‘Big Brother’ Exile Pushes Buttons--and Himself

It’s been a few days since William “Mega” Collins was kicked out of the “Big Brother” house.

But the outspoken African American youth counselor, whose personal and racially tinged confrontations with his predominantly white house guests on the CBS reality series prompted viewers to vote him out of the house last week, is continuing to kick up attention-getting dust as he embarks on a post-”Big Brother” public relations tour that is alternately beguiling and baffling.

Contradictory sides of Collins--the charming activist who speaks with deliberation, and the cocky, in-your-face showman who delights in pushing buttons--were on display over the past few days during a contentious press conference for TV journalists in Pasadena and a surprisingly subdued Monday appearance on CBS’ “The Early Show” with Bryant Gumbel.

Collins has been surrounded by controversy ever since he entered the “Big Brother” house July 4 along with nine other contestants who agreed to live together in isolation for three months and have their every move monitored by cameras and microphones. He was the first to be voted out of the residence, and every other week another occupant will be evicted. The last person left in the house will win $500,000.

From the beginning, Collins openly challenged his housemates, triggering discussions among fans around the country about the unresolved issues of race that were being played out on the series. Collins said he wanted his fellow occupants, which included three white men and four white women, to “face their fears.” (The contestants also include another African American and an Asian American.)

Reports then surfaced that he was a member of the New Black Panther Party for Self Defense, which he confirmed after his ouster. Collins told Gumbel that he had not informed producers of his association beforehand because “[CBS] didn’t ask me.”

In his first post-”Big Brother” appearance, Collins wore a floppy orange hat and hiking boots and appeared to intimidate the TV reporters--who a few hours earlier had criticized “Big Brother” Julie Chen for allowing Collins to gain the upper hand in a live interview after his eviction.

Collins arrived onstage carrying a Bible, a dictionary, a book on manipulation called “The 48 Ways of Power” and some poetry he had written. Scattered around the Pasadena hotel ballroom was extra security, hired after he had expressed concerns over reported threats.

Holding up the Bible, Collins said, “You’ve seen me with my gun, but you haven’t seen me with my God,” apparently in reference to a photo showing him armed at a 1998 rally held in Texas to protest the dragging death of a black man.

As for the dictionary, he said it was for “you pyrotechs out there, that I be aware of what you’re saying and what it means. So I brought Webster’s here, so I can have an understanding. Many times in the Red Room [the room in the “Big Brother” Studio City house where occupants could privately express their thoughts to the unseen “Big Brother”] when I would speak in my ebonic fashion, I would have to translate.”

During the session, Collins complained that not enough women were asking him questions, accused producers of showcasing his more confrontational moments in the house instead of times when he would “give praise and honor to the Creator,” compared himself to Malcolm X and declared that the “Big Brother” experience was constructive because viewers, as well as the other residents, were exposed to a black “mind-set” that is never represented on national television.

Collins was less forthcoming about criticisms leveled against him last week by New Black Panther leader Khalid Abdul Muhammad, who decried how he had massaged the white female occupants of the house. Muhammad had said that Collins had formerly referred to white women as “the devil.”

In response, Collins said he has had conversations with Muhammad since emerging about his participation, but would not disclose details: “I don’t want the press to play Don King between me and my brother minister.”

Although Collins had grimaced when he was told after his ouster that Gumbel would interview him on “The Early Show,” the youth counselor was noticeably more toned down during Monday’s interview. He abandoned the floppy hat and hiking gear for a black shirt and suit jacket, and did not display the aggressiveness of his previous appearances. At the end of the interview, the two warmly shook hands.

Referring to his future plans, Collins said he would like to earn a degree in law, and meet prominent black celebrities such as Will Smith, Avery Brooks, John Singleton and Spike Lee. He added that he would like to be involved in future editions of “Big Brother.”

“I would like to help or involve myself in the next production of the show,” said Collins, insisting that he had valuable input that he would like to share with the producers.

Though CBS and the show’s executives were not quick to take Collins up on his offer, his departure from “Big Brother” has already been felt with the series, which had been averaging more than 10 million viewers a night, scoring its lowest rating yet on Saturday with only 5.2 million viewers.