Welcome to Reality Derby, Gold Derby’s deep dive into all things reality TV, hosted by senior editors Marcus James Dixon and Denton Davidson. Watch the latest episode above.
Yam Yam Arocho won $1 million on Survivor 44, but he couldn’t survive Lisa Rinna‘s “cursed amulet” on The Traitors. The gamer was murdered in plain sight when he fixed Lisa’s jewel during “The Black Banquet,” though he incorrectly believed it was because she kissed him. Yam Yam is now calling this season the “revenge of the Housewives” because Lisa and Candiace Dillard Bassett are both calling the shots (along with Love Island’s Rob Rausch). That’s a far cry from last year, when there were no Housewives up in the turret.
Read on for our exit interview with Yam Yam.
Gold Derby: We’re both in black!
Yam Yam Arocho: Well, you know, it is my murder. It is my funeral. We’re in mourning.
Now that Natalie is the only gamer left, I’m sure you’re going to root for her, right?
Of course! My dream would be for Rob to recruit Natalie, and then both of them win, and then they get married. And then it’s [singing] Rob and Natalie kissing in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. No, I’m kidding.
You had one of the most memorable, shocking exits ever on The Traitors. No one wants to be eliminated, but that was kind of a cool way to go out. Would you agree?
I was going to get murdered or banished sooner or later. It was going to happen. I was very me. To all of the players there, I was very messy and they didn’t understand me. I mean, they enjoyed me, I feel like. That’s what they tell me now. But in the game, it brought a lot of suspicion on me that the Traitors were using. But I was happy that if I was going to get eliminated, it was going to be in front of everyone. Being dragged out, being able to scream whatever I had in my mind, it just makes it even better. Had Lisa maybe not been so sketchy with me, I would not have thought it was her.
‘The Traitors’ Season 4, Episode 7Euan Cherry/Peacock
You were 100 percent right that it was Lisa, you were just wrong about the method. What was the red flag about Lisa?
Well, if you know anything about my game on Survivor, at the end of the tribal council, I would say, “I can see the twinkle in the eye of people.” It has become a cheesy phrase for me, but it’s really a skill I have. If I know somebody good enough, I know when something shifts in their head. I saw in her face a shift of a different energy, like her interaction with me was not the normal interaction I had with her. Lisa and I had a great relationship in the castle. To this day, we text about it, we talk. But there was something about the way she was looking at me. And I did say to her, “I see different stars in your eye,” but I thought it was the glow-up of the whole banquet. As soon as I heard Alan say, “The kiss of death repeats itself,” I was like, “Oh my God, Lisa kissed me.”
Some fans are saying you should not have been allowed to speak as you were being dragged out, but I would argue you weren’t dead yet. They were dragging you to your death.
I saw some of these ideas of people having their opinions, like they always do, which is amazing — I’m happy you’re watching. But you cannot be picked as a Traitor and have a freaking easy job of just killing people in the dark. I mean, you already have the upper hand. The game should evolve to make being a Traitor more dangerous. One of the factors this season was of course the “Secret Traitor,” but also now this second level of, if you’re going to murder someone in front of people and heat might go back to you, be more careful of the way you do it.
Speaking of the “Secret Traitor,” I thought it was you those first three episodes. I don’t know if maybe it was the way it was edited, or the way you were acting. I was shocked it was Donna, but you weren’t.
I knew it was Donna from the moment that person was picked, and I told Monet. They showed that at least. And I said it on the first car ride to the first challenge. I told Natalie, let’s say the name at the same time, and both of us said “Donna,” and that’s why we went for Donna. But because Michael was such a loudmouth in the first round table, we voted for Michael.
The gamers are leaving us, one by one. From your perspective, watching this happen, what was going through your mind?
Revenge of the Housewives! That’s what’s up. That’s freaking Boston Rob and