When host Alan Cumming announced Deontay Wilder had himself removed from season 2 of The traitors during episode 4, fans had questions about his early departure.
“This match was definitely harder than I thought it would be,” Wilder (38) said. We weekly during the season 2 press conference earlier this month. “I thought it was an attempt to find out [who] were the traitors, and since you have so many more loyal people than the traitors, it would be quite easy to try to find out. But when I was on this show, I was really hit with a childhood trauma that I didn't expect.
Among the 21 cast members, Wilder was one of two, along with the former Speaker of the House of Commons in Britain Johannes Bercow – who is not known as a reality star.
“I never in a million years saw this coming because I never had an outlet for the things I had to deal with as a child,” Wilder continued. “Sometimes you go through life and certain things allow you to release such and such an emotion and make you feel better. But I never had the opportunity or a specific place.”
Wilder is a heavyweight champion and won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics.
“I am a world traveler. I've been to a lot of places around the world, but at this particular moment when I was on this show – I think because of the circumstances it was in – it really took back the state I was in [as a child]. … People accusing each other of doing things that may not be true,” Wilder said Us. “And it really touched something in me.”
Viewers saw Wilder become visibly emotional at the end of episode 3 after making false accusations Maksim Chmerkovskiy of being a traitor. The Dancing with the stars pro subsequently received the most votes and was banned.
“Maks was one of the first guys I met and I started off really well with him,” Wilder said. Us. “And we really built a kind of friendship, a bond, and were able to bear false witness against him when I really felt like he [a traitor] because he started acting different and stuff. We can assume certain emotions, certain things people do or whatever. You really have to keep an eye on things.”
According to a 2020 profile by The Athletics, Wilder's mother left his family when he was just 9 years old. His family struggled financially and he was teased by his classmates. His challenges continued as he grew older and his eldest daughter, Naieya, was born with spina bifida when Wilder was 19. Wilder subsequently battled depression.
He told Us that he is “a very emotional guy in general,” which he knows people might not expect.
“Although my profession is a hurt business, as I call it. But as a man, as Deontay Wilder, as a person I am a loving, caring man, I love everyone and I want to see everyone succeed in life,” he said. “And I think you got the best out of me on the show.”
Overall, Wilder had a great experience despite not knowing any of his costars, including Real Housewives Tamra Judge, Sheree Whitfield, Phaedra Parks and Larsa Pippen, Survivor stars Sandra Diaz Twine And Parvati Shallow, Big Brother'S Then Gheesling And Janelle Pierzinaformer bachelor Peter Weber and more.
“I was very open-minded [about] going to the show and just to see who I would meet there,” he said. “I got close to certain people, [but] Honestly, I don't think I disliked anyone on the show. Everyone was unique and they had their own things about themselves, both personally and professionally. So I was really happy to be there and be a part of it and meet so many great people.”
The first four episodes of season 2 of The traitors are currently streaming on Peacock.