A longtime and dependable source on the CBS reality show Big Brother reports that the crew is unhappy, and two original stars have already quit, as the celebrity version of the show is set to launch in just a week.
With the 2nd season cast revealed, the main issue for the celebrities and the network has been pay, and the cost of this second season may lead CBS to reconsider the whole Big Brother franchise.
Insider REALvegas4sure claimed in a tweet that the network “is pissed” because the show is costing more than budgeted.
Two celebrities, Caitlyn Jenner and comedian Bobby Moynihan, reportedly dropped out of the cast after discovering pay inequity.
Caitlyn Jenner
Bobby Moynihan
Producers were left scrambling for celebrity backups, deciding on reality TV host Johnny Bananas and WWE diva Eva Marie.
But the issue hasn’t been settled, and there is still reported chaos on the set where celebrities have been recording promos for the show.
The houseguests are now sequestered, but the crew and editors have been working overtime leading to many complaints.
“No one is happy,” tweeted REALvegas4sure. “So many cigarettes being smoked by crew who are overworked. Pay them more! If CBS can break budget at least the workers deserve more too.”
Dina Lohan, Lindsay Lohan’s 56-year old mom, recently filed for bankruptcy, and was offered a $100,000 guarantee to appear on the show.
That upset Jenner and Moynihan enough to quit. Other celebrities are now complaining too.
This year, according to the inside source, the lowest paid celebrity is getting $70K, while the highest paid is making around $350-$375k.
Adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who was paid hush money by Donald Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump, demanded a $1 million payday to appear on the show, but producers declined.
Another controversial personality, Perez Hilton, who has appeared on the British version of the show, said he was interested in being a houseguest, but producers declined.
Julie Chen Moonves returns as host amid allegations of sexual misconduct by her husband Les Moonves.
Chen Moonves, 48, resigned as co-host of The Talk back in September.
She remains employed at CBS, and will host the celebrity edition, although Big Brother hasn’t been renewed officially by CBS for a 21st season.
There is also growing speculation that Celebrity Big Brother may be her last show at the network.
Here’s the full cast:
Tamar Braxton (41, singer)
Anthony Scaramucci (55, former politician)
Dina Lohan (59, momager)
Ryan Lochte (34, Olympian)
Joey Lawrence (42, actor)
Lolo Jones (36, Olympian)
Tom Green (47, comedian)
Jonathan Bennett (37, actor)
Kato Kaelin (59, actor)
Natalie Eva Marie (34, former WWE star)
Kandi Burruss (42, singer)
Ricky Williams (41, former NFL star)
The second season of Celebrity Big Brother will premiere on Monday, January 21 with a two-hour season premiere as host Julie Chen returns to welcome the next batch of celebs into the Big Brother house.
Like the first season, the show will air multiple nights a week until the show’s two-hour season finale on Wednesday, February 13th.
New episodes of “Celebrity Big Brother” will air every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.