Rome Seymour became the second houseguest evicted from Big Brother 28 during the live Week 2 episode on Thursday, July 23. Jason De Puy first won the BB Block Buster and escaped the nomination block, leaving Rome to lose against Melody Morris in a decisive 12–1 vote.
The result completed a near-perfect Head of Household reign for Survivor veteran Rick Devens. He controlled the nominations, won the Power of Veto and successfully removed the player he viewed as a growing social threat.
How Rome went from safe to the main target
Devens originally nominated Jason, Melody and Lyric Medeiros. Rome was deliberately kept off the block because Devens planned to nominate him later if the veto created an opening—a familiar Big Brother strategy known as a backdoor.
Rome had approached Devens with a list of people he hoped to protect, unintentionally revealing the reach of his relationships. After winning the veto, Devens removed Lyric and named Rome as the replacement. Rome and Lyric had staged a breakup to make their showmance appear less threatening, but it could not save him.
The Big Brother 28 cast and Time Trip season guide provides background on the contestants, returning reality-TV players and this summer’s format.
Jason cracks Pirate’s Booty
Jason, Melody and Rome entered the live “Pirate’s Booty” challenge for one final shot at safety. They had to rearrange emeralds, pearls, rubies and doubloons on four poles, moving one treasure at a time without placing it on the ground. Jason found the quickest sequence and finished first.
Had Rome won, the backdoor attempt would have failed and the house would have voted between Jason and Melody instead.
Who voted to evict Rome?
Jason, Yash Patel, Dee Valladares, Angela Murray, Barrett Pfeiffer, Lyric Medeiros, Mallory Aurichio, Drew Campbell, LaTrice “Lala” Verrett, Haley Thogmartin, Chuk Anyanwu and Kamu Kirk voted to evict Rome.
Taylor Brown cast the only vote against Melody. The biggest twist was personal rather than numerical: Lyric joined the majority against her showmance partner, while Taylor unexpectedly became Rome’s sole supporter.
Rome leaves with a declaration of love
After Julie Chen Moonves announced the result, Rome skipped a full round of farewell hugs, kissed Lyric and publicly told her he was in love with her.
Rome said he felt honored that Devens considered him a major threat but remained hurt that the HOH had gone back on an assurance to keep him off the block. He initially believed Lyric—and then Jason—had voted to save him and was surprised to learn it was Taylor.
Relationship-versus-strategy decisions have shaped other summer competitions too, including the recent five-contestant Love Island USA elimination.
What changes for the remaining houseguests?
Rome follows Ashley Trail, the unanimous Week 1 evictee. Fifteen players remain: Angela, Barrett, Chuk, Dee, Drew, Haley, Jason, Kamu, LaTrice, Lyric, Mallory, Melody, Rick, Taylor and Yash.
Devens achieved his objective, but displaying control over HOH, veto and the replacement nomination may increase his own threat level. Jason enters Week 3 with a visible competition win, while Lyric must rebuild without her closest personal ally.
Latest Week 3 update and next episode
The Week 3 HOH competition began after the eviction, but no winner had been officially confirmed by CBS when this article was updated. Unverified live-feed claims have therefore not been included.
Big Brother: Unlocked airs Friday, July 24, at 8 p.m. ET. Episode 9 is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, at 8 p.m. ET, when the new HOH plans and Week 3 nominations are expected to take focus.
Episodes stream on Paramount+, while live feeds are available on Paramount+ and Pluto TV. Confirmed broadcast information can be checked through the official CBS Big Brother Season 28 episode guide.
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