“Producers Tried To Hide This… Big Brother Contestant Finally Reveals Why He Refused To Enter Season 28!”

A Big Brother hopeful is explaining his decision to turn down a chance at $750,000.

Levi Banks, a 28-year-old North Carolina resident, shared a message to Instagram before the Big Brother 28 premiere to reveal why he backed out of the show before the season kicked off.

Airing on Thursday, July 9, Big Brother 28’s debut episode introduced viewers to 14 new contestants, a returning vet and a Survivor legend who’d be joining them for the summer. Banks, however, was not one of the new houseguests.

A CBS spokesperson has confirmed to PEOPLE that Banks had exited from the cast.

“I just wanted to give you all a quick update and let you know that I am doing great,” Banks said in a video message. “I was all set and ready to move into the Big Brother house this season and as we got closer and closer and closer to the move-in day, I just kind of realized that this was just not the right fit for me personally.”

He added, “I just wanted to let you know that was probably the hardest decision of my entire life.”

Now, Banks is “back home in North Carolina” and remains “on good terms with CBS, Big Brother and everyone,” he said.

“I just wanted to let them know, and you all know, that I am so, so, so thankful for this opportunity,” he said. “It’s very life-changing. And also, I am so freakin’ excited to watch the show tonight. Oh my gosh, I am pumped. It’s going to be a different POV [compared to] in the house… so I will take that one thing at a time. But I want to say thank you all for your support, I appreciate all of you and lets go Yash!”

Yash Patel is indeed one of the 14 newbies competing for $750,000 this summer in the BB house, with Big Brother 26 alum Angela Murray now competing in her second season. Survivor’s Rick Devens was also named as a surprise contestant on Thursday, as other surprises are in store for the houseguests in the episodes to come.

Murray and Devens aren’t the season’s only reality TV alumni, however, as the cast also includes 35-year-old Jason De Puy — better known by RuPaul’s Drag Race fans as Salina EsTitties. Big Brother 28 features a special “time trip” theme and will include a landmark 1,000th episode, with Julie Chen Moonves continuing her run as series host.

Big Brother airs Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, with Big Brother: Unlocked arriving on Fridays at 8 p.m. as well. Episodes are available to watch the next day on Paramount+.