Big Brother 28‘s Lyric Medeiros saw the writing on the wall. She’d been saying since Day 1 that if Haley Thogmartin ever grabbed HOH, she was toast — so when Haley slid her onto the block as a renom, it wasn’t much of a surprise. On Day 31, the house sent her home in an 8-3 vote over Melody Morris, because Lyric had comp wins on her résumé and Melody didn’t. Easy call.
Lyric’s still not over it. “I was up last night and I was thinking about who I would put up on the block,” she tells Gold Derby, less than 24 hours after walking out the door. “I’m like, ‘Girl, you’re not there anymore.'”
The block she fantasized about included Drew Campbell and Barrett Pfeiffer, the two players she suspects are quietly attached to the six-person alliance she believes has been running the house all summer. And the news that La Trice “Lala“ Verrett had just won the Wall comp has her openly rooting for chaos.
Below, Lyric breaks down her whirlwind Day 2 showmance with Rome Seymour, finds out on camera that her house big brother Jason De Puy is a RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Star with a very famous best friend, and mounts a defense of her shower habits.
Gold Derby: Lyric, it’s not even been 24 hours, but you had a night out of the house. How are you feeling now that you’ve had a little time to decompress?
Lyric Medeiros: I’m feeling grateful, but I was also up last night and I was thinking about who I would put up on the block. I’m like, “Girl, you’re not there anymore. Get over it.”
You told Julie that you’d put Drew and Barrett on the block. And for people watching on the outside — this has looked very easy for Dee Valladares, Rick Devens, and Angela Murray. People you’d think would have a huge target. Why are they skating by so easily?
I think people are scared to put them up. I think a lot of people in the house know that there’s a bigger alliance and that for sure the six people are working together — Chuk [Anyanwu], Haley, and Kamu [Kirk], and also Dee, Devens, and Angela. I had a feeling that Drew and Barrett were in on it as well. So I think they’re getting along just fine because they’re in that bigger alliance, and the people in the alliance have been winning HOH.
The minute that someone wins HOH who’s not in that alliance, we’ll see what happens. Because I know Lala won HOH — I just heard — and I’m buzzing, because I hope that she puts up Devens. I hope she puts up Dee. And she’s probably not going to put up Angela because they got really close this last week, but I secretly hope she puts up Angela. They’ve been cruising too long and it’s time that they take a seat on the block.
Haley’s a little shaken in her boots about La Trice as well, but La Trice is close to Chuk, so it could be very interesting. Talk about your confrontation with Haley, where she basically said, “I don’t want you in my alliance if you’re going to turn on yours like that.” What was it like combating with Haley throughout her HOH?
You know what? It’s OK. I knew from the beginning, and I said this from the beginning — if Haley wins HOH, I’m screwed. I’m going on that block. I think we got close as people in that game, but we never specifically talked game because we knew that we’d probably put each other up. So I got to know her as a person. I think she’s badass. I think she’s very resilient. Hearing her story about her heart surgery, that was a significant moment for our relationship. I feel so honored that she felt comfortable to tell me that.
But in terms of game, we kind of knew that we would put each other up. She took it as a trust exercise to put me up as a renom. But everyone knows in Big Brother, if you can put someone up on the block, they’re not your ally. That’s someone who’s OK with seeing you go home. So when she put me up as a renom, it just confirmed that she’s OK with me going home.
She might think that she’s controlling the vote this week, but I always knew in the back of my head — if you have a competitor versus people who haven’t won competitions yet, the person who’s won competitions is going home. The house has a chance to get them out. Why wouldn’t they get them out early? So I kind of mentally prepared myself for it.
Let’s go back to the beginning. You and Rome were in a showmance by Day 2. What were you thinking? And talk about that instant chemistry.
My mom was probably thinking, “Lyric, what are you doing?” Because she told me coming in, she’s like, “Don’t get into showmances. Don’t do it, girl. It’s not worth it.” And what did I do? I saw this gorgeous man with muscles and beautiful eyes. And I’m like, “So Mom, change of plans.”
Rome from the beginning was a gentleman to me, and he made it clear that he wanted to be with me. When I got slimed, he was the first person to bring me a towel. He made me a burger one of the nights. He always [pulled out] my chair for me. But that first day we had a conversation at the kitchen table about our families, because I knew if I’m going to get into anything with anyone, they need to have the same values as me. That’s my mistake in the past.
