.

“I was repulsed by even the idea of it. I’m not that guy. That would not occur ever in my world.”

Weldon said Big Brother is a more complex game than The Amazing Race and harder to win.

His feelings about Austin Matelson, who also flirted with Liz inside the house, were clear in the THR interview. Hearing that Austin has a girlfriend outside of the house, Weldon said it was a “red flag” about his “terrible character.”

Although Austin is still in the house, Liz, who has been playing the game with her twin Julia, voted for Jeff to stay. It remains to be seen how Liz and Julia’s relationship with Austin will play out if they survive five evictions and earn the right to both enter the house.

Big Brother 17 airs three nights a week, Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, on CBS.

[Photos: CBS]