LOS ANGELES — It was one temper tantrum too many for Chima Simone.
The 33-year-old freelance journalist was expelled from “Big Brother 11,” the CBS reality series which isolates 13 contestants from the outside world inside a makeshift two-story house and monitors their every move with cameras and microphones. Or just cameras, in Simone’s case.
The diva contestant, in a foul, expletive-spouting mood, refused direct orders from producers in Tuesday’s episode to wear a microphone. When an amenable housemate retrieved a microphone and handed it to her, Simone tossed it into the backyard’s whirlpool spa.
After showing a “greatest hits” reel of bad behavior from Simone’s time in the house, producers showed her the door. “Big Brother” executive producer Allison Grodner later announced to the houseguests that Simone needed to be expelled for multiple rule violations.
The drama didn’t diminish after Simone’s departure. Tattooed makeup artist Lydia Tavera, who has been aligned with Simone in the game, railed against her adversaries in the house during a “head of household” competition that was held early because of Simone’s elimination.
Fans already knew Simone, from West Hollywood, Calif., was out Saturday when she disappeared from the live Internet feeds and CBS released a statement saying she had been evicted and would not be part of the jury that selects the $500,000 grand prize winner.
However, the reason was unclear.
Many viewers had questioned whether Simone was booted or quit. Chatter from the remaining seven houseguests suggested she wanted out, but Tuesday’s episode clearly showed Simone being escorted out of the “diary room,” the enclave where houseguests directly address the camera.
Simone had become increasingly irritated after her ally, bodybuilder Jessie Godderez, was spontaneously nominated for eviction last Thursday because of the “coup d’etat,” a power secretly voted on by viewers that was used to overthrow Simone’s nominations that week.
The next night, she tossed the microphone in the drink.
“She still didn’t have to leave after that. She just didn’t want to be here,” contestant Natalie Martinez said on Monday’s “Big Brother After Dark,” an uncensored and unedited live Showtime 2 broadcast of what’s happening inside the house for three hours each night.
Lou Manza, who heads the psychology department at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., agreed that Simone’s physical outburst was enough to merit dismissal from the house.
“If someone is throwing their microphone in a hot tub, they’re breaking down,” Manza said. “You’re removed from your social support, so there’s no way of coping. What else could happen later? Things could get much uglier much quicker if you don’t respond.”
Manza said because the houseguests can’t blow off steam as they would outside the “Big Brother” house — say by going for a jog, reading a newspaper or watching TV — it’s easier for participants to reach their boiling point and take frustrations out on the production.
Since entering the house last month, Simone had been one of the season’s most defiant houseguests. When she was nominated for eviction during the first week, CBS censored her live last-plea speech, which referred to derogatory terms used by her competitor.
Last week, Simone sparred with houseguest Russell Kairouz, saying the Lebanese-American mixed martial arts fighter was a “terrorist because you’re terrorizing everybody in the house.” Kairouz retaliated by calling Simone, who is African-American, “the true racist.”
Producers have evicted two contestants on previous “Big Brother” editions. Justin Sebik was kicked off the second season when he placed a knife to the throat of a fellow houseguest. Scott Weintraub was removed from the fourth season after throwing furniture.
Simone’s exit leaves a gap in the show’s seven-person jury, paving the way for a possible draw. Tuesday’s episode did not address what will happen with the jury. Many fans believe producers will set a precedent by giving America the potentially tie-breaking seventh vote.
On the Net:
Big Brother 11: www.cbs.com/primetime/big_brother
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