The Circle Season 6 had everything: a new city, a TikTok-lebrity (‘s sister), a skeleton named Herbert, enemies turned frenemies, strategic superfans, and the first-ever inhuman player. It was the season of AI and Ride or Die — and now the season has something else to brag about: a winner. SPOILERS, obviously!
After navigating past an invasive artificial intelligence, watching allies get blocked, turning a sworn enemy into a quasi-trusted ally, stowing away on the tightest alliance of the season, and making the most important strategy move of the season, Olivia (a.k.a. Brandon Baker) is our winner!
Y’all truly have to give it up to Olivia — I mean, Brandon. Brandon’s earnestness and willingness to share did precisely what scheming and backstabbing failed to do all season long: it split the #TresFuego alliance apart. It turns out that the most efficient way of breaking up an alliance isn’t turning them against each other. It’s way better to form strong, one-on-one bonds with as many alliance members as possible — and then let super #CircleBesties rank you #1 over their alliance members. Sounds simple when you lay it out like that, but Brandon fought hard for these friendships all season long. Remember all those tears in Episode 1 when Brandon felt that he had bombed the first group chat? Well, look at Brandon/Olivia now!
We got a chance to talk to Brandon/Olivia about their epic run on The Circle Season 6, winning the grand prize, and — of course — being “tits out on Netflix.”
BRANDON / “OLIVIA”
Decider: Going into The Circle, what made you want to catfish as Olivia? And her name isn’t really Olivia, is it?
Brandon Baker/”Olivia”: Her name is Claudia. We have very similar personalities and she she’s just so, so gorgeous inside and out. I needed to play her because I felt like with her smile and my personality we would we would have crushed it, and well…
What was the reasoning behind changing the name to Olivia?
I felt like Olivia was like a lighter name and I’ve never personally met and Olivia I didn’t like. I also wanted to use the nickname “Liv” because I was like, “Oh my god, who’s gonna feel threatened by a Liv?”
You had a very emotional response after the first Circle chat, when you started crying. What were your feelings?
I felt like I was in over my head. After that first Circle chat I was like, “Brandon, we are blowing this. We are blowing this so hard. We have barely said anything and when we have said something, we’re not saying much. We are gonna blow this.” I was devastated. “My time in The Circle is going to be two days. I’m so done for.” So then turning around and getting the #1 Influencer spot, I was like, “What in the world? Either someone’s playing very hard or I’m the luckiest girl right now.” That was how I felt.
The first player you bonded with was Steffi — and then immediately everyone targeted her as the AI. What was it like having everyone assume that your biggest ally was a robot?
I was so visibly irritated. Even watching the show, I can tell I was so irritated. I aligned with Steffi because I loved her and she was so sweet to me. And then Cassie, right, I aligned with Cassie. And I’m like, “There goes Steffi. There goes Cassie.” I’m like, “Oh my god, can I align with someone who actually gets to stay in the game?” And I fought for both of them! So, I was like, “What is happening?”
You align with one player who stayed the entire game: Dr. Frank.
I’m a big hot dog connoisseur — no pun intended. But I was like, “I need a Wilson. I need a Castaway Wilson.” So I got Frank and when I was there, I was like I need to interact with this stuffed hotdog as much as I can just because it’s gonna keep me, I guess, sane. But it was so funny trying to find things to do with him.”
As one of the first Influencers, you get to bring in QT. How did that affect your dynamic with her?
Bringing QT into The Circle, I felt like, “Okay, I’m gonna have an instant alliance.” I made it known to her in our first chat together, “Hey, I brought you into The Circle, we should be an alliance.” But then I realized that she was making alliances with everyone else and ignoring me and trying to get me out. And I was like, “What the hell? I gave you this opportunity! And here you are trying to destroy me!” [Laughs] So it’s really funny to watch it, because I don’t get to see those perspectives when I’m there, and the whole time I’m like, “I love QT” and she’s like, “Let’s destroy Olivia.” And so I was like, “Oh, my God.”
You and Myles were the only two with an inkling that Max might be the AI. What tipped you off to Max?
So, one: I thought the dog looked very edited in the photo. But the thing that really nailed it for me was we played a game — and I forget the name of the game — and his empathy answer, even though it was a joke, there was not even a hint of empathy in the joke. And then there was an airplane scenario and I was like, “So you’re telling me you’re gonna have a 12-year-old move seats on an airplane when any human being would know you can’t just switch seats on a plane?”
