George Orwell’s novel “1984” first introduced the concept of “Big Brother,” a totalitarian surveillance state watching your every move, to the lexicon in 1949. And in 2000, CBS launched its own spin on the concept with the reality show “Big Brother.” Equal parts social experiment and competitive event, “Big Brother” follows a select number of contestants, referred to as houseguests, as they compete to win $750,000 while living together in a house isolated from the outside world.  

Many reality shows may tout an up-close-and-personal glimpse at their stars, but little offer as much access to participants in real time as Big Brother. Since the show’s premiere, CBS has provided viewers with a 24/7 live feed of the contestants living in the house. At any point in the day, save for certain competitions or ceremonies restricted for the episodes, someone can hop on Paramount Plus to watch houseguests hang out, strategize and often, say the wrong thing.  

Though houseguests are made aware they are being filmed continuously via live feed, several houseguests have been recorded on camera making racist, homophobic or sexist comments. Consequently, some have been forced to leave the show and navigate long-lasting consequences.   

Houseguest Rylie Jeffries landed in hot water online for his treatment of fellow contestant and “showmance”, Katherine Woodman, in the season currently airing. When host Julie Chen asked him about some of the declarations he’d made in the house after he was voted out, his response was, “I can’t believe y’all heard that.”  

Just like other Big Brother houseguests of seasons past, anyone can turn into a headline overnight. It’s a story becoming increasingly common – an executive or employee makes an insensitive comment and puts themselves and their company in the hotseat. You may think it can’t happen to you, but who knows? Here are a few lessons to take from Big Brother contestant missteps:  

1. Always assume someone is listening: Big Brother houseguests are required to wear microphones at all times. Every conversation, no matter how benign, is recorded for the audience to hear. While this kind of 24/7 surveillance once seemed unbelievable, social media has opened the floodgates and provided individuals with a platform to expose public slip ups. Social media is riddled with countless comments calling for the employment or other personal details of individuals caught in hot-mic moments or who may have said something controversial publicly. 

2. Understand how you want to be perceived: Contestants are frequently shown saying one thing in diary confessionals, only to be shown saying and doing something completely the opposite in the house. This sort of flip-flopping may be understandable in the context of a game, but it won’t always fly in the real world. People want to connect with brands and companies that align with their values and when individuals representing the company’s stated mission fail to reflect them, it can breed frustration.  

3. Utilize your communications team: Big Brother contestants spend their time in the house with no contact or input from the outside world. No one is there to guide messaging or consider public perception. Companies don’t have to be at the same disadvantage. The right communications team will anticipate crisis situations before they happen, working with leadership and serving as a resource for the wider team.  

100-plus cameras may not be following your every move, but the court of public opinion is. It no longer takes signing up for a reality show to launch your public misstep to virality. We can learn from these houseguests’ mistakes and use it for smart and effective communications that strengthen relationships with audiences.