A controversial Big Brother alum is making her return to reality TV, this time on Bravo. CBS distanced itself from Aaryn before Bravo added her to their talent roster.
Aaryn Williams, formerly known as Aaryn Gries, is joining the cast of the upcoming series Small Town Trouble: Texas, which is set to premiere next month. “The secret is out,” Aaryn captioned a series of cast photos.
Aaryn previously competed on Season 15 of Big Brother in 2013, where she became one of the show’s most controversial contestants after making a series of racist and homophobic comments inside the house.
Following her eviction, Aaryn sat down with host Julie Chen to address the backlash. “Being Southern, it’s a stereotype. I have said some things that have been taken completely out of context and wrong. I do not mean to ever come off racist,” she said at the time. “That’s not me and I apologize to anyone that I’ve offended for that.”
CBS also distanced itself from Aaryn’s remarks, telling The Hollywood Reporter that her comments did not represent the network. The controversy also cost her a modeling contract, as her agency dropped her following the incident.
Now, more than a decade later, Aaryn is getting another shot at reality TV — this time with Bravo.
Small Town Trouble: Texas will be set in Boerne, Texas, and follow what the network describes as “a charming yet unconventional group of wives, mothers, and social insiders.”
Joining Aaryn on the cast are Alli McAnelly, Annari Uys, Gabby Hernandez Huffman, and Hailey Head. Their husbands will also appear throughout the series.
According to Bravo’s official description, the show will explore what happens when “conservative values of small-town life collide with forbidden attraction, messy friendships, and shocking secrets.”
“Here, perception is everything, temptation is everywhere, and the truth is never as buttoned-up as it looks.”
Small Town Trouble: Texas premieres via Bravo on Nov. 18 at 9 p.m.
