Julie Chen Moonves Gets Resounding Applause On ‘Big Brother’ Return: “I’m Back & I Am Covid-Free”

Armando Tinoco
·2-min read

Julie Chen Moonves returned to host Big Brother’s live eviction on CBS after missing out last week due to Covid.

Chen Moonves has hosted the reality competition for 26 seasons, and last week was the first time she missed a live eviction.

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“I’m baaaaack,” Chen Moonves said at the star of the live eviction episode on Thursday, September 19.

Chen Moonves was seemingly taken aback by the resounding cheers from the audience upon her return.

“Thank you!” she added. “And I am Covid free. Thank you God.”

Chen Moonves was replaced by Jerry O’Connell, who hosted the eviction episode on Thursday, September 12.

Earlier in the day, the Big Brother host had taken to social media to say she was going to miss out on her hosting duties.

“Friday morning I woke up with a sore throat and went to see my good friend who is an ENT. That night he called to say I have Covid,” Chen Moonves said in a statement shared on Instagram. “Thankfully this is only the second time for me and it’s been very mild! No fever and just a sore throat.”

She continued, “Unfortunately, I am still testing positive as of this morning… despite feeling good, strong, and my cough being gone, I must sit tonight’s Big Brother live eviction show out.”

RELATED: ‘Big Brother’ Season 26 Cast Photos

Chen Moonves also returned to The Talk to wish O’Connell good luck and advise him on hosting the competition.

“Jerry, thank you for stepping in, you’re going to do an amazing job,” Moonves told The Talk co-host after sharing the symptoms she’s been experiencing from Covid.

RELATED: Jerry O’Connell Subs For Julie Chen As ‘Big Brother’ Host & Surprises Houseguests During Live Eviction

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