Showmances are the lifeblood of reality television, but few have crashed and burned quite as spectacularly as the one between Natalie Negrotti and James Huling. If you followed Big Brother 18 back in 2016, you remember the "Jatalie" craze. They were the underdog couple. The former NFL cheerleader and the "Asian Cowboy" from Texas. It felt like a rom-com script written by a producer who spent too much time in the sun.
But then the cameras stopped rolling.
What followed wasn't a fairy tale. It was a messy, public, and legally-charged fallout that involved cease and desist letters, hacking allegations, and a very controversial GoFundMe. Honestly, if you only watched the CBS edits, you missed about 80% of the actual story.
The Big Brother Natalie and James Dynamic: Strategy or Love?
Inside the house, Big Brother Natalie and James were inseparable. James was the veteran, returning for his second shot after winning America’s Favorite Houseguest in Season 17. Natalie was the bubbly newcomer who quickly realized that James was her ticket to safety.
Critics often claimed Natalie was "using" James. They pointed to her fluctuating interest and the way she’d occasionally vent about him to other houseguests. But James wasn't exactly a passive bystander. He was intensely protective—sometimes to a fault—and his game suffered because he prioritized Natalie over his own alliances.
The Breaking Point in the House
The tension peaked when the couple ended up on the block together. Natalie, feeling the pressure, blamed James for trusting the wrong people (specifically Nicole Franzel and Corey Brooks). It was a rare moment of genuine friction that teased the chaos to come.
Despite the tears and the "I never want to see you again" threats, they left the jury house seemingly united. They told Julie Chen they were soulmates. They promised to make it work despite the 1,500-mile gap between New Jersey and Texas.
When the "Jatalie" Magic Vanished
The transition to the real world is where most Big Brother relationships go to die. For Big Brother Natalie and James, the death of the relationship wasn't quiet.
By early 2017, the cracks were wide open. They weren't just "taking a break"; they were actively warring on social media. James went on a now-infamous Periscope livestream (remember those?) to air his grievances. He claimed that Natalie had been talking to an ex-boyfriend the entire time they were "together." He even suggested the relationship was largely kept alive for public appearances to "make bank" at events.
The Cease and Desist
Things shifted from "petty drama" to "legal drama" when Natalie’s lawyers got involved. She sent James a cease and desist letter.
- The Allegation: Natalie accused James of slandering her name.
- The Photos: There were ugly claims regarding leaked private photos, with Natalie's team suggesting James had a hand in it after "borrowing" her phone.
- The Retaliation: James, in typical James fashion, read the legal letter out loud during a livestream, mocking the grammar and the accusations.
The GoFundMe Controversy
One of the most specific points of contention involved a GoFundMe campaign James started for Natalie’s family in Venezuela. The goal was to help them during a period of intense economic crisis.
Rumors began to swirl—some fueled by James's frustration—that the money hadn't actually reached its destination. Natalie fired back with a statement from her attorneys, asserting that every penny was documented and sent to her family. She threatened further legal action against anyone (including James) who claimed she had misused the funds. It was a dark turn for a couple that had once been the "sweethearts" of the season.
Where Are They Now?
It's been years since the dust settled. They’ve both moved on, but their paths since the show couldn't be more different.
Natalie Negrotti traded the Big Brother house for The Challenge. She became a regular on MTV, competing in Vendettas, Final Reckoning, and War of the Worlds. During her time on The Challenge, she famously came out as pansexual, a moment that resonated with many fans but also came with its own share of reality TV drama involving castmate Kayleigh Morris. As of 2026, she has mostly stepped away from the reality grind, focusing on her life in New York and occasional hosting gigs.
James Huling stayed closer to his roots. He eventually left the "reality star" lifestyle behind and returned to Texas. Interestingly, he even made a foray into politics, running for mayor of Wichita Falls in 2020. He didn't win, but it showed a desire to move beyond the "prankster" persona he cultivated on CBS. He still pops up in the Big Brother community occasionally, but the "Jatalie" era is firmly in his rearview mirror.
How to Follow Their Updates Today
If you’re looking to see what they’re up to in 2026, Instagram is your best bet. Natalie remains active in the influencer space, sharing fitness and lifestyle content. James is more low-key, often posting about his veteran advocacy and life in Texas.
- Check Natalie’s verified Instagram for her latest hosting projects.
- Search for James's public Facebook or Twitter (X) to see his take on current Big Brother seasons.
- Avoid old Reddit threads from 2017 if you want current facts; the misinformation from that era is rampant.
The lesson of Big Brother Natalie and James is a classic one: what you see on a 24/7 live feed is only a fraction of a human being's reality. Showmances are built in a vacuum. Once you add lawyers, long distance, and the pressure of "fan expectations," even the strongest-looking bonds can evaporate in an afternoon.