Exclusive Interview: Shereé Whitfield, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and Tamra Judge Talk ‘The Traitors 2,’ Whether They Wanted to be a Faithful or a Traitor, 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 Shereé Whitfield (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), Maksim Chmerkovskiy (Dancing with the Stars), and Tamra Judge (The Real Housewives of Orange County).

Pop Culturalist had the chance to speak with Shereé, Maks, and Tamra about their experience competing on The Traitors 2, whether they wanted to be a Faithful or a Traitor, and more.

PC: Shereé, you watched the first season before they approached you about being a part of the show, and then you did a rewatch after they expressed interest in bringing you on as a competitor. How did that research influence your own strategy? How different was the experience playing it versus watching it as a viewer?
Maks: Damn, Shereé. I didn’t know you did that much homework. [laughs]

Tamra: Me either. Wow. [laughs]

Shereé: I didn’t know what I was getting into.

Tamra: I did no homework.

Shereé: You did none? I absolutely watched the show. I wanted to support Peacock because I’m on Bravo. So I watched the show and I actually loved it. I got a lot of my friends, even before I was cast for this, to watch Season 1. Everybody loved it. But going in, of course, you think, “I can be a Traitor. I can do this.” But it’s totally different once you’re in there, especially with our group of people. You had these professionals. These are professional gamers who do this for a living. They’re able to trick you and deceive you. That’s not really my character. But I think I did an okay job.

PC: Yeah, you held your own. Maks, as a dancer, you get to meet people from all walks of life. How were you able to apply the skills you’ve developed from dancing to this competition? If you had to describe this series in a dance style, which would it be and why?
Tamra: [laughs]

Maks: Damn. That’s a good corny question. I would say it’s an Argentine Tango. It’s that up and down, super emotional, it’s supposed to be passionately sexy, and passionately violent. It can be none of the above. It can be very neutral. The show has a lot of things. I had an amazing time. I had a people skill, not necessarily professional dance skill that I brought with me, but my profession is not as a soloist. I’ve done my entire life as a couples. I have no personal space limitations. I’ve met a billion of people in a very close proximity. For me, it was very interesting to get to meet everybody and try to figure out everyone.

I’m not going to lie, I really liked the process. It’s probably because of the production. We were kept so separate that when we were around others we gravitated into a company right away. I had a great time interacting with them, but I don’t think I really was playing a game when I was not selected a Traitor, and then when I wasn’t added on as one. I realized this is not the sort of game that I get to play. At that point, I leaned into being a physical person that you should keep for challenges. Why would you eliminate me? You know that I’m not a Traitor. You see that I’m not trying to point fingers at anybody. But when I got eliminated at this incredibly insane round table that was a great moment in my television career. [laughs] I’m glad that it happened and I’m glad that I got the last word. I said, “I’m not him” and then I walked away. It was an amazing mic drop.

PC: You fought for your life at that roundtable. Tamra, this is such a departure from your world and you really get to show off your strategic chops as well. What was the most surprising part about this experience for you?
Tamra: Oh my god. First of all, I was totally out of my comfort zone completely. I went into it thinking, “I got this because I’ve been on Housewives for so long. I’ve been training to do this my entire life.” That’s what Andy Cohen told me. Well, I don’t feel like I have because the one thing about me is I can’t lie. I can’t even lie about myself. I’m such a truth teller. So I thought that being a Traitor would be the best thing ever. When I didn’t get that tap on my shoulder, I was so relieved. You really have to lie.

Maks: I wanted that tap on my shoulder so bad.

Tamra: You did?

Maks: I was so disappointed.

Tamra: There was a part of me that was like, “Yes, I want to be a Traitor. But then…”

Maks: I’m the guy if we’re playing dodgeball that isn’t in the back trying to dodge. I’ll be in the front, trying to catch the ball so that we can get the team back in it. I’m an idiot. Your strategy would have played a lot better than mine.

Tamra: I think you would have been a very good Traitor. I really do. One thing that I learned about Maks from talking to him when we had downtime is that he’s extremely intelligent. He’s not just this good looking, dancing, cha-cha-cha. He’s very smart.

Maks: Shh.

Tamra: You don’t want anybody to know? [laughs]

PC: What I’ve appreciated about all three of you is you went against the grain and that herd mentality and we see that throughout the series. This season has such a star-studded cast. Who is somebody that you’ve worked alongside in your respective franchise who would be great for Traitors 3?
Maks: No one in my Dancing with the Stars cast. [laughs] I would not recommend any of them.

Tamra: I would have to say Teddi Mellencamp. She is very smart. She is very quick. She has a poker face. I think she would do a really good job.

Maks: I’m going to say this, if the invitation comes across the table, whoever you are, you should definitely say yes.

Tamra: Yes!

Shereé: It’s a great experience.

Maks: That’s all I can say. I can’t recommend people, but as far as if it comes across your desk, do it!

Tamra: I think Emily from my cast would be great too. She’s an attorney. She’s really smart. She’s funny. I think she’d do a great job as well.

Shereé: I’d say Kenya. I think she’d do good.

Tamra: She would do great.

Make sure to follow Shereé (Twitter/Instagram), Maks (Instagram), and Tamra (Twitter/Instagram). Stream The Traitors 2 on Peacock today.

Photo Credit: Peacock