Katherine Woodman is standing by her man.
The 23-year-old waitress, who was evicted from “Big Brother 27” last Thursday, opened up about the negative fan reaction to her romance with co-star Rylie Jeffries.
“I think I’ve been dealing with everything as best that I can,” Woodman exclusively told The Post on Tuesday. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a couple moments that were a little sad. But I’m just trying to deal with everything.”
Jeffries’ treatment of Woodman on the show became a controversy outside the house. Fans took issue with the 27-year-old bull rider telling Woodman that he didn’t like her tone and that they were going to get married whether she wanted to or not, among other unnerving comments.
But Woodman, as she explained to The Post, didn’t know about the controversy until she was evicted one week after Jeffries.
“All of the comments, everything that’s been happening for the past seven weeks, I got in one moment,” she said. “I didn’t get to see the build up. I didn’t get to see any of that, and I didn’t get to speak on anything for myself.”
“So that part has been hard, knowing that all of that was out of my control and still kind of feels a little out of my control,” Woodman continued. “I’m just trying to make sure that I’m doing well and additionally, that he’s doing okay.”
Woodman added: “A lot of things being said about him, I think could be very, very harmful. So I just want to make sure that we’re both coping and healthy and can feel good about our days when we wake up.”
Jeffries, for his part, addressed his controversial behavior in an interview with Entertainment Weekly last week.
“I understand how things may have come across, but I speak with passion,” he told the outlet. “I love with my whole heart, and maybe that intensity was misunderstood.”
“I would never intentionally disrespect anyone, especially Katherine,” Jeffries continued. “I respect her deeply, and she’s her own person, makes her own choices. I think some moments just don’t reflect who I truly am. My intentions have always come from a place of care and loyalty, not control.”
When asked how he feels about the fandom’s response to his behavior, Jeffries replied, “It’s heartbreaking to be misunderstood. People online don’t know me, but my friends, family, fellow Houseguests, and Katherine do, and that’s what’s important.”
“I spent every day in that house with people who truly know me, who see the real me: someone who’s loving, funny, and full of heart,” he insisted. “It hurts to be painted as aggressive when all I’ve ever done is lead with passion and care.”
“Big Brother 27” airs Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays on CBS and streams on Paramount+.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
