“Big Brother 15” winner Andy Herren believes Barrett made the right call by taking a direct shot at the Icons on “Big Brother 28.”
Herren joined Rob Cesternino, Maggie Morgan and “Survivor 50” winner Aubry Bracco for RHAP’s Week 9 Wednesday episode recap, where the panel broke down Barrett’s Head of Household reign and the fallout from his decision to nominate Dee Valladares, Rick Devens and Angela Murray.
The move immediately changed the structure of the house and forced the returning players to fight for safety.
Andy Herren Says Barrett Needed to Break Up the Icons
Herren argued that Barrett had to make a move against the Icons while he had the opportunity, even if doing so increased his own threat level.
According to the recap, Herren felt Barrett needed to weaken the returning players’ influence rather than allow them to continue moving forward together.
The decision put Barrett in a more exposed position, but it also gave him the chance to reshape the game and build a resume around a major move.
Not everyone on the panel viewed the week the same way.
Morgan said she would have considered targeting Yash instead, pointing to his growing competition strength as a potential long-term problem.
The debate highlighted one of the central questions of Barrett’s HOH: whether taking out a powerful returning player is more important than addressing a newer houseguest who could dominate future competitions.
ParamountAubry Bracco Questions Barrett’s Alliance Management
Bracco focused less on Barrett’s nominations and more on how he handled his allies.
She pointed to Barrett’s treatment of Drew during the Veto draw as a sign that his alliance management may be creating unnecessary cracks.
Drew has already shown frustration with Barrett’s decisions, and the week has exposed uncertainty in relationships that once appeared more stable.
The panel also discussed whether Barrett had developed “HOH-itis,” with his position of power potentially affecting how he communicated with the people around him.
That tension could matter once Barrett loses the protection of the HOH room.
Dee Valladares Fights Back After the Veto Ceremony
Dee also became one of the biggest stories of the week after the Veto ceremony.
According to the panel, Dee confronted Barrett in an emotional exchange and responded to the nomination with an aggressive campaign to remain in the game.
Her efforts have contributed to a possible vote flip, with Yash and Taylor considering a blindside while Melody and Drew remain outside some of the planning.
The shifting vote has added another layer of uncertainty to Barrett’s week.
What began as a straightforward attempt to weaken the Icons has turned into a complicated battle involving competition threats, damaged trust and rapidly changing voting blocs.
Even with those complications, Herren’s argument remained clear: Barrett had an opportunity to disrupt one of the season’s strongest groups, and he needed to take it.
Whether the move strengthens Barrett’s position or makes him an easier target next week will depend on which Icon survives and how quickly the rest of the house reorganizes.
