THE real reason Big Brother hopeful Levi Banks was removed from the show just days before Season 28’s highly-anticipated premiere has been revealed.
The Big Brother house was rocked with mystery before the game had even begun and now, The U.S. Sun can exclusively disclose what really unraveled behind the scenes.
As The U.S. Sun previously revealed, a shocking last-minute casting shakeup left one houseguest out of the game just days before tonight’s premiere.
Big Brother hopeful Levi Banks was removed from Season 28 after what sources described as a breach of the show’s strict confidentiality rules, prompting CBS to replace him with alternate Yash Patel at the eleventh hour.
A production insider exclusively spilled that the decision came after information that leaked about Levi surfaced before the official cast announcement.
“There was a breach of contract and a loss of trust,” the source said.
“Houseguests are under strict orders to zip it. They can’t say anything to anyone, even family members.
“CBS takes the NDA very seriously. Information leaked. Too much got out about him before the cast was announced and it’s not exactly clear what happened.
“But out of an abundance of precaution, CBS pulled Levi and went with their first alternate, which was Yash,” the insider added.
The revelation answers the biggest question surrounding one of the most surprising preseason twists in Big Brother history after Levi disappeared from the lineup despite making it through every stage of the casting process.
However, on Thursday just before Season 28 officially began, Levi took to Instagram and broke his silence on missing out on filming despite going through the entire casting process.
“I was all set and ready to move into the Big Brother house this season, and as we got closer and closer and closer to the move in day I just kind of realized that this is not the right fit for me, personally,” he explained.
Levi claimed that the choice to leave was his own, and it was the “hardest decision” of his life.
“But I am back home in North Carolina right now, and I am on good terms with CBS, Big Brother and everyone.
“And I just wanted to let them know, and you all know, that I am so, so, so thankful for this opportunit.”
Levi, 28, a wine executive, had already completed contestant photos, preseason interviews and sequester before producers made the stunning decision to remove him at the last minute.
The North Carolina native’s photo even briefly appeared online before it was taken down.
A production source previously told The U.S. Sun: “Levi did the full casting process including his contestant portrait and sequestering.
“After everything, he was pulled from the season at basically the very last second. Yash was an alternate and replaced Levi.”
The abrupt switch also explained why eagle-eyed fans noticed Yash’s promotional rollout looked noticeably different from the rest of the cast, immediately fueling speculation that he had joined the game late.
Yash, 24, a financial analyst from Monroe Township, New Jersey, ultimately took Levi’s place on the Season 28 cast and has entered the Big Brother house.
CBS has not publicly commented on Levi’s removal.
In addition to Yash, this year’s Big Brother cast includes an eclectic group of hopefuly fighting for the $750,000 grand prize.
The diverse group of new houseguests include former Barstool Sports girl Ashley Trail, jumbotron engineer Barrett Pfeiffer, supply chain analyst Chuk Anyanwu, dental surgery assistant Drew Campbell, and telemedicine executive Haley Thogmartin.
Ru Paul’s Drag Race alum Jason De Puy will also be popping up on BB28, alongside MMA coach Kamu Kirk, boutique salesperson LaTrice Verrett, attorney and singer Lyric Medeiros, rocket scientist Mallory Aurichio, corporate game show host Melody Morris, pickleball coach Rome Seymoure, and elementary school counselor Taylor Brown.
As The U.S. Sun previously mentioned, stars from other reality shows, including Survivor, will also be on this season but have not yet been formally announced.
In the 28th consecutive season hosted by Julie Chen Moonves, Big Brother premieres with a 90-minute episode on Thursday, July 9, on CBS, with episodes also streaming on Paramount+.
The season includes the franchise’s landmark 1,000th episode and producers have vowed it will be its longest and biggest installment yet.
