Fans of Big Brother were left both shocked and confused after they realized that the streaming service, Paramount+, removed season 16 of the show overnight. All 22 seasons of the show were originally available to stream on CBS All Access. However, this service recently transitioned to Paramount+. With the change of name came some changes to the service, including the shocking removal of Big Brother 16.
Season 16 of Big Brother aired in 2014. The cast included some fan favorites, such as the season's winner, Derrick Levasseur, as well as his right-hand man and fellow Hit Man, Cody Calafiore. One of the show's most controversial players as well as season 18 winner, Nicole Franzel, also started her BB career during season 16. This season is favorited by many longtime viewers of the show for the twists, layout of the show, and the overall cast. Because the season is so popular, many fans continue to watch it now, seven years after it first aired.
Viewers who were currently rewatching season 16, or perhaps watching it for the first time, were left both shocked and confused when the season was randomly removed from the streaming service, Paramount+. Season 16 was the only season of the show to be removed without reason. Fans took to Reddit as they questioned whether it was just an isolated, glitch-related incident, or if everyone was experiencing the same issue. Many were nearing the end of the season, as they were in the middle of binging it prior to the removal. Season 16 is a must watch season, which is why fans could not figure out the reasoning behind it's sudden removal. When clicking the drop down for Big Brother season options on the streaming service's website, the list is in chronological order, but it skips over 16. As seen in the photo below, the count goes from season 15 to 17.
Some speculated that Frankie Grande requested the season to be removed while others argued he wouldn't do that due to his love of being in the spotlight. Although the main consensus was that fans were very upset about season 16 being removed, a few were not bothered by it. They actually now want seasons 19 and 21 to be removed as well, due to the many controversies and racist remarks made within each season. Others did not care as long as they keep season 20 available. Season 20 is seen as "the best new school season," which is why many do not want it to be removed. As the show is currently casting for season 23, fans are also requesting that productions stop showing future houseguests these past seasons while in sequester.
Neither Big Brother nor Paramount+ has commented on the sudden removal of the season. As the reasoning behind it remains unknown, it could have just been some type of glitch in the system. On the other hand, the network could have had a specific reasoning for taking the season off of the streaming service. Fans are hoping season 16 will soon be put back online so they can continue to rewatch it.
Source: Reddit, Paramount+