Credit: The Traitors US/Peacock
Staying in nearby hotels and $1,000 salary: A deep dive into the reality of The Traitors US
Wait, they don't stay in the building they film at?!
The Traitors US has seen murders take place left, right, and center, and it’s up to the roundtable faithfuls to figure out who the secret killers are. But apparently, the reality of the show is shocking.
From kicking Dorinda Medley out three episodes in to staying in a hotel outside The Traitors US castle, it’s been a wild season for Peacock. Alan Cumming has chosen his traitors, but what really goes on?
The Traitors US cast stay in nearby hotels
The Traitors US contestants stay in a hotel situated 45 minutes from the main castle they film in. Season 1’s Arie Luyendyk said on an Instagram Q&A in March 2024, “Cast stayed in a hotel, not the castle.”
He spilled that filming lasted between 18 and 20 hours for a total of four weeks. “Covid eliminated 2 cast members and we had to reshoot the entire first episode,” Luyendyk also claimed on his Instagram Story.
“Original episode we came in on a train (same train from Harry Potter) but they had to cut it all because of the cast member who got sick and we [sic] in too many of the shots,” Arie added.
Contestants get paid $1,000 at MOST
The Traitors contestants are not paid. However, they are given a daily allowance to cover their lost wages while taking time off work to appear on the show, but have been given up to $1,000 in the past.
Their daily allowance is believed to be £100 a day. Former contestant Arie Luyendyk said on an Instagram Q&A in March 2024 that he “barely got paid which I didn’t mind but some cast only made $1,000.”
That was for season 1. Arie added, “Rumored season 2 cast pay was in the triple figures haha.” In a 2023 YouTube video, The Traitors UK season 1 winner Aaron Evans said, “So, they don’t technically ‘pay’ you.
The US winner wins $250,000 (around £205K), while the UK show gifts £120K to the winner. Sandra Diaz-Twine was paid “double” what Trishelle Cannatella received – but admits she “deserves it.”
There’s genuine drama after filming
Arie said how Alan Cumming was “such a fun host” who he “loves.” However, there’s genuine drama among the cast, as Arie said he doesn’t speak to The Traitors US season 1 winner, Cirie Fields.
“That’s a no,” he responded to a fan who asked where he and Cirie stand now. “She won it in a dirty way in my opinion but she has to live with that and that’s all I’ll really say.”
“If I would have won in the end then I would have left the game with a clear conscience,” Luyendyk added. “A lot was left on the cutting room floor during [the] endgame.”
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