Big Brother is honoring former houseguest, Mickey Lee, who died last year.
As the reality show kicked off its 28th season on Thursday, July 9, a photo of Mickey was shown on-screen.
“In loving memory of Mickey Lee (1990 – 2025),” the text next to her image read.
Mickey died on December 25, 2025 after being hospitalized due to multiple cardiac arrests as she battled complications from the flu. She was 35.
“With profound sadness, the family of Mickey Lee announces her transition on Christmas in the early evening,” her family wrote in a statement released via social media on December 26.
“Mickey captured the hearts of audiences nationwide through her appearance on Big Brother, where her authenticity, strength and spirit left a lasting impression on fans and fellow cast members alike,” the statement continued. “She will be remembered for the joy she brought into the lives of so many and for the genuine connections she formed both on and off screen.”
The same day, Big Brother host Julie Chen Moonves, 56, shared her condolences via social media.
“Two months ago I interviewed Mickey Lee on ‘God 101’ That’s when she revealed to me that she was born with a hole in her heart, and as an adult she survived an ATV accident that should have killed her, but God kept her alive,” Julie wrote via Instagram. “Last night God brought her home 🕊️ Rest In Peace dear Mickey. I will see you again on the other side in eternity.”
A week after Mickey’s death, fellow Big Brother alum, Rachel Reilly, reflected on their relationship on the show.
“I think I didn’t even give myself a chance to cry yet and looking back on 2025 and seeing posts of Mickey really has me thinking about how she had such a big impact on so many lives!” Rachel wrote on New Year’s Eve. “I’ve been watching her stories and she was such an incredible woman — she’s touched so many lives and her fabric is woven throughout so many stories- she made an impact in my journey and I’ll always love her for it and never forget that about her.”
She continued, “I remember telling her one day in the HOH she’s part of my heart now and she always will be and I meant that 😍🥲 it’s so hard to lose a friend and especially such a bright light 💕 2025 wouldn’t have been as impactful without the journey I went on with big brother and Mickey 💕.”
Mickey played for 59 days in the Big Brother house in season 27. She was the final houseguest to be evicted prior to the jury phase starting.
Big Brother 28 began with a 90-minute premiere on CBS and Paramount+ on Thursday night. The season will follow new houseguests as they form bonds with strangers and live their day-to-day lives with no access to the outside world.
“This new group of Houseguests is stepping into a summer where nothing is as it seems, where every twist rewrites the rules, and where time becomes the ultimate twist,” CBS teased in a press release.
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