Julie Chen Moonves says security has been stepped up for Big Brother 28 before the July 9 premiere. The host, who was abducted on-air during last year’s July 10 premiere episode, said the change is meant to protect her when the show returns at 8pm ET/PT.
July 9 at 8pm ET/PT
“I am not concerned,” she said when asked about a possible follow-up plot on this week’s premiere episode. She also said, “Look, we learned from our mistakes. I've been assured that security's been stepped up. And I haven't heard boo from the Mastermind. I mean, is he still working on his lair? I don't know. I feel pretty good. I'm good.”
“Absolutely!” was her answer when asked if additional security measures have been put in place. That answer matters because the premiere is not being treated like a routine studio visit; the production is now operating with a stronger protective perimeter around a live broadcast host after a previous on-air breach.
Mastermind and the extra layer
“Here's the thing,” Chen Moonves said while discussing undercover protectors. “They don't have to wear a jacket that says Security to be my security. I mean, is that the person who does my hair and makeup, or is that security? You don't wanna find out.”
That leaves the new setup more flexible than a visible security line. In practical terms, the show appears to be leaning on people who can blend into the production flow, which reduces the chance that the wrong person gets close to the host during the premiere.
One year after the abduction
The earlier incident involved the Mastermind, and Zach Cornell helped save Chen Moonves after the abduction. She said, “You know, that's a trigger for me,” then added, “So I'm just gonna breathe it out right now. I believe that God protects me from bad memories, and I totally forgot about it until you brought it up. But I'm gonna breathe through this one.”
There is a wrinkle here: CBS launched a full-scale investigation into the incident, yet the source says the data was mysteriously wiped from its servers. That makes the new security posture easier to describe than to audit, and it leaves the most useful question aimed at the premiere itself — what specific extra protections will be in place when Big Brother 28 opens on July 9.
