Unveiling Reilly Smedley's Final Words to Matt Klotz: Big Brother 25
Big Brother 25's Matt Klotz spills the beans on what Reilly Smedley whispered to him during the finale night, while also sharing his thoughts on their future together
Matt Klotz from Big Brother 25 and Reilly Smedley didn't have much time to connect on the show, but their blossoming romance may have a chance outside of the competition.
"I'm thrilled. I can't wait to see her. I caught a glimpse of her on the finale night, but it was brief. I'm excited to have conversations with her and see where our relationship goes," revealed Matt, aged 27, in an exclusive interview with We after the live finale on November 9. Matt, who finished as the season's runner-up, also mentioned that Jag Bains, his ally, emerged the winner with a 5-2 vote.
During their reunion on the night of the finale, Matt disclosed that Reilly, aged 24, confided in him a piece of information.
"She whispered in my ear, 'While I was in the BB house, my parents relocated to Georgia,'" shared the Deaflympian, currently residing in Louisiana. "This means we're only three hours apart now. We live closer to each other."
While Matt successfully completed the full 100-day duration in the Big Brother house, Reilly faced eviction and became the second contestant to leave the competition in August. Despite their relatively short time together in the house, both Matt and Reilly quickly developed a strong connection and ignited rumors of a showmance.
Matt Klotz and Reilly Smedley. Sonja Flemming/CBS
“That was 84 days [of] waiting,” Matt told Us of his time in the game without Reilly.
Upon winning his first Head of Household competition in week 13, Matt's fellow houseguests anticipated a letter from one of his parents. Surprisingly, Reilly took the opportunity to write the note instead, even including a photo of herself with Matt's mother. In her message, she expressed how deeply she missed him and how she longed to have these conversations in person, specifically mentioning their shared feelings for each other.
After being evicted in August, Reilly disclosed exclusively to Us that she holds a high regard for Matt, describing him as an incredibly amazing person. She entered the competition without any intentions of pursuing a romantic relationship, but meeting someone like Matt came as a complete surprise.
Matt Klotz and Reilly Smedley, both featured on Instagram, developed a close relationship during the season. Furthermore, Matt established a strong connection with Jag, aged 25, in the initial stages of the show. Notably, in week 4, Matt secured the Power of Invincibility and utilized it to ensure Jag's eviction was reversed. This act solidified their partnership, leading them to form the Minutemen alliance and ultimately secure two spots in the final.
Matt was taken aback by the unexpected questions posed by the jurors, who portrayed him as a proficient deceiver and a mere follower of Jag's actions. "The questions caught me off guard completely, focusing solely on deceit and such," Matt confided to Us, regarding the seven jurors. "I had anticipated a different line of questioning. I was clearly ill-prepared. I tend to rely on improvisation in such situations... And then it dawned on me, 'Alright, they're really criticizing me.'"
He continued, "I believe [Jag] appeared more self-assured on stage. I, on the other hand, am not particularly adept at impromptu speaking... So, it was challenging for me to engage in the jury dialogue. I assumed they were aware of my intentions from the start, hence I didn't anticipate the questions to be too demanding."
Regarding the suggestion that Matt delegated all decision-making to Jag, Matt clarified that it was a deliberate strategy, as Jag served as a capable protector for him.
"Jag always attracted more attention. I purposely made Jag the primary target and relied on him to handle the communication. It was crucial for him to express his thoughts because if both of us were nominated, he would be eliminated before me," he explained. "I allowed him to take the lead. While we both had different opinions, I recognized his ability to voice them effectively, so I let him be the prominent figure while I pursued my own strategy."
Reilly Smedley and Matt Klotz on ‘Big Brother.’ CBS
Matt also addressed the jury’s perception that he was the best liar in the house.
"When I participated in the game, it dawned on me that I possess a talent for deception. I acted clueless, I portrayed that role," he shared. "I didn't enter this competition with the intention of being deceitful. There were certainly dishonest individuals in this house, so I never perceived myself as a liar. I identified more as a trustworthy person within the game. Therefore, when the jury questioned me about my honesty, I found myself at a loss for words because I believed that they were the ones in the jury house due to their dishonesty, not me."
Matt, the first deaf contestant on Big Brother, openly discussed his challenges in understanding the whispered conversations among his housemates, a vital aspect of the game focused on secrecy and manipulation.
"I had to embrace vulnerability in this show, and I believe I succeeded in doing so. I didn't have any desire to conceal anything. My intention was to completely divulge all of my challenges and issues," he shared with Us. "And I believe I accomplished that. Fortunately, I was given the chance to do so over the course of 100 days."
Matt expressed his gratitude for being able to represent the deaf community. "I feel fortunate to have had this opportunity," he stated. "I believe I did a commendable job in both representing well and enjoying the game. I wasn't overly concerned about how I was perceived because I believe being true to myself was sufficient."
