Boston Rob Blames His ‘Traitors’ Exit on Targeting Smarter Players First!

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A contestant on a reality show like Survivor won’t be seen as an awe-inspiring figure without knowing how to evoke both admiration and apprehension among fellow competitors. Perhaps no one has mastered this skill better than the Survivor legend and third season cast member of The Traitors, “Boston Rob” Mariano.

The show, titled “The Traitors”, can be described as a mix between a popularity contest and a strategy game. Given his extensive experience, Mariano is well-acquainted with this format, having participated in five seasons of Survivor, two seasons of The Amazing Race with his wife Amber Mariano (whom he met during his second season on Survivor and proposed to during the finale), and the debut season of Deal or No Deal Island.

Regardless of how Mariano joined the show “The Traitors”, a decision that sparked some debate among him and other cast members, he acknowledges to The Hollywood Reporter that he would always be considered a significant target. Initially, he was chosen as a Traitor, entering the game after the first three Traitors – Bob the Drag Queen (winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race), Carolyn Wiger (from Survivor) and Danielle Reyes (Big Brother) – had already eliminated one player for the season (Housewives star Dorinda Medley). The contestants had the choice to accept Mariano into the game or refuse him entry. They opted not to let him in, but he was later brought into the show with two other new cast members in a subsequent episode.

From a devoted fan’s perspective, it’s no secret that the trio of Traitors in season three have often found themselves at odds, most notably between Bob the Drag Queen and Mariano. In Bob’s view, Mariano was the catalyst for turning the contestants against the winner of Drag Race. Unfortunately for Mariano, he faced the consequences of his actions last week, finding himself voted off by none other than Reyes and Wiger.

Mariano, who’s well-known among Survivor fans due to his extensive experience in reality shows, became recognized by those not familiar with CBS’s lengthy reality competition series through The Traitors. Currently, he’s gaining attention on TikTok, particularly through videos that seem designed to capture interest (often referred to as “thirst traps”), showcasing his younger days on Survivor.

In this piece, a cast member from “The Traitors” shares with THR his emotions from their recent roundtable discussion, his reflections on entering the game, and reveals whom he hopes will participate in the upcoming season.

Could we discuss the elimination at our meeting last week? How did you feel when it happened, and was there any point where you sensed things might not go your way anymore?
Let’s delve into your experience from last week’s meeting, when you were eliminated. What thoughts crossed your mind at that moment? Was there a time when it became evident to you that the situation was shifting against you?

Throughout my entire stint on the show, it seemed as if I was constantly battling for survival. Last week, in particular, during our roundtable discussion, things appeared to be going smoothly. I devised a strategy to implicate Britney [Haynes], sensing that it might work in my favor. However, Carolyn veered off topic slightly at the roundtable, which felt like a subtle shift of focus back towards me, following Tom’s [Sandoval] initial statement. This maneuver raised some alarm bells in my head. Before the vote, I sensed that it would be a toss-up, with the outcome uncertain. When Chrishell [Stause] voted for Tom [Sandoval], and Dylan [Efron] cast his vote for Gabby [Windey], I realized my fate was sealed. The throwaway votes were crucial to me, but I lost them. To top it off, Carolyn and Danielle, who were supposed to be on my side, joined forces against me. Let me tell you, the game becomes much more challenging when you’re not only contending with allies but also enemies, and that’s what I was dealing with throughout.

I found it quite intriguing to witness such an unusual turn of events compared to what we’ve experienced previously.

It seems that entering the competition a day late might have affected other participants’ minds in some way. Initially, not being allowed to join may have fueled a desire for them to see me struggle, specifically. This gave them an opportunity to observe how I handle stress, and I believe it made the show more engaging, truthfully.

Were you puzzled as they failed to offer a handshake with Alan Cumming at first, allowing you to join instead? It seems like that moment was quite challenging during the performance.

It wasn’t until I arrived in Scotland that I discovered the show producers had planned such a surprising twist. The evening before the broadcast, the executive producers shared their idea with me, which I immediately found questionable. I explained why I thought it wasn’t a good idea, and they asked for my reasons. My main concern was that, theoretically, no one should ever extend a handshake to me. In all honesty, I had anticipated that no one would shake my hand due to the nature of the twist.

They informed me, “Don’t fret if this approach fails, we’ve got an alternative means for you to join the game. We didn’t bring you all the way to Scotland just for nothing.” Upon seeing the alternative, the cages, I reacted, “Oh, no, this is even worse.” Try to imagine how these people might feel. They’ve just rejected me, and now you’re pushing me onto them. My reputation seems to be a huge bullseye, and it shone brighter than ever. It’s what it is. That’s what I agreed to. I mean, it wasn’t what I expected, but it is what it is, and I’m prepared to participate within the framework of this unexpected scenario.

When you join the show, along with other gamers and possibly some Housewives, you’re already known for your approach to handling dramatic scenarios. Does it seem more of an advantage or a challenge to you in this context?

Prior to this game, I was only familiar with Tony Vlachos and Jeremy Collins. I’ve previously interacted with Carolyn, but not extensively enough to know her well. As for everyone else, I was essentially a stranger to them. This made the game more challenging for me because I had limited information about them, while they all knew my background. Somehow, Danielle seemed to be acquainted with me, but I couldn’t recall our previous encounters. I was aware of Britney, but not much about her past. From my perspective, it’s always difficult due to the way things were set up, which put me in a spotlight. It seems like the other contestants are thinking, “Come on.” At the same time, my extensive experience should make the game more challenging for me, I believe slightly.

