"So freaking manipulative" - Big Brother season 26 fans upset with Matt saying he forgives Angela

Big Brother season 26 aired a brand new episode this week on Thursday, July 25, 2024. During the segment, Matt was on the block after being replaced for Lisa as she won the Veto competition.

Angela, whose feud with the male cast member was featured in Wednesday's episode of the CBS show, chose to put Matt on the block in hopes of eliminating him.

After the AI Arena, Kimo was safe, which meant it was done to Kenney and Matt. Before the voting commenced, both houseguests presented their cases as to why they should remain on the show.

During his pitch, Matt recalled his feud with Angela and told her that he forgave her for her actions against him.

Fans of the show reacted to the elimination process and the pitches online. They slammed Matt for stating he forgave Angela. One person wrote on X:

"Matt is so freaking manipulative. He had to get that “I forgive you Angela” even though they both forgave each other days ago #BB26"

"Matt is a condescending little a**hole, omg. “I’ll forgive you everytime.” SIR ITS A GAME YOU DOORKNOB. #bb26," a fan commented.

"matt saying i forgive u to angela wtf ?!! #bb26," a tweet read.

Some season 26 fans sided with Matt for trying to clear the air with Angela:

"Matt gives this heartfelt speech and people are crying. Angela rolls her eyes petulantly. Kinda wish Matt stayed just so ruin her week. #BB26," a person wrote.

"I love Matt he pulled that southern "I forgive you" shade Catch it Fraudgela #BB26," a fan commented.

"Matt gagged Angela idc lmfaooo “I forgive you” period #bb26," a tweet read.

Some Big Brother season 26 fans termed him a "narcissist" for his statement:

"Matt grates my last nerve! This whole victim approach he just tried to pull with that speech is so disgusting and he knows what tf he's doing. Guy's a f*cking narcissist. "I forgive you Angela..whether you ask for it or not" If i were Angela I would've flipped him off #bb26," a person wrote.

"Matt avenging: *unprovoked* I forgive you. Oh you a**hole. #BB26," a fan commented.

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"Before everybody here, I forgive you" - Matt Hardeman addresses Angela in Big Brother season 26 episode 5 speech

In Big Brother season 26 episode 5, Kenney and Matt were up for elimination and were asked to make pitches to save themselves before the houseguests cast their votes.

Kenney thanked his wife and told her she was the most important person in his life. She thanked her for their family and told his four children how much he loved them. He then addressed the Big Brother season 26 cast and told them that he was in a house with a "bunch of unique individuals."

He told them that while he would love to stay in the game and noted that he would always laugh at people for getting emotional and ended his pitch by telling the houseguests they were "awesome."

Matt was up next and the Big Brother season 26 player also started his pitch by addressing his parents. The houseguest also got emotional as he told his parents and brother that he was "alright" despite all that happened in the house.

He told them that he knew who they raised him to be and said that he wasn't straying from it. While addressing the Big Brother season 26 cast, he told them that he was "thankful" for them and the diversity.

He added that despite coming from different backgrounds and places, the one thing they all had in common was wanting "peace" both inside and outside the Big Brother season 26 house.

"I do feel it was the thing that was robbed from us this week. I tried to respond the best that I could, I will continue to do so and I will continue to play this game with character and integrity if given the opportunity," Matt stated.

He added that he knew what he represented and how his parents raised him. He also said he knew the "morals" that he represented. Matt told the season 26 houseguests that he wanted to be in the show and compete with the rest of them.

"Angela, before everybody here, I forgive you, despite if you ask for it or not, I always will, every single time. That's who I want to be," Matt added.

Matt was eliminated from Big Brother season 26 with eight votes against him. After the episode aired, fans of the show took to social media to share their opinion on his speech and were unhappy with the cast member.

Big Brother season 26 airs episodes every Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9 pm ET on CBS.