One of the other games you played was Rap It Up, and your rap was not shown. What was your rap? Who did you rap about?
I was so mad I didn’t get to see my rap! My rap was about Steffi and I personally think it was amazing. I can’t remember every word of it, but I know it ended with something like “hold my stethoscope” It was very good and I was like, “Damn.” Man, I wanted to see it.
You had an interesting relationship with Kyle, where you initially thought he might be the AI and you butted heads. But then Kyle initiated a chat and reintroduced himself to you, and presented you with one of those definitive Circle moments. You didn’t have to connect with him over losing your father, but you did — and you made a connection that kept you in the game. What made you decide to let Kyle in?
For me, even in real life, it’s so important to be vulnerable because it allows other people in. And although that can be very, very scary, I think it’s important to trying to build relationships. So when he mentioned his father, I was like, “Oh my god, I can’t believe he just told me this.” And then I was like, “Well, now I have to tell him about my dad.” It was a very hard scene to film, I will say, because I like to keep things light and funny as a person. That’s just what I do. And so in the moment, I was like, “If I don’t open up to him, he’s not going to accept this apology.” And, that was hard. I don’t share that story with a lot of people, and so now knowing that it is forever on Netflix freaks me out a little bit, but also I think it’s important. Maybe other people can relate to it.
That connection protected you and instead Cassie got blocked. She came to see you and this was the first time someone found out you were a catfish.
So when Cassie got eliminated, the first thing in my head was, “She has to come see me, right? She has to, she has to…” And then I was like, “No, she’s gonna go see QT because she’s always been that kind of person that would confront you.” And so I was chilling and I get the knock on the door and I was like, “Oh my god, I’m in a rainbow onesie and I’m about to meet my #CircleBestie.” Door opens and I’m just screaming. I screamed so hard I lost my voice. I don’t know if you can notice when you watch, but my voice changed. It got a little deeper because I had killed my vocal cords. We just instantly instantly hit it off. I talk to her almost every single day. She’s amazing. I love her.
She told me that your room was very dark.
And I didn’t disagree, either! I know it is! It was beautiful. The room was beautiful, but it was darker and I was like, “I’ve got to be the sunshine in this room because I’m not getting any.” But God, she was so funny. I had a little bowl of Reese’s Pieces for her. It was hilarious.
For the Ride or Die challenge you were paired with Myles, the one person you did not want to work with. How did the Ride or Die challenge affect your strategy?
When it came to the Ride or Die thing, obviously I was furious because I wasn’t a fan of him at the time and he’s got a big target on his back, and now there’s gonna be one on mine, even bigger. So I was like, “We’re done for.” And then we decide that we’re going to go after poor Autumn, and I knew if I didn’t go along with this, we were both going to be sent home because of it. So when he came up with it, I was like, “This is what we got to do.” And I felt so sick, but it ended up getting us through.
There was a funny chat where Jordan’s aggressively trying to get you to turn on Myles and he has no idea that Myles is your ride or die.
When he came in and was like, “Ah, Myles Myles Myles” — I was like, “Oh, no. What can I say about Myles that doesn’t make it sound like I’m kissing his ass?” And so I was like, “He seems trustworthy,” which I didn’t even believe. But Jordan was coming in hot. Hot hot.
Jordan was trying to hide his strategy behind a friendly face on his profile, and he initially played so easygoing. Then he started playing incredibly hard. Did you notice that switch, or that disparity between his profile and his chat?
100%. 100%. I was like, “What just happened?” He went from, “I’m sweet Jordan. I want to get to know you” to, “Hey, QT congratulations on winning The Circle!” And, I was like, “Oh, my God. Oh, my God.”
The hottest moment of the season has to be the hot tub convo that you have with Kyle. First of all: what is it like been seeing yourself shirtless in a hot tub as The Circle’s icon on the Netflix homepage?
Let me just tell you, I have never seen so many shirtless pictures of myself in my entire life. I opened up Netflix, there’s a little cube that says The Circle and then just… there’s my tits. At this point, I don’t even need to start an OnlyFans. It’s already there. It’s right there.
This was another big Circle moment where you had to make a decision, like, “I guess I’m doing this!” Were you hesitant about sending a photo?
No, no, because Kyle sent one. In my head, I didn’t want to flirt with anyone because I don’t want to end up hurting someone. I don’t want it to be like, they have feelings for this person and then end up hurting them. So for me, when he sent the picture, I was like, “Shit. One. Damn, he’s hot. Two: I have to send a picture back. Otherwise he’s gonna be like, ‘Uhhh?’” I love the scene. I really do love that scene, but I can’t believe I’m just tits out on Netflix right now.
