How Tradition Made Julie Chen Moonves “Auntie Julie” on ‘Big Brother’
It seems like “Big Brother” Season 27 has given us more than just backdoor drama and whisper-fests in the storage room. This time, it sparked a lowkey internet debate around what houseguest Zach Cornell calls longtime host Julie Chen Moonves: Auntie Julie. Yep, you read that right.
The Nickname That Sparked A Cultural Convo
Last year on “Big Brother” Season 26, houseguest Chelsie Baham called her “Auntie Julie” multiple times throughout the season; and fans loved it. And at one point some viewers were even confused that there was a real familial relationship between the two, according to Monsters and Critics.
But when Zach dropped the same nickname this year, one Reddit user wasn’t exactly thrilled:
“I’m like 90% sure it’s a cultural thing. Isn’t Zach Filipino? It’s extremely common to use aunty and uncle to people older than you regardless of whether or not you’re related to them,” another commenter said, stepping in with some cultural context.
And that’s where things got interesting. The “Auntie” nickname isn’t just a cutesy fan moment; it actually ties back to deeper cultural norms rooted in respect and communal values. That same Redditor explained, “I’m from Hawaii and even though I’m Hawaiian not Filipino the cultural blend is strong. In Hawaii it’s considered respectful to call basically everyone significantly older than you aunty and uncle.”
The commenter even gave an example saying, “I would never call my friends mom ‘Mrs ____’ I would call her Aunty followed by first name regardless of family status. This stems from views on family structure from the Hawaiian, Filipino, etc communities. It is an interesting dynamic and it’s actually a running meme in Hawaii that once someone calls you uncle or aunty you’re officially old now.”
So, Zach may have simply been showing respect to Julie, who’s nearly three decades older and a longtime authority figure on the show.
Julie’s Response? She’s Rolling With It
As for Julie herself? She didn’t bat an eye. During the live vote in Episode 7, Zach greeted her with a cheerful, “Hi, Auntie Julie,” and she simply replied, “Hello there,” without skipping a beat. No awkward pause. No side-eye. Just classic Julie Chen Moonves composure.
While she didn’t toss out anything crazy in return, her smooth, unfazed response made it clear she wasn’t bothered by the title. If anything, she seemed amused. Fans definitely were; with one viewer saying, “Yeah! I didn’t think twice about it, I thought it was sweet.” The moment quickly started making the rounds online, adding to the season’s growing list of memorable live show quirks.
And let’s be real; Julie Chen Moonves has always had that authoritative-yet-approachable vibe. She can boot you from the house with a smile, then nod sagely while the live audience claps. So “Auntie Julie” weirdly fits. Whether it’s a nod to Pacific Islander customs or just Zach being, well, Zach, the nickname has officially stuck.
In a show filled with blindsides, alliances, and messy evictions, “Auntie Julie” is the wholesome twist we didn’t know we needed.