I was like, “Do you value family?” He’s like, “Yes, my parents have been together for over 30 years.” I’m like, “Mine have been together for over 28 years. Shut up.” And from that moment on, it was kind of just two magnets. Whenever we were in the room, we were staring at each other. I was like, “This feels like high school.” I’m a little schoolgirl drooling over this gorgeous man who literally is looking at me too. Sparks flew. They flew fast.
And when you’re in a house like Big Brother, one day feels like a week. One week feels like a month. You spend every moment together. You brush your teeth together. You get so close. Also, in this game, when everyone is out to get each other, when you find that one person who makes you feel safe, who makes you feel like you’re at home because you can’t talk to family, who makes you feel protected — you hold onto them tight. And that’s exactly what I did with Rome.
One of the most significant moments for our relationship in that house was after Ashley was nominated. I got emotional about home. I started thinking about my mom and I broke down. Rome came into the pod room and he held me like a baby. He looked at me and he said, “Lyric, I’m not leaving until you feel better, until you stop crying.” In that moment I was like, “This is someone that I can see myself with, because this is someone who’s not going to leave my side when I’m in my lowest moments.”
We were also have-nots together, which I wouldn’t have been able to make it through without him. He kept me warm. I was freezing and he gave his blanket to me and he cuddled me every single night. A true gentleman and a class act, and someone that I’m literally dying about and could cry about right now, because I want to talk to him so bad.
You haven’t gotten to talk to him yet. But if he catches this before you get your phone back — what’s the perfect date he should have prepared for when you get out?
He should be in Hawaii already. I hope he’s in Hawaii already waiting for me and we can go to the beach together. That would be a dream come true for me. Literally a dream come true.
Who’s the messiest person in the house to live with?
A lot of people just leave their dishes out and about. So whoever’s doing that. I’ll tell you who isn’t the messiest person — Yash [Patel] and Chuk have really good hygiene habits. They both put on cologne all the time. They all smell good. Kamu takes very good care of himself too, very clean.
I remember Rome told me my hair was stinky when I asked him. I was like, “Oh, should I wash my hair tonight? It’s been two days. Is it kind of oily?” And he was like, “Yeah.” I’m like, “Oh my gosh, appreciate the honesty, but be nice.”
You’ve admitted to peeing in the shower. Defend yourself.
I think everyone pees in the shower. But geez, I didn’t realize it was such an issue. I peed once in the shower, and I soaped my body off afterwards, and I stayed in the shower, and I think I washed my hair afterwards. So there was a lot of water flow and a lot of soap going on. I think it really just washed away, to be honest. And I also wear shower shoes. I know that maybe other people don’t wear shower shoes — but it washed away, I promise.
We’ve seen clips circulating of you singing with your dad, Glenn Medeiros. Who’s your dream duet?
Oh my gosh, my heart. My dad will always be my dream duet. It’s one of the best ways that we bond. When I was in the house, in the little moments where I could sing, I would, because that makes me feel connected to my family and it makes me feel at ease. So my dream duet is probably still my dad. I love him so much, and I miss him, and I hope I made him proud.
Talk about meeting Jason in the house. And has it been revealed to you that he’s in fact not just a drag queen, but a RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Star? He’s an iconic drag queen — one of the reality TV icons secretly embedded in that house who people didn’t know about. And his best friend in real life is Frankie Grande.
Oh my God. Are you joking?
I’m serious. So what do you think about him hiding all of that from you and the house?
You know what? I knew this. I knew this, because he was telling me he was friends with certain people and influencers, and he was doing work with these people and music videos and stuff. And I’m like, “Jason, you’ve been on TV shows too. You’re famous. You have a huge résumé.” But I never expected that. Best friends with Frankie Grande? Are you freaking joking?
No, he did a great job. Jason told me from the beginning that I was like his baby sister, so I knew he was going to protect me in the game. I freaking loved Jason. I loved him so much. And he had some serious courage to out everyone in their game when his back was up against the wall. I’m just so grateful to have known him, to love him.
Who are you rooting for in this game that’s left? Who are you hoping can make it to the end?
Yash, without question. I am rooting that he wins this whole thing. I love Yash through and through. He made me feel safe in the house when Rome left. He’s funny. He’s in a good position with everyone in the house. I don’t know what alliances he’s in, but I’m sure he’s in some. He was up on the block Week 1 and has absolutely bounced back. I hope he wins the whole thing.
And who do you think is playing the best game right now?
I would probably say Yash. Or — I don’t want to say it, but I think Devens is trying to lay low right now. And I think Dee is right in the middle and she’s trying not to win competitions to put a target on her back. They already have targets on their backs from being on Survivor. Honestly, I think they’re in a good position. But I hope Lala puts them up.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
