Exclusive Interview: Trishelle Cannatella, Peter Weber, and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu Talk ‘The Traitors 2,’ Their Strategies, Adapting their Game Play, and More

The Traitors is a nail-biting psychological adventure in which treachery and deceit are the name of the game. Entertainment’s most competitive reality stars and famous faces play the ultimate murder mystery game. Hosted by award-winning actor Alan Cumming at an ancient castle set deep in the Scottish Highlands, contestants work together on a series of exhilarating missions to build a prize fund worth up to $250,000.

Hidden amongst the Faithful are the Traitors, whose goal is to eliminate the Faithful and claim the prize for themselves. Under the cover of darkness, the Traitors murder the Faithful one by one in a treacherous spree, while the Faithful try to uncover the Traitors and banish them from the game. If the Faithful contestants banish all the Traitors, they will share the prize fund, but if a Traitor or Traitors makes it to the end, they will steal all the money.

Among the competitors this season are Trishelle Cannatella (The Challenge), Peter Weber (The Bachelor), and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu (Love Island UK).

Pop Culturalist chatted with Trishelle, Peter, and Ekin-Su about The Traitors 2, their strategies, adapting their game play, and more.

PC: Trishelle, you’ve built such an illustrious tenure as a competitor on The Challenge, and often you have to adapt your gameplay based on the cast. Was it an advantage or disadvantage coming into this show, having prior relationships with Johnny Bananas and CT? This is also your much long-awaited return to television. What was the initial draw to be a part of the series?
Trishelle: I wanted to do this show because I wanted to meet new people from different shows. I thought that would be really cool. When I heard some of the people that were going to be on the show, I was like, “Wow, this is going to be an amazing cast.” I was trying to get away from the MTV people. [laughs] Obviously, all three of us are there. I wouldn’t say it was an advantage. I mean, we are brothers and sister, but we’ve also had a bad past. So we’ll have to see how it all plays out a bit later.

PC: Peter, you’re one of the surprises of the season, and you really get to show off your strategic mindset. It must have been such a strength coming into this competition where your fellow competitors don’t know what you bring to the table. What was your initial game plan heading into The Traitors, and how were you able to adapt to the various twists? We also definitely need to see you on another competition series. Is there another series that you’d love to do?
Peter: That’s very kind. I appreciate that. Yes. Honestly, I had so much fun doing The Traitors. Experience-wise, when you compare it to my last experience on reality TV, which was also an awesome experience, this was just pure fun for me. I didn’t know what I was doing going into it. I’m a very competitive person, so I was going to give it my all. I was going to use my strength as much as possible that maybe people didn’t necessarily see from The Bachelor because that show maybe doesn’t show off those qualities as much. But I was going to use those to my advantage on this show and give it my absolute best. I definitely switched up strategies throughout the game. I adapted and you have to do that to be successful in it. But all in all, it was awesome.

I would love to do Survivor. I got to talk with Parvati and Sandra about that. And obviously, the Amazing Race. Anything competition-based, I’m in.

PC: Ekin-Su, in a similar vein, you were the winner of Love Island UK, which is all about relationship building. Were you able to apply any of the skills that you learned from that series to The Traitors? What was the most surprising part about this experience for you?
Ekin-Su: There are pros and cons. It’s completely different. The only similarities are sussing out personalities and understanding who’s playing the game, who’s pretending, and who’s faking it to almost make it. I didn’t go in the same mindset as Love Island. I went in knowing that this is a game people are going to use you, abuse you, play with your mind, manipulate you, and lie to you. I knew this was going to happen. I was like, “You know what? I want to show a different side of myself.” I’m not going to be this bombshell that I was on Love Island and try and be flirty with everyone. I was like, “I’m going to go in and use my brains and get to know these people, hang around them, and play the game.” It was fun for me.

You have to be emotionally intelligent as well in this game. As much as you say that you need to separate the heart and mind. There are times that you can use that as well. I think you should also detach. The reality is it’s a game you can easily become so involved in. You think it’s real. You think these people are actually going to come and get you. I had dreams where they were coming to get me and eat me. It was crazy. But I loved it. I absolutely loved it.

PC: The gameplay is on another level this season and you can see the physical toll those sleepless nights had on all of you. This is a question for the group. This season has such a star-studded cast. Who is somebody you’ve competed alongside in the past or from another franchise that would do well on Traitors 3?
Peter: First one that comes to mind is Jed Wyatt from The Bachelorette. I remember doing a lot of the competition-based stuff on the show. He killed them. He won most of them. He’s a really smart dude, really intellectual dude. He’d be incredible on this show.

Trishelle: I thought you were going to say Hannah Brown.

Peter: Hannah Brown would be amazing too.

Trishelle: She would kill it. I’ve said it before. I think Omarosa would be good. I think she’d be amazing on the show. I’ve hung out with the Jackass guys a lot. Steve-O would be hilarious on this show.

Ekin-Su: I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Donald Trump. John reminded me of him so much that I think Donald Trump needs to apply. Trishelle: I hope that’s his next career move instead of what he is planning on doing.

Make sure to follow Trishelle (Twitter/Instagram), Peter (Instagram), and Ekin-Su (Instagram). Stream The Traitors 2 on Peacock today.

Photo Credit: Peacock