Do you find pleasure in competing in the game? Is it because you see the competitors you eliminate as strong opponents that you’re targeting them specifically?

Indeed. That’s the sole reason. It struck me as intriguing; I watched the first two seasons of Traitors to gear up for this. The thought crossed my mind, wouldn’t it be fascinating if there were circumstances where the individual approaching you, you could confront head-on, knowing full well that no one would ever suspect you would.

This season, I found myself in the same predicament as I am now. It struck me as an opportunity to eliminate anyone who approaches me without any repercussions. Unfortunately, Tom Sandoval seemed to overlook the deeper implications and only considered the surface-level aspect of it. To be fair, if one looks at it from a simplistic perspective, then yes, it holds true. Perhaps my mistake was eliminating all the more strategic players earlier on. I’m not sure.

I firmly support my choices, and I carry them out, driven by respect. To some extent, this includes Bob the Drag Queen, Bob Harper, Robyn Dixon, Wes Bergmann, and Derrick Levasseur. These players are smart, and I acknowledge that. One of my greatest assets is my self-awareness, which allows me to identify the potential threats they posed, some immediate, others not so much. However, being able to see it and take action made the game more enjoyable for me. One key lesson I learned was forming friendships outside the gaming world, as Dylan and I became close friends. Although it wasn’t shown much, during the challenge where we had to bring heads together, I collaborated effectively with Chrishell and Nikki Garcia. In the final episode, Ciara Miller was another new connection I made beyond reality gaming. It was exciting to meet new people and bond with them on a deeper level outside of the game.

Is there someone from the reality gaming world you’d love to see on this show?

In my free hours, I often indulge in the intriguing game of poker, which involves a blend of strategy and deceit. Interestingly, some fellow poker enthusiasts have reached out to me, expressing an interest in joining me in this pastime. As for friends who are deeply immersed in the gaming sphere, Daniel Negreanu and Josh Arieh spring to mind. I believe they would excel in this arena.

Let’s delve a little deeper into collaborating with Danielle and Carolyn, focusing on the period following Bob the Drag Queen’s departure. During your farewell episode, you mentioned that you intended to work with Carolyn. Could we discuss this collaboration in more detail?

The situation remains challenging as I find myself back in the turret once more. Not only is my presence unwelcome in the game, but also in the turret specifically. My strategy is to keep a low profile and allow them to proceed unhindered. I must clarify that I never desired harm to come to Jeremy, but unfortunately, Danielle pushed for it, and I went along with it. I suppose I bear some responsibility since I didn’t stop it from happening.

However, an intriguing incident occurred following the roundtable discussion, where the group seemed to be inciting murderous intentions. Interestingly, Bob [the Drag Queen] attempted to place Carolyn in a coffin as one of the three victims (as seen in episode four). This action raised concerns; why would someone target one of us in such a way? It seemed like an attempt to create suspicion among us. I recognized this and kept Carolyn out of it, as I didn’t want us to turn on each other.

Unfortunately, in the very next episode, Bob indirectly pointed fingers at me by mentioning “we need to look at the cage boys.” Although he didn’t explicitly name me, by saying “those guys,” he subtly placed suspicion on me. At that point, I couldn’t ignore it. The signs were already there, and I had seen them.

In another words, due to circumstances beyond my control, I found myself compelled to confront him. Although I attempted to inform Carolyn and Danielle about the situation as it unfolded, it appears they may not have caught his statement at the time. To me, it seemed like a significant matter, likely because I was paying close attention, but maybe not for them. However, once the news spread, there was no turning back. The course of action had been set, and despite my efforts to prepare Carolyn and Danielle, Danielle didn’t approve. I quickly dismissed her objections, asserting that we would proceed regardless. Eventually, they agreed and voted in favor, but they were displeased, and it’s understandable given their perspective – they view me as taking charge, imposing my will, and causing them to feel apprehensive. In truth, I believe Danielle harbored some resentment towards me. Whether it was just this instance or due to her awareness of my past and the fear of being overshadowed by me is unclear. Regardless, our working relationship never felt harmonious.

I made an effort to connect with Carolyn and reassure her that our intentions were positive. However, I understand why she might be apprehensive since I’m involved, given my recent actions. It seems like she’s choosing to overlook the mistrust. The situation is complex, as Danielle appears to be encouraging Carolyn to distance herself from me. I could sense her thoughts, and it was clear that she has a strong alliance with Derrick and Britney due to their past in Big Brother. Dolores seems to support her too. I could see her strategy because of my experience, but I also understand why she perceives Carolyn and me as potentially close, given our Survivor background. This makes her feel outnumbered in some way. However, it’s not truly the case. That’s likely how she sees the situation.

Reflecting back, when I stated that I would’ve teamed up with Carolyn and accused Danielle of being a traitor, a poor gamer, and simply awful, I believe the latter part was more a reflection of my momentary frustration rather than an accurate assessment. In terms of her actions as a player and a traitor in the game Traitors, I still hold that view. However, regarding her behavior outside of Big Brother, I’m less informed. Overall, while she made some questionable decisions and performances, I don’t believe Danielle is inherently a bad person.

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2025-02-14 05:25