Big Brother fans don’t forget. Even years after the cameras stop rolling on a season, certain houseguests stay burned into the collective memory of the fandom. Sometimes it's for a legendary strategic move. Sometimes it’s for a massive blow-up. For Big Brother Matt and Raven, it was for something entirely different: a bizarre mix of cereal obsession, questionable health claims, and a "ride or die" loyalty that felt more like a "ride into the sunset while the house burns" strategy.
Honestly, if you watched Big Brother 19, you remember "Maven." They were the showmance that just wouldn’t quit, even when it became clear they were basically playing for Paul Abrahamian to win the half-million dollars. But where are they now? And why does the internet still have a collective meltdown every time Raven Walton posts a health update or Matt Clines is spotted with a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch?
The Summer of Cereal and Gastroparesis
Let's talk about Matt Clines for a second. The guy was a physical threat on paper, but in practice? He was a professional cereal consumer. It became a running joke on the live feeds. Fans would tune in at 3:00 AM, and there was Matt, standing in the kitchen, milk in hand, staring into the middle distance while shoveling flakes into his mouth. He famously ate dozens of bowls a day. It was almost impressive if it wasn't so confusing from a gameplay perspective.
Then you had Raven.
Raven Walton entered the house as the "arkansas dance teacher" with a tragic backstory. She was open from day one about her battle with gastroparesis, a condition that essentially paralyzes the stomach. She even showed off her gastric pacemaker, which she nicknamed "Thor."
But things got weird fast.
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The "Raven Exposed Party" Phenomenon
As the season progressed, Raven started making claims that had the internet doing double-takes. She mentioned having a "inverted spine," "rough kneecap syndrome," and a rare disease that only she and a few people in Sweden had. The fans didn't buy it. The hashtag #RavenExposedParty started trending on Twitter as viewers began fact-checking every story she told.
- She claimed she was being scouted for the Olympics until she "shattered" her growth plates.
- She said she couldn't eat certain foods but was then seen eating them on the feeds.
- She mentioned her mother had survived a ridiculous number of surgeries.
It was a lot. Whether she was exaggerating or just a "storyteller," as she later claimed, it made her one of the most polarizing figures in the history of the show.
Why Matt and Raven’s Gameplay Was So Frustrating
Most showmances eventually realize they have to turn on the rest of the house to win. Not these two. Big Brother Matt and Raven were fiercely loyal to Paul, the returning vet who was pulling every single string in the house.
Matt’s game was particularly baffling. He actually wanted to be a pawn. He broke "Have-Not" rules—eating regular food and taking hot showers—just to get a penalty vote against himself. Why? To ensure Raven stayed safe. It was a level of self-sacrifice that made superfans want to scream at their televisions. He literally threw his game away for a woman he’d known for six weeks and a guy (Paul) who was going to cut him the second he wasn't useful anymore.
Life After the Big Brother House
When the season ended, everyone expected the showmance to fizzle out within weeks. That’s usually how it goes. You leave the bubble, you realize you don't actually like the person that much, and you delete the couple photos.
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But "Maven" actually lasted a surprisingly long time.
They dated for months after the finale. They visited each other's families. Matt went to Arkansas; Raven went to Virginia. They leaned into the "Maven" brand, appearing on podcasts and doing the usual reality TV alum rounds. However, the relationship eventually hit a wall.
The Breakup
In 2018, the two officially split. It wasn't a massive, dramatic explosion like some other BB breakups. It was more of a quiet fading away. Matt eventually moved on and, in a twist that delighted the subreddit, got engaged to someone who presumably lets him eat as much cereal as he wants.
Raven has stayed more in the spotlight, or at least the social media version of it. She continues to advocate for gastroparesis awareness, frequently posting photos of her surgeries and pacemaker replacements. While the skepticism from the #RavenExposedParty days hasn't entirely disappeared, she’s built a dedicated following of people who also suffer from chronic illnesses.
What Most People Get Wrong About Them
A lot of people think Matt and Raven were just "bad" at the game. That’s a bit of a simplification. They weren't bad in the sense that they didn't know the rules; they were bad because they were playing a different game entirely.
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They were playing "Big Participant."
They seemed more interested in the experience and the relationship than the $500,000. Matt even said in exit interviews that he was fine with leaving because he was "good at home." That’s a nightmare for casting directors who want cutthroat players, but it’s a reality of modern Big Brother. Sometimes, people just want a free vacation and a girlfriend.
The Legacy of Big Brother Matt and Raven
Look, whether you loved them or (more likely) spent the summer of 2017 rolling your eyes at them, you can't deny their impact. They represent a specific era of Big Brother where the "minion" strategy reached its absolute peak.
If you're a new fan watching old seasons, the Matt and Raven saga is a case study in what happens when you let a returning player dictate every move. It’s also a reminder that the "live feeds" see everything. You can't hide a cereal addiction or a penchant for tall tales when the cameras are on 24/7.
What to do if you’re still curious:
If you want to see the madness for yourself, go back and watch the Big Brother 19 double eviction. Watching Matt's "aggressive" reaction to being put on the block—which mostly consisted of him yelling in a high pitch while holding a bowl—is a piece of reality TV history. You can also follow Raven on Instagram if you want to keep up with her "Pacer Power" journey, as she’s still very active in the chronic illness community.
Just don't expect to see them back for an All-Stars season anytime soon. The game has moved on, and honestly, Matt's probably just happy to be home with a full pantry.
Check out the CBS archives for the full episodes or dive into the Reddit archives from August 2017 to see the "Raven Exposed" threads in their original, chaotic glory.