Big Brother’s Zelah Breaks Silence on “Cheating” Allegations, Says He Felt “Shocked” and “Betrayed” After Eviction

Former Big Brother contestant Zelah has finally spoken out about the swirling “cheating” accusations, saying he felt “shocked, upset, and betrayed” after his unexpected eviction from the show last week.

The most recent Big Brother double eviction saw both Farida and Zelah leave the iconic ITV house in what fans described as a “brutal twist.” The elimination followed Caroline’s controversial decision to use her Save and Replace token to remove Tate from nomination — choosing Zelah as his replacement instead (Metro UK).

Although Zelah quickly became a fan favorite during his time on the show, his close bond with fellow housemate Sam sparked rumors that he was being unfaithful to his girlfriend, Francesca, who has been supporting him publicly throughout his reality TV journey (OK! Magazine). Viewers had pointed to their late-night conversations and cuddling as evidence of something more than friendship.

Francesca, however, has repeatedly defended her partner on social media, insisting that Zelah had “not crossed any boundaries” during his stay in the house (Daily Mail).

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Zelah Responds to “Cheating” Accusations

Following his exit, Zelah took to TikTok to directly address fans’ questions about his relationship with Sam — particularly why the two were seen sharing a bed and cuddling shortly before eviction. Sam had previously told Big Brother producers they were “confused” about their feelings toward Zelah, which further fueled speculation (The Mirror).

In the TikTok video, Zelah explained:

“In my relationship, it’s absolutely okay to flirt and cuddle with my friends. Everyone has different boundaries, and that’s completely fine. In your relationship, that might be cheating — but it’s not in mine.”

He added that while he was aware Sam found him attractive, he “did not realize” there were genuine romantic feelings involved, saying he had believed it was simply “flirty banter.”

Zelah went on to explain that he frequently spoke about his girlfriend in the house, describing that as a “clear boundary” that defined the nature of his friendships inside the show.

“I’ve walked away from this experience shocked, upset, and feeling quite betrayed,” he said. “Because I felt like in my entire friendship with Sam, I was always very, very transparent.”

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“It Was Just Debriefing About the Day”

Zelah also clarified the context behind the much-discussed bedtime cuddles.

“That was us debriefing about the day,” he said, explaining that Sam would often get up afterward and return to their own bed.

The former contestant added that he frequently discussed Francesca with other housemates — particularly Nancy, with whom he shared personal stories about learning Italian for his partner.

“Me and Nancy had so many conversations about Francesca,” Zelah said. “It’s genuinely wild to me that as Sam’s friend, this just didn’t seem to come up.”

He speculated that the way certain moments were edited for television may have exaggerated the situation:

“Now I’ve learned how things can be clipped, so maybe she did [talk about it]. I don’t know. But it seems like she was egging on the entire situation.”

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Fans Rally Behind Zelah

Supporters quickly flooded the comments section of his TikTok with messages of encouragement. One user wrote, “It’s so sad that this even has to be justified!” while another added, “All that matters in your relationship is you and Francesca — forget what anyone else thinks.”

Despite the controversy, several entertainment outlets have praised Zelah for his honesty and emotional maturity in handling the situation. Digital Spy noted that the former housemate’s response was “measured and respectful,” contrasting with the online frenzy surrounding the allegations.

As the Big Brother reboot continues to generate intense social media debate, Zelah’s situation highlights how reality TV relationships are often distorted by editing and public speculation — leaving contestants to defend their private boundaries in very public ways (The Guardian).

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Sources:

• OK! Magazine – “Big Brother’s Zelah addresses cheating claims after eviction”

• Metro UK – “Big Brother double eviction shocks fans as Caroline saves Tate”

• The Mirror – “Fans accuse Zelah of cheating with Sam after flirty exchanges”

• Daily Mail – “Zelah’s girlfriend Francesca defends their relationship online”

• Digital Spy – “Zelah responds to rumours with emotional TikTok message”

• The Guardian – “Big Brother reboot reignites debate over reality TV relationships”