‘Big Brother’ Winner Josh Martinez Addresses Years of Rumors Regarding His Sexuality

After nearly a decade in reality television, Big Brother’s Josh Martinez says he’s done trying to define himself for the internet.

In an interview with Men’s Journal shared on Wednesday, February 18, the BB Season 19 winner opened up about years of speculation surrounding his sexuality—and why he refuses to label himself just to quiet critics.

“There’s this constant pressure to define everything,” Martinez said. “I’ve never really felt the need to label myself or to say I’m this or I’m that. I’m just Josh.”

The 32-year-old admits it took time to reach that level of confidence. From his gameplay to his appearance to who he dates, Martinez says nearly every aspect of his life has been scrutinized online.

READ MORE: Josh Martinez Reveals a Big Argument We Didn’t See on ‘Destination X’ (Exclusive)

“I really just don’t care anymore. Every single aspect of my life has been attacked, has been judged…from the way I speak everything, the way I compete, the way I look, who I’m sleeping with, my sexuality, the way everything has been destroyed, to where it’s built me to like I just don’t care,” he recalled to the outlet. “People are just gonna have an opinion, and you gotta be okay, and you also can’t give a s**t. And there’s so much freedom in that… if I want to go on a show and sleep with whoever I want to sleep with, or date whoever I want to date, I’m okay with it.”

But, that doesn’t mean his lifestyle hasn’t complicated relationships. “It has ruined some relationships for me that I felt like could be serious,” he shared, explaining that months-long filming schedules have led to ultimatums between love and career.

Professionally, Martinez is about to take on one of his biggest challenges yet. The Challenge veteran is preparing to enter Telemundo’s La Casa de los Famosos, where he’ll spend 17 weeks cut off from the outside world. “I’m freaking the f**k out,” he admitted to MJ, adding that breaking into the Latin market “is a dream of mine.”

Martinez first rose to fame in 2017 when he won Big Brother 19 at just 23 years old, taking home the $500,000 grand prize after one of the most polarizing seasons in the show’s history. Since then, he has built a steady career across multiple reality franchises, evolving from the emotional underdog fans first met into a seasoned competitor—and now, someone far more comfortable defining himself on his own terms.

This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.