The houseguests on Big Brother 23 are battling it out for the $750,000 prize, and now, some of the contestants are suspicious of the relationship between Kyland Young and Sarah Beth Steagall. Following the dissolution of the teams' twist, the game has broken open. Alliances are splintering, and the paranoia in the house is at an all-time high.
So far, the only showmance to form this season has been between Alyssa Lopez and Christian Birkenberger. The pair have gotten themselves in trouble this week, as Head of Household Derek Xiao is targeting Christian for eviction. Derek X nominated Sarah Beth as a pawn, but some of the houseguests see Sarah Beth as a threat due to her relationship with Kyland, a member of the Cookout alliance with Tiffany Mitchell, Xavier Prather, Hannah Chaddha, Derek Frazier, and Azah Awasum.
Several houseguests have been speculating that Kyland and Sarah Beth are in a secret showmance because of how frequently they cuddle and spend time alone together. Tiffany has been the most vocal about her suspicions, even asking Kyland if he and Sarah Beth had a relationship prior to entering the house. Kyland told the truth by denying he knew Sarah Beth before the game, but it did little to assuage Tiffany's fears that Kyland is prioritizing Sarah Beth over his alliance with the Cookout.
Though Kyland and Sarah Beth frequently cuddle and hug, they claim that their relationship is strictly platonic and that they are just affectionate in general. Sarah Beth stated to Kyland she would not do anything that would have a negative effect on her relationship with her girlfriend Shelly outside of the game. Tiffany has expressed doubts that Shelly actually exists, partially due to Sarah Beth mentioning buying a single's pass to a theme park, which Tiffany mistook as a slip-up indicating Sarah Beth doesn't actually have a girlfriend.
Kyland and Sarah Beth's affectionate relationship has put a target on their backs, and they should adjust their game plan moving forward. Kyland and Sarah Beth might not consider themselves a showmance, but the rest of the house views them as a unit, just like they would a showmance. Tiffany and Xavier have even discussed targeting Kyland before other Cookout members if the alliance makes it to the final six, so Kyland should focus on strengthening his bonds within the Cookout alliance.
It remains to be seen how Kyland and Sarah Beth's games will ultimately be affected by their friendship. It seems Sarah Beth could be in hot water very soon if Tiffany has anything to say about it. Sharing extended hugs and cuddling in view of their fellow contestants isn't the smartest strategy, and they need to be more cognizant of the house's perception of them if they want to succeed in the game.
Big Brother 23 airs Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8 PM ET on CBS.