Honestly, walking into the Big Brother house as the "newbie who takes down the legend" sounds like a top-tier strategy on paper. It makes for great TV. It gets the fans screaming at their screens. But for Isaiah "Zae" Frederich, it was the very thing that sent him packing before he even had a chance to unpack his second suitcase.
If you followed Zae Big Brother 27 from the jump, you know he didn't just walk into a house; he walked into a "Hotel Mystère" themed murder mystery where he became the first victim. He was 23, a salesperson from Provo, Utah, and he came in hot. Maybe a little too hot. He was the first evictee of the season, lasting only 10 days before the house sent him out with a 9-5 vote.
The Rachel Reilly Mistake
You can't talk about Zae's short-lived game without talking about the "Mystery Player" twist. When Rachel Reilly—yes, that Rachel Reilly—burst through those doors as the 17th houseguest, the vibe shifted. Most of the rookies were shaking in their boots. Zae? Not so much.
He basically decided that instead of playing nice with a former winner, he was going to lead the charge to get her out. He admitted in his exit interview with Rob Cesternino that he didn't actually realize how legendary Rachel was. Imagine trying to "behead" (Rachel’s words, not mine) a Big Brother queen without knowing she has one of the most dedicated fanbases—and competitive resumes—in the show's history.
Zae tried to rally the troops. He formed the "Burger Boys" alliance with Rylie, Vince, Will, and Zach. It was a classic "bros" alliance, but it was built on sand. When Vince Panaro won the first Head of Household, Zae probably felt safe. But in this game, "safe" is just a word people use right before they get blindsided.
Why the "Burger Boys" Couldn't Save Him
The house dynamics in Season 27 were messy from Day 1. You had "Showergate" involving Ashley Hollis and a growing gender divide that Zae just couldn't navigate. While Zae was busy plotting against Rachel, the rest of the house was looking at him as a liability.
- The Nominations: Vince put up Zae and Ashley initially.
- The Veto: Ashley won the Golden Power of Veto and took herself off the block.
- The Replacement: Vince named Kelley Jorgensen as the replacement pawn.
- The Block Buster: Kelley won this new competition, saving herself and leaving Zae sitting next to Amy Bingham.
By the time the live eviction rolled around, Zae was cooked. He had spent more time talking about targeting Rachel than he had spent building actual, voting relationships with the middle-of-the-road players. He even tried to use a "No Plan Plan," which, as it turns out, is a terrible plan when you're sitting next to an insurance agent like Amy who knows how to talk people into a policy—or a vote.
The Controversy and the Live Feeds
It wasn't just the gameplay that had people talking. If you were glued to the live feeds, you saw the moment Zae's reputation took a hit. During a late-night game of chess with Keanu Soto, Zae used an ableist slur after making a bad move.
He caught himself almost immediately, saying he "shouldn't say that word," and Keanu agreed. But the internet doesn't forget. In a season that felt like it was trying to move past the controversies of previous years, that moment was a huge red flag for fans. When he finally sat down with Taylor Hale for his post-eviction talk, he apologized, but for many, the damage to his "charismatic Utah guy" image was already done.
What Most People Get Wrong About Zae's Exit
A lot of fans think Zae was just a victim of Rachel's "big sister" intimidation. That's a bit of a reach. In reality, Zae's downfall was his own overconfidence. He told Julie Chen Moonves he was shocked that Rylie Jeffries didn't vote for him.
Why was he shocked? Because he assumed his "Burger Boys" alliance was a blood pact. In Big Brother, a Week 1 alliance is usually about as strong as a wet paper towel. Rylie saw the writing on the wall. Voting to keep Zae would have meant going against the house majority and painting a target on her own back. She made the smart move; Zae made the loud one.
The Actionable Takeaway for Future Players
If you're ever lucky (or crazy) enough to get cast on Big Brother, Zae’s 10-day stint is a textbook case of what not to do.
- Don't target the vet on Day 1. Unless you have 100% of the house behind you, you're just giving a powerful player a reason to destroy you.
- Watch your mouth on the feeds. 94 HD cameras mean there is no "off the record."
- The "No Plan Plan" is a myth. You need a plan. You need to know who is voting for you and why.
- Don't rely on "Bro" alliances. They are the first ones to crumble when a woman wins a Veto or an HOH.
Zae Frederich might have been the first one out, but he certainly set the tone for a chaotic Season 27. He showed us that in a house run by a "Mastermind," being the loudest person in the room is the fastest way to the parking lot.
To see how the rest of the season unfolded after Zae's departure—including Ashley's eventual win and the tragic passing of Mickey Lee later that year—you'll want to look back at the full Season 27 archives to see how the "Heavy Hitters" alliance eventually dominated the game.
