Izzy Gleicher Talks Her Path to the Final Two with Cirie and Jared on 'Big Brother 25'
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SPOILER ALERT! The last question of this interview spoils the winner of last night's endurance Head of Household competition, which will not be revealed until Sunday's episode. Please do not read if you do not want to know who wins.
Big Brother’s house is open once more! Every week, Parade.com’s Mike Bloom will be bringing you interviews with this season's houseguests as they get evicted from the game.
Izzy Gleicher knows firsthand how one wrong note can ruin a performance. Through 43 days, the professional flutist's gameplay had been fortissimo and staccato, as she was making big moves as part of the dominant coalition alongside her closest ally Cirie Fields. Even when she was on the block at the hands of her enemy and fellow pig Cameron Hardin, she thought she sharps and flats she had put in would carry through to the next measure. But some pertinent information leaks caused a massive key change in the house, as Izzy's ally Cory Wurtenberger and his showmance partner America Lopez worked together to flip the game on its head and evict Izzy.
Looking back, Izzy's entire course of her time on Big Brother 25 was determined in its opening minutes. After being greeted by Survivor legend Cirie pouring champagne, she immediately clocked one of the biggest twists, identifying Jared Fields as her son. And so, in a flash, she was suddenly part of the first alliance of the season, a third wheel alongside two relatives. However, she quickly proved to be a pivotal part of the vehicle, as she was soon working alongside Cirie, Jared, and Felicia Cannon to start making moves. The group became the most powerful coalition of the season, responsible for the frenetic gameplay, consistent flips back and forth, and blindsides on their own allies. Going into this week, Izzy was in an alliance with every person in the house. She was sitting pretty, so long as Cameron didn't win Head of Household.
Of course, that's exactly what happened. The man Izzy once said had "serial killer vibes" had his eyes on her as his next victim, nominating her and Felicia to dismantle Cirie's presidential cabinet. Though she didn't get a pie in the face at the nomination ceremony, Izzy was confident Cameron would have his just desserts, as all the work she had been doing with these overlapping alliances would pay off. But while Izzy banked her game on one Survivor connection, it was another person with associations to the island show who did her in. After America had been pushing hard to get rid of Izzy as the bigger player, Cory finally came around to the idea after he realized how low he was on the ladder compared to Cirie and Jared. And so, the two flipped the house to evict Izzy near-unanimously, as she walked out with a smile, a pig onesie, and some choice words for Cameron and Cory.
Now out of the house, Izzy talks with Parade.com about her final words to Cameron and Cory, the events that led to her downfall, and her connection with Jared and Cirie.
Related: Everything to Know About Big Brother 25
I want to start with the way you went out of the house, telling Cameron, “I’ll be seeing you, pig” and calling Cory “Pipsqueak.” Were those actions premeditated, or in the moment, and why did you choose to call them out in particular?
Oh, I mean, when I got the "Piggy Pals" punishment, I was like, "who's the pig in the house? I've got to pick Cameron." So we had done been known that! But I knew Cameron was coming after me for weeks, probably from day one. He was feeling threatened by the fact that I was not threatened by him. And so I knew that about him. We never were able to find common ground, really. And Cory, I just felt super super betrayed by. And, for as smart as he is, you're going to stick with Cameron like that? That doesn't seem like the smartest move. I felt hurt.
Yesterday, in the hours before your eviction, in the Have-Not room there was this big fight between Jared and Cory where both their games got aired out. Were you aware of it, and did any of that play into your words towards Cory?
Yes, I knew. Cirie was coming down and back up and telling me, letting me know what was going on. I mean, I'm curious to see it back. [Laughs.] I don't think Jared should have started a fight with Cory like that. But Cory was revealing everything except the fact that he was in a four-person alliance with me, Jared, and Cirie. We grappled with whether or not she should then blow that up. But that would add extra ammunition against Cirie and Jared. So, yes, I didn't know that that was happening. I knew I was being evicted eight hours before that, even 12 hours before that. The night before was thick. And Cory is actually not a really good liar when he's made a decision that's against me. [Laughs.]
