"Big Brother" Addresses Chima's Expulsion

It was one temper tantrum too many for Chima Simone.

The 33-year-old freelance journalist was booted from the CBS reality series "Big Brother 11," which isolates 13 contestants inside a makeshift two-story house and monitors their every move with cameras and microphones.

Or just cameras, in the case of Simone. The diva contestant, in a foul, expletive-spouting mood, refused direct orders to put a microphone on, in an episode aired Tuesday. When a housemate retrieved a microphone and handed it to her, Simone tossed it into a whirlpool spa.

After showing a "greatest hits" reel of bad behavior from Simone's time in the home, CBS showed her the door.

"Because of multiple rule violations, she needed to be expelled," said Allison Grodner, executive producer.

For some reason, this seemed to upset some of her housemates, one of whom was even moved to tears to see her gone.

CBS released a statement Saturday that said Simone, from West Hollywood, Calif., was evicted by the producers for violating the rules. The network said also that Simone will not be part of the reality show's seven-person jury, which selects the $500,000 grand prize winner.

Sunday's episode revealed how irritated Simone was because her ally, bodybuilder Jessie Godderz, was spontaneously nominated for eviction Thursday because of the "coup d'etat," a power secretly voted on by viewers that was used to overthrow Simone's nominations.

Fans have questioned whether Simone was booted or quit. Chatter from the remaining seven houseguests suggest she wanted out of the house. On Friday, the show's live Internet feed featured the microphone toss.

"She still didn't have to leave after that. She just didn't want to be here," contestant Natalie Martinez said on Monday's "Big Brother After Dark," an uncensored and unedited live Showtime 2 broadcast of what's happening inside the house each night.

Lou Manza, who heads the psychology department at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., said Simone's physical outburst was enough to merit dismissal from the house, especially because contestants can't communicate with friends or family during filming.

"If someone is throwing their microphone in a hot tub, they're breaking down," Manza said. "You're removed from your social support, so there's no way of coping. What else could happen later? Things could get much uglier much quicker if you don't respond."

Manza said because the houseguests can't blow off steam as they would outside the "Big Brother" house - say by going for a jog, reading or watching TV - it's easier for participants to reach their boiling point and take frustrations out on the production.

Since entering the house last month, Simone has been one of the season's most defiant houseguests. When she was nominated for eviction during the first week, CBS censored her live last-plea speech, which referred to derogatory terms used by her competitor.

Last week, Simone sparred with houseguest Russell Kairouz, saying the Lebanese-American mixed martial arts fighter was a "terrorist because you're terrorizing everybody in the house." Kairouz retaliated by calling Simone, who is African-American, "the true racist."

Producers have evicted two contestants on previous "Big Brother" editions. Justin Sebik was kicked off the second season when he placed a knife to the throat of a fellow houseguest. Scott Weintraub was removed from the fourth season after throwing furniture.