'Big Brother' Host Julie Chen SLAMS Fans As Hypocrites For Attacking Housemates

It has just been a week since "Big Brother" season 24 started, and it's already embroiled in a messy controversy.

Fans and alums alike are especially furious over the unfair treatment of Taylor Hale, a 27-year-old black stylist, and former Miss Michigan USA, who became the subject of bullying and racial discrimination.

This led to many fans and even former Big Brother contestants slamming the behavior of the present houseguests.

Now, host Julie Chen has decided to weigh in, addressing the microaggressions and bullying the former beauty queen has faced. 

Read on to learn more about the controversial new season.

During a recent interview with Parade, the "Big Brother" host called fans "hypocrites" for attacking the season 24 houseguests who have isolated Hale.

She shared this when she was asked to weigh in on the "mob mentality" which has been going on in the Big Brother house.

"It's so interesting that you use the term 'mob mentality.' Because isn't that what Twitter has done? Aren't you all being hypocrites?" Chen responded. 

"There has been this mob mentality created against people in the house, who viewers feel have not been kind to Taylor. I think anytime you're nominated; it'll bring you to tears."

Despite her words above, she acknowledged that she also felt sympathy for Hale.

"We all walk through life thinking that we're good, decent people. You don't set out to be unlikable," the host of the CBS reality competition show responded. "It hurts, and I have sympathy for her. I have sympathy for everyone in that house. It's not easy."

Chen also shared that the microaggressions and bullying Hale has been facing could allude to the "pressure cooker" setting of the environment.

"Microaggressions are real, and they happen," the TV personality said in an interview with E! News. "I don't think most people, when committing it, are even aware of what they're doing. I think that with the live feeds, it is easy. I think what we need to do is ask ourselves, 'Who am I — who is anyone — to judge somebody else?'"

The host, who has been part of the show since its debut in 2000, noted that viewers haven't "walked in their shoes" or "lived inside the house."

"We haven't been in that pressure cooker situation. And a lot of times when someone is feeling insecure about themselves, or seeing another individual as a threat to their game, that's when you see classic Big Brother 'I'm going to trash talk someone behind his or her back.'"

Many members of the 23rd season–The Cookout alliance– took to Twitter to express their disgust over the multiple aggressions and bullying faced by Hale.

The season 23 winner, Xavier Prather, shared a lengthy statement, explaining why this treatment was inexcusable and why the famous alliance was created.

"Members of the black community (especially black women) and other people of color stand no chance in the Big Brother House due to perpetuation of micro-aggressions and unconscious biases which plague our society," he began. 

https://twitter.com/xaviereprather/status/1546202446099259395?s=20&t=6e60pDC8_K3BLrvTpiwafw

He added, "I acknowledge my shortcomings during my time on Big Brother and can't help but feel partially responsible for some of the reprehensible behavior I see being exhibited by current houseguests who consider me one of their 'favorites.'"

"In the future, I hope it doesn't take a 'Cookout' for any Black houseguests (or any POC houseguest) to finally escape the feeling of being ostracized within the Big Brother House for simply existing. Change is a MUST!"

In the same interview with Parade, Chen responded to the Twitter outcry. She shared that no one was in a position to judge anyone as there was a huge disparity between what Hale was experiencing in the house and the live feeds.

"A lot of it has been classic 'Big Brother' trash talk behind someone's back because you feel threatened by them. In many ways, 'Big Brother' is like high school on steroids. And if you were to ask Taylor, you know, before becoming a replacement nominee, she simply was not aware of how much jealousy there was. 

So I would say, let's all take a pause. Let's try not to judge. Please leave the judging to the judge: Father God. And let's exercise some compassion for one another. We don't know what it's like to go through that Big Brother house," she concluded.