So I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but something that ended up turning the tide against you and your group was that Jared had been trying to keep Cory on his toes this week, teasing that he would use the veto and go after America. And when you told him on Wednesday that you may put America up next week, and encouraging him to not be linked with her anymore, that made him feel like you were more loyal to Jared than him. What’s your reaction to that?
I underestimated his relationship with America. He made me feel that way. I mean, he did that and used [it] against me. The conversation that I will always regret having is the one I had with America. I don't know if anyone saw this, but she came to me to apologize for telling about Felicia, and I came at her. I shouldn't have had that conversation with her; that should have waited. That probably should have never happened. And I know that that was ammunition against me. And I regret it wholeheartedly, that conversation. I mean, that's on me.
I want to look back on some of the decisions you and your alliance made, in particular the two points Cameron brought up in his nomination speech of turning on Hisam and then flipping to evict Red. Now that you’re out of the house, how do you look back on those choices?
I don't regret any of those decisions. I regret not being more careful with Cory. Because I think those people needed to be out of the house. I think that they were going to come after me. I still believe if Red and Cameron had stayed as a duo, [they] were extremely dangerous. I was saying this to Cirie. And she was like, "But aren't we doing the same thing?" And I was like, "Yes, I think we are dangerous, too. But we should be the ones that stay in the house. What are you talking about?" I don't regret any of that.
Of course, we have to get into the Cirie and Jared of it all, your newfound family members. To say your entire game was determined by the first few minutes of the season would be an understatement. How much did your strategy change once you were able to clock Cirie and Jared, and became their secret-keeper?
Oh, I mean, immediately. I was hoping to find someone that I genuinely connected with because I knew the house was going to be a scary, lonely place if you let it. I clocked Jared. Before I even saw Cirie, I knew who he was, when we were doing puzzling headlines, "Goo-pocalypse," that first comp, thanks to social media. Even though I am not a big social media person, he's literally the only family member of a reality person that I know of. And that's because he makes music and I was curious about it. But I knew who he was, and I wanted to make that connection regardless if I saw Cirie. And I feel like it was sloppy how I did it. [Laughs.] But of course, I don't regret jumping on the opportunity to let him know as quickly as possible that I knew, and then I that I had them. I wanted to make it clear that I was not going to use this against them if we could build something. I mean, if we didn't connect, then sure. But that didn't happen.
At points during your time in the house, you questioned your decision to lock in with Cirie and Jared at the end, wondering if you stood a chance at beating them. Had you stayed in the house, do you think there ever would have come a point where, despite never revealing their secret, you would have turned on them?
Cory was an avenue that I was seeking out as not necessarily someone to take them out, but someone to have truly as a person away from Ciriey and Jared. But no, me and Cirie and Jared, the three of us talked about what would happen in Final Three a lot in the house. I don't know if any of it was on the feeds. But we talked about it quite a bit. My path to final two was not not there.
Give me your rapid-fire thoughts on each of the houseguests. Starting with America.
Mess.
Blue.
[Pause.] Ridiculous. I'm just coming up with the first word that comes to mind. [Laughs.]
Bowie Jane.
Not 34.
And you are correct about that! Cameron.
Pig. Let's just continue with that one.
Cirie.
Love. I just think she's love.
Cory.
Betrayal.
Felicia.
Loud. [Laughs.]
Jag.
Clueless.
Jared.
Tough.
Matt.
Sweet. Doesn't know what's going on.
And finally, Meme.
Smart. Let's go with smart.
Finally, what's your reaction to Jared becoming the new HoH?
I didn't know that! I'm thrilled about it. Oh, wow. That's amazing. I'm so happy about that. Oh, wow. I'm so, so happy about that. I could cry. maybe. I'm thrilled about it. I know that Cirie wishes that we had used the veto, I wish that we had used the veto also. I know that she wishes she was talking with you right now, and I was still in the house. But if I'm not there, I'm thrilled that they are safe this week. I am so, so thrilled. That was great news, Mike. Thank you.
Next, check out our interview with Red Utley, who was evicted during Big Brother 25 Week 5.
