Aaryn Williams is reflecting on her controversial past, claiming her late father played a significant role in shaping the racist mindset that sparked her infamous Big Brother scandal.
In a preview of Bravo’s upcoming series Small Town Trouble: Texas, the former Big Brother 15 star opened up about her 2013 controversy during a conversation with her husband, Nick Williams.
“I remember the first night that I met you. Do you remember what you told me?” Nick asked Aaryn. “Don’t Google me.” Nick didn’t know what Big Brother was when they first met and only knew Aaryn as “this wonderful person who made a terrible mistake.”
However, Aaryn pushed back on that characterization. “It’s not even a mistake that I made. It’s who I was.”
During her confessional, Aaryn acknowledged the severity of her behavior, which included racist comments targeting Black and Asian individuals, along with homophobic remarks. It took me a really long time to understand how deeply ingrained it was in me, and how many people I hurt by saying the things that I did on the show.”
“It is my biggest regret in my life.”
Aaryn went on to tell Nick that she had been “ignorant to the ignorance” surrounding her upbringing because she had not yet processed the trauma she experienced growing up.
She also pointed to her late father, George, as a major influence on her worldview. “When my dad was alive, my worldview was so small. I grew up around a lot of racism. I wanted to make my dad proud when I was on the show. Unfortunately, he raised me with a very racist mindset.” Aaryn recalled an incident in which her father refused to share her prom pictures because her date was Black.
Looking back, she believes being publicly called out for her behavior ultimately forced her to confront the beliefs she had grown up with. “Had I not been called out for my behavior, I don’t think I would’ve been the one to break this cycle with my family,” she said.
Aaryn also promised that she and Nick are raising their four daughters differently. Their children “will never have to worry no matter who they become one day.”
“Small Town Trouble: Texas” premieres on Bravo on Nov. 18.
