Welcome to Reality Derby, Gold Derby’s deep dive into all things reality TV, hosted by senior editors Marcus James Dixon and Denton Davidson. Watch the latest episode above.
Haley “Thog” Thogmartin had a very bad week on Big Brother — and she’s owning it. The recently eliminated houseguest reflects on the running joke that followed her throughout the season, explains the sentimental meaning behind her signature flannel shirt, and reacts to Jason De Puy’s drag tribute to her.
The Missouri-based telemedicine executive also reveals why she won’t be sending Kamu Kirk any coconut emojis, ruling out any future romantic relationship. “He’s very good-looking,” she says before admitting she’s keeping him in the “friend” zone. “Anyone he ends up with is going to be incredibly lucky.”
Despite having a close relationship with Angela Murray, whom she calls an “incredible person,” Haley is rooting for someone else to win Season 28: Survivor legend Rick Devens. “He wasn’t scared to make game moves and he was willing to take that risk — even if they were against me,” she confesses.
Read on for our full exit interview with Haley.
Gold Derby: We are here with Haley, who without a doubt had a very bad week on Big Brother. How are you feeling now that it’s several days after your elimination in the Medieval Times twist?
Haley Thogmartin: I’m feeling OK. I feel like I’m kind of getting back on my feet a little bit, just trying to get through a normal routine and a sleep schedule.
You always seem to be having a bad week. There was this running joke on the show every time you mentioned it. Even when your group had power, you mentioned it. Why do you think you just couldn’t find happiness?
It wasn’t any part of the game. It was all just me, mentally, and trying to navigate my own thoughts. I don’t think, personally, I was prepared enough for how hard it was going to be going through it.
It looks like you missed Zingbot by one day. How do you think he would have roasted you?
Probably something about my flannel, or me always having a bad day. Probably something along those lines.
Speaking of your flannel, after Jason was eliminated, he started doing drag as some of the contestants, including you.
He looks beautiful! The flannel was a comfort thing. I’m really, really close to my stepfather. It’s a 3X. It was comfortable. It reminded me of home. It was also really, really cold in the house. And I really only brought a lot of athletic wear and to throw that on over it, I just felt like it was comforting. But it meant a lot to me, because it was somebody in my family.
Were you aware that Jason was part of RuPaul’s Drag Race? He was on two seasons of that show, so he was sort of like the fourth reality icon.
I did not, no. But that’s awesome to hear!
The internet has been calling you Thog, and it even made it into the “Previously on Big Brother” segments. What are your thoughts on that nickname?
It didn’t surprise me. I’ve been called Thog my whole entire life by probably every coach that we’ve had. We’ve had a lot of Haleys, so it was just easier, and it’s easier to say than my entire last name. I’m not mad about it. It kind of reminisces on some of the past.
Unlike Rachel Reilly last year in the White Locust twist, you did not get a chance to say goodbye to your fellow houseguests. What would you have said in an epic exit speech?
I don’t really know if I would’ve given a huge speech. I made some incredible connections in the house and I would’ve loved to give Angela one more hug. I think she iss an incredible person and I keep telling her to keep her light: “You got this, you can do it.” I had a lot of close other friendships in there and I’d just tell them, “You can do it, and you’re strong, you’ve made it this far.” I think it would’ve been a little bit more personal, too, because there’s some incredible people in that house.
Was there any part of you that hoped there’d be a Battle Back where you’d have a chance to return to the game?
Yeah, because I’m a competitor. Obviously, I lost four in a row, but I never gave up. I gave it my all. Definitely, I wish that there was another little twist to it. If you look at it, it was pretty cool, the whole thing — and how [the comp winners] brought people back. Obviously, we were all there for the same reason. There was a prize at the end of it. I was a little bummed that my time was over, and I was hopeful that there might’ve been a little bit more of a twist, but it ended up being really cool.
Would you go back if they invited you to return for an All-Stars season?
I would. I feel like with what I know now, there’s stuff I wish I would’ve done a little bit different. I do think that I would love to come back if I had the opportunity.
When Kamu went out of the game, he said that anyone who’s romantically interested in him should send him two coconut emojis. Are you going to be sending Kamu any emojis?
No, I am not sending him any emojis at all, but he is an incredible friend. [Laughs.]
How many emojis do you think he got? Do you think a lot of people sent him stuff?
Oh, I think he got hundreds, maybe even thousands. But again, he is an incredible guy. Regardless, I mean, he’s very good-looking, but he is incredible. He is a man of his faith. He is a man of his word. Anyone he ends up with is going to be incredibly lucky, but he is an incredible person.
What would your emojis be, and are your DMs open?
I’m not saying anything. [Laughs.] No emojis, no DMs. I really, truly just want to use the rest of the year and focus on what’s next and take all this in and see what happens. But I’m not really looking to date anytime soon.
The Red Corner seemed to be the alliance to beat. Everyone was winning challenges. It was you, Chuk, Kamu, Dee, and Devens. You seem to be running the house and then all of a sudden it exploded. In your opinion, what happened?
Once Chuk and I were on the block, we got to sit back and think, “Wait, it’s literally the icons and us three.” Again, we never truly had this alliance. It was just, we all knew we were good with each other. We were going to still rock with it. At least, that’s how I saw it. But once the vote flipped, it was like, “You know what? It can’t be all six of us at the end.” And I think we kind of noticed and realized it maybe just a little too late.
One of the biggest blowups in the house was when Angela accused you of lying about how she had suggested Dee was the second person to vote out Lyric. Why was that such an emotional moment?
It was emotional because I love Angela. I cannot express enough how amazing that woman is. And so, to see her be that hurt, I was just more upset seeing her that upset, too. I did want to talk. I think I did say, “Do you want to talk outside?” I gave her that chance because I just wanted to give her a hug. I hated seeing her that way, but things happened the way that they did. We were able to talk a couple days after that and we exchanged looks and hugs in between. She’s definitely somebody that I am going to have a really good friendship with outside of this, because she is such an incredible person.
She was very emotional when you left, too. She was in the kitchen and she said something like, “We don’t even get to say goodbye to her. We don’t even get to hug her.”
She would’ve been my first hug! [Laughs.] My first hug and my longest.
I think I know the answer, but who are you personally rooting for to win Season 28?
I want Devens to win. I do.
Oh, that surprises me. I thought you would’ve said maybe Angela.
So, the reason I say Devens is because he has had an incredible social game with everyone and it’s very personal. And for me, personally, I felt safe around him. It felt like he was very comforting, game-wise, personal-wise. So, I see why he has done so well. He wasn’t scared to make game moves and he was willing to take that risk — even if they were against me. I’m rooting for Devens.
We’ll see if he survives. He’s on the block right now.
I know — fingers crossed!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