You got three gifts during the gift-giving game, but we did not get to see the actual items you were given. What was delivered to your door?
I’m pretty sure, if I can remember, I got two little mini champagne bottles. And I got a coloring book or something. I can’t remember. No — it was a like memories box type deal. And it said like “love” and like “cherish” and all the sappy stuff. So I was like, “This is so cute — but also, shit, I got three gifts.”
You handled it in an interesting way, expressing regret over getting so many gifts.
For me in that moment, because it was like, “Lauren, you got zero gifts. Jordan you got zero gifts.” This seems so mean! “You get none, you get none, you get none, you get one, you get two, you get three!” I was like, “This is so shady.”
At this point you were kind of being brought into the #TresFuego Alliance, because you were Myles’ Ride or Die and you had a bond with Kyle. Were you aware that QT, Myles, and Kyle had an alliance?
I didn’t actually know, but I had a feeling because I knew QT and Myles were a thing. I think everyone knew that. And then I was like, “There has to be someone else.” And I kept seeing Kyle come in an Influencer spot, and it has to be QT. And if QT is helping him, then it has to be Myles too. That just logically makes sense. And so I was like, “They’re all three together. There’s no way they’re not.” But I never could actually confirm it because I thought QT was with me.
Those bonds with Kyle and QT held strong because they both rated you #1 over Myles in the next-to-last ratings, which helped you get Secret Influencer. And then you ended up blocking Myles.
It’s so funny you mentioned that because me and Kyle just talked about this yesterday. We were like, “Oh my god, if QT would have voted Myles #1, he would have been the super secret influencer.” We literally just had that conversation.
Did Jordan’s campaigning sway you towards blocking Myles?
I don’t want to hurt Jordan’s feelings, but no. When Jordan was trying to convince me of all these different things, I was very much like, “He’s making good points, but I can also sense the lies.” But for Myles, I already didn’t like him throughout the game and we had just connected literally five minutes before I had to make this choice. And if I keep Jordan, he’s gonna vote me high. So if I don’t get rid of Myles, he’s gonna put QT first and she’s going to win no matter what. So that — and revenge for Cassie.
It always comes down to heart versus head in the final ratings, and you put QT #1 and Kyle #2. You could have put have flipped it and put Jordan #1, Lauren #2, etc.
I definitely could have, and I thought about it. I really thought about it, because obviously I really wanted to win. But I think if I would have done it that way, I would not have been able to be proud of myself. So I knew if I didn’t win, that QT deserved to win because of how hard she played. And if she didn’t win, Kyle deserves to win because of just our relationship. And then after that, I had an alliance with Lauren. I felt like I owed her at least third. And then when it came to Jordan, I was like, “You’re new buddy, but you’re here.” So that was how I made that choice.
And then at the very end, seeing everyone in person — was it thrilling seeing their reactions to you?
I was so excited. I was a little nervous, but I was so excited because I just wanted to see Kyle’s face.
He hid. He almost sank into the couch.
I was so ready. When I turned that corner, that’s exactly the face I was looking for. I was like, “Where’s Kyle? Where’s Kyle?” And then I saw Kyle and I was like, “Ahh!” I was also shocked that everyone else was real.
They told me that they thought you were a crew member.
I do look very crew member-esque, so I’m okay with it.
Producer.
Give me that at least .
Then you have your final two moment with Kyle. What was it like finding out that you won?
Oh my god, it was honestly breathtaking and shocking. I remember watching the countdown. We start at five and we get to one and two together. But I remember watching Jordan fall off and then Lauren fall off and then QT fell off and I was like, “Oh my god.” I remember I got goosebumps and I started feeling like, “Okay, it’s going to be Kyle, Brandon. You gotta be happy. It’s gonna be Kyle. You got to smile. You can’t be upset. You gotta be happy for him.” I was seriously standing there waiting for Kyle to win, and when it turned, I lost it. I grabbed Kyle and I buried my head in him because I don’t know what’s happening.
Lastly, where is that money going?
I really wanted to help pay off my mom’s home. That was such a special thing for me to get to do, so I’m sticking by it. That’s my plan. She doesn’t know this, so I’m probably gonna have to fight her for it. I want to give back to her because she’s given me so much, so — I’m not gonna get emotional! I’m not gonna get emotional!
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity
