If you spent the summer of 2016 glued to the Big Brother 18 24/7 live feeds, you remember the "Jatalie" craze. It was the quintessential odd-couple story. James Huling was the southern-fried prankster, a veteran player known for jumping out of trash cans. Natalie Negrotti was the high-energy former NFL cheerleader with a "never met a stranger" personality.
On paper? It made no sense. In the house? It was the heart of the season.
But here we are in 2026, and the nostalgia for that era of Big Brother is hitting a fever pitch. People are still asking: Were they ever actually a real couple? Did the GoFundMe scandal really happen? And where on earth are they now?
Honestly, the truth is way messier than the edited episodes ever let on.
The Big Brother 18 Showmance: Strategy or Soulmates?
From the jump, James and Natalie were inseparable. James was the protective veteran, and Natalie was the "rookie" who seemed to find genuine comfort in his presence. They spent hours in the bumper car in the backyard, just talking. It was sweet. It was wholesome. It was also highly debated by the other houseguests.
Paulie Calafiore, a fellow contestant that year, famously claimed Natalie was just using James for his "America’s Favorite Player" status. He wasn't the only skeptic.
Natalie always maintained it was "really real." When she was evicted, she told Julie Chen that James was her soulmate. James, for his part, seemed completely smitten, even offering to go on the block to save her.
The Honeymoon Phase (And the Pranks)
When the cameras turned off in September 2016, the relationship didn't stop. They traveled. They met each other's families. James spent a significant amount of time in New Jersey with Natalie's family.
They also leaned into their social media fame. In late 2016, they pulled a "proposal prank" on Instagram that sent the fandom into a tailspin. They eventually admitted it was a joke, but it showed how much they enjoyed the spotlight as a duo.
Then, the cracks started showing.
Why James and Natalie from Big Brother Went South
By early 2017, the "Jatalie" ship wasn't just sinking—it was on fire. In April of that year, things turned incredibly ugly on social media.
James took to Twitter and Periscope to air out their dirty laundry. He accused Natalie of being "fake" and claimed she had been talking to her ex-boyfriend while they were still together. He even suggested that their romance was partially an "act" for the fans once they left the house.
The drama centered on a few specific, nasty points:
- The GoFundMe Dispute: James had helped set up a GoFundMe to raise money for Natalie’s family in Venezuela. Later, he publicly questioned if the money actually reached them.
- The Legal Threats: Natalie didn't just tweet back; she called in the lawyers. She served James with a cease and desist letter, accusing him of defamation and cyber-harassment.
- Privacy Violations: James admitted to going through Natalie’s phone and taking "receipts" (screenshots) to protect himself.
Natalie’s legal team issued a statement confirming that every cent of the GoFundMe money was accounted for and sent to her family. The relationship didn't just end; it ended with the threat of a lawsuit and a complete severance of ties.
Where Are They Now? (Update 2026)
Life has taken both of them in wildly different directions since that 2017 blow-up.
Natalie Negrotti’s Reality TV Evolution
Natalie didn't let the Big Brother drama end her TV career. Far from it. She became a staple on MTV’s The Challenge, appearing on seasons like Vendettas and Final Reckoning.
In 2018, she made headlines again by coming out as pansexual. It was a big moment for her, especially since she felt "outed" by a castmate before she was ready. She’s since moved into hosting and fitness modeling. Most recently, in 2025/2026, she resurfaced for The Amazing Race 38, competing alongside her sister, Stephanie. She’s living her best life in New York, and it's safe to say James Huling is a very distant memory.
James Huling’s Quiet Shift
James, meanwhile, retreated more toward a "normal" life in Texas. He stayed in the reality loop for a while, even appearing on an episode of Catfish, but his focus shifted.
In 2020, he actually ran for Mayor of Wichita Falls, Texas. He didn't win—coming in third with about 13% of the vote—but it marked a transition from "Reality TV Prankster" to "Community Figure." He remains a veteran advocate and occasionally pops up at Big Brother events, but he’s much less involved in the online drama than he used to be.
The Reality Check
What most people get wrong about James and Natalie is the idea that it was all "fake" for TV. If you look at the fallout, it’s clear there were real feelings involved. You don't get that angry and call lawyers over a relationship that was 100% manufactured.
The pressure of a long-distance relationship under the microscope of a toxic social media fandom is what really killed "Jatalie."
Lessons for Future Showmances
If you're a fan of the show or a future player, there are a few takeaways here:
- The "Live Feed" Effect: Fans see everything. When you try to change the narrative after the show, the "receipts" are already out there.
- Money and Romance Don't Mix: Mixing fan-funded GoFundMes with a budding relationship is a recipe for a legal nightmare.
- The Bubble Bursts: Life inside the Big Brother house isn't real life. What works in a vacuum rarely survives a flight to another time zone.
If you're looking to keep up with the current cast or see how other showmances have fared, your best bet is to check out the official Big Brother alumni social media trackers. They provide a much more stable (and less litigious) look at who is still together and who has moved on to their next "soulmate."