‘Big Brother’ star Makensy Manbeck responds to ‘difficult’ backlash over her gameplay
Makensy Manbeck has no regrets about the decision that cost her the win on “Big Brother 26.”
During Sunday’s finale, the 22-year-old construction project manager won the final Head of Household and decided to evict Cam Sullivan-Brown over Chelsie Baham — who wound up beating Manbeck in a unanimous jury vote in the final two.
Manbeck exclusively spoke to The Post about dealing with the backlash towards her decision to take Baham to the end, how she felt about Baham’s final speech, not receiving any jury votes, and more.
New York Post: I know you’ve been constantly asked about your decision to take Chelsie. Has it been frustrating to have to explain that?
Makensy Manbeck: I will say thank you for asking that question because yes, it is difficult to continually get that and to continually have to explain to everyone that I don’t regret my decision, that I am happy with the outcome and that nobody will understand it truly unless you are in my position. I can say whatever I want, however many times in whatever way, and people will still judge me on it and not get it. And that’s okay because they don’t have to understand it or like it because they weren’t there to make it and they don’t get to know the experience of why.
So I played a game that I stayed true to. It’s a true testament to who I am, the player I was, and just the person I will be outside of this house and what I wanted to be highlighted. And yeah, I am tired of getting that question, but am I aware that that is a question that will continue to be asked? Probably for years down the line. Like, ‘You remember when you chose Chelsie? Why’d you do that?’ You know, because I could and because I wanted to and I don’t have to explain it all the time. Deal with it.
We were both two great people, two great players, and both deserved to win. And one did an amazing job and she won. And I’m incredibly proud of her. And you know what? I will stick to that because I chose her to be there. I knew she could beat me and I wasn’t afraid of that.
Have you been able to talk to the jury about why none of them voted for you to win?
I did chat with Quinn just very briefly, and it was more or less the fact that they believed that Chelsie was a master manipulator and used me a lot and that I was naive to that. Again, people will only know what they’re told. And Chelsie did a great job of painting that picture, a great job in her jury questions. And I did a horrible job of painting the fact that that is not true. But at the same time, I’m the only one that truly knows what my head and my heart thought. The decisions I made and why. And I’m okay with that. I don’t need other people’s validation and votes to show me and make me think that I played a good game because all I know and all I have is myself and my own thoughts. I know that I played a good game.
How did you feel about Chelsie’s speech, where she took credit for some of your moves, including getting rid of Leah?
I think that she did believe that. And maybe that was because we were so close personally that she feels like I would not have made that decision without her influence. I wasn’t upset with the fact that she tried to claim that. I was upset with the fact that in that moment when I looked back, I can see how that was viewed. But it does paint a picture of that Chelsie made that move.
Nobody could have made me do it. Nobody was in my brain or heart. Did I talk about it with Chelsie? Yes, because guess who I was working with? Chelsie. So I’m going to listen to her. Absolutely. Because I wasn’t playing just for myself. I was playing for both of us to get to the end. And that’s exactly what I did, is I got both of us to the end. And if she wants to take claim to that, so be it. We can see it in different ways. Agree to disagree.
And how is your relationship with Leah now, given that she didn’t vote for you to win?
Great, I believe. She knows that I was it was a game and she knows that I love her no matter what. And I do believe that we will have a friendship for a lifetime and I cannot wait to see it grow outside of the ‘Big Brother’ house.
