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The drama inside the Big Brother house is showing no signs of slowing down, with Matthew and Ryan’s growing clash becoming one of the season’s biggest talking points.
After what viewers have dubbed ‘Maltesergate’, tensions have escalated, with fans accusing Matthew of trying to turn housemates against Ryan. And while a missing snack might not usually cause a house-wide crisis, this is Big Brother, where apparently even the pantry isn’t safe from drama.
Now, speaking to WHO following her eviction, Phoebe has revealed just how much the conflict affected the house, and why Ryan stepped in to support his fellow contestants.
What happened during ‘Maltesergate’?
It all kicked off after Ryan, Austin and Marshy drank a carton of custard in the backyard. Matthew later ate the remaining Maltesers, leaving the empty packet in the fridge before calling a house meeting about the missing snacks.
And so, what could have been a relatively straightforward conversation about who ate what quickly turned into something much bigger.
During the discussion, Matthew spoke about honesty and taking responsibility. Ryan stood up to admit he had been involved in drinking the custard, but Matthew accused him of eating the Maltesers before Ryan could fully explain himself.
Meanwhile, Austin and Marshy, who were also involved in the custard incident, avoided the same confrontation.
The exchange quickly escalated, with Ryan apologising repeatedly as tensions between the pair grew. And while it might have started over a packet of Maltesers, viewers believe there was much more going on beneath the surface.
Big Brother fans accuse Matthew of setting Ryan up
The reaction online has been pretty fierce, with some viewers convinced Matthew deliberately used the Maltesers incident to put Ryan in the firing line.
Many have called for Big Brother to show the full footage of what happened, with one fan asking: “Can we please start a petition for BB to show the footage of Matthew and his gang stealing food please?”
Others have accused Matthew of being hypocritical, particularly given his repeated comments about honesty and double standards. One viewer pointed to what they believe is a contradiction in his behaviour, writing: “He talks about being so real and hates double standards but he knows Ebony stole snacks from the house budget and both he and Austin have been eating all week.”
Matthew has also faced criticism over the house meeting. Some viewers believe Ryan wasn’t given a fair chance to explain himself before Matthew accused him.
“Ryan never got the opportunity to admit anything! Matthew is gaslighting Ryan badly,” one viewer wrote.
Others were also uncomfortable with the way Matthew spoke to his fellow contestants, with one viewer saying the livestream had made them “uncomfortable with how he is speaking to most of the housemates tonight”.
But some Big Brother fans are backing Matthew
Of course, not everyone is convinced Ryan is in the right. Some viewers believe Matthew is being unfairly made out to be the villain. They argue he’s simply defending himself against Ryan and the other housemates.
One fan argued that his repeated house meetings were an attempt to address the tension, rather than let rumours circulate.
“He keeps calling meetings because he keeps being thrown under the bus by Ryan and his gang. He is trying to defend himself against Chinese whispers and lies,” they wrote.
Some viewers also believe Ryan and his supporters are playing a game of their own. They argue there are two sides to the feud.
With viewers firmly taking sides, the debate has become just as heated outside the house as it is inside.
Phoebe reveals how the divide formed inside the house
For Phoebe, the tension wasn’t just something playing out during the occasional group meeting. She said the divide between the housemates had become increasingly difficult to navigate, particularly after the Maltesers incident.
“There’s definitely a divide. There was an initial small divide and like everyone was kind of figuring it out. But I think after the Maltesers event, there has been a big divide in the house. Yeah, absolutely. And it’s so hard, I guess,” she told WHO.
Phoebe also explained why Ryan became such an important support for the other housemates as things escalated.
She said he recognised that some of them struggled to stand up to Matthew during confrontations, and took it upon himself to bring everyone together.
“I think that’s why Ryan took the wheel because he saw that so many of us wouldn’t be able to stand up to [Matthew] because he kind of backs you into a corner,” Phoebe said. “So he definitely took us all under his wing and went, ‘You know what, we’re doing this together, we can kind of get through this’. And so I’m very grateful for him for standing up for the rest of us.”
And while Phoebe has now left the house, it’s clear the tension hasn’t been easy for those still living under the same roof.
“Yeah, it’s so hard. It is so hard,” she added.
With nominations approaching, the feud could have serious consequences for the housemates. Fans will be watching to see what happens next.
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