Rick Devens Addresses 'Big Brother' Alums' Lack of Support Following Season 28 Win

Rick Devens, winner of "Big Brother 28," has responded to the perceived lack of support from established "Big Brother" players, attributing it to his "Survivor" background. Devens, who previously competed on "Survivor," acknowledged that he wouldn't want a "Big Brother" contestant to win his original show, understanding the territorial sentiment.

"Good for them," Devens told Page Six. "Before all this happened… I know ‘BB’ players have come on ‘Survivor,’ but I wouldn’t want them winning a ‘Survivor’ game. That makes them look like they’re better than we are.'"

Devens, 42, became the first "Survivor" player to win "Big Brother" on Thursday, securing six out of seven jury votes against Taylor Brown. He also won the America's Favorite Houseguest prize, totaling $810,000 in winnings.

He noted that "Survivor" players have found success on "Big Brother" in the past, referencing Dee Valladares and Cirie Fields. "Dee and I both did pretty well. Cirie did pretty good too," he said. "So, I understand where they’re coming from."

During the "Big Brother 28" season, "Big Brother" alumni Danielle Reyes and Britney Haynes had publicly stated they were rooting against Devens and Valladares due to their "Survivor" ties. Reyes, a player from "Big Brother" seasons 3 and 7, described it as an "inner frenemy" dynamic between the two shows, questioning which is the more challenging game.

Haynes, who competed in "Big Brother" seasons 12 and 14, echoed this sentiment, noting the "somewhat of a rivalry" and the desire for a "Big Brother" player to be the first to win both shows.

Devens pushed back against accusations from the jury and Brown that his "Survivor" background gave him an unfair advantage. He pointed out that the "Survivor" trio – himself, Valladares, and Angela Murray – were outnumbered by the other contestants. "It’s like, you guys outnumber us 14 to three. We were safe the first week. There’s 11 weeks after that. You could have gotten us out basically any time that you were able to get power," he stated.

He explained that he and Valladares formed an alliance because they "wanted to rep" for "Survivor." Devens praised Valladares's "killer instinct" and their complementary play styles, along with Murray's contribution.

"They were a ton of fun to work. We made up less than 20 percent of the house and I’m surprised they weren’t coming for us harder than they were," Devens added.

Devens expressed his pride in joining the "Big Brother" family. "I cannot believe I’m a ‘BB’ winner. I still have not wrapped my mind around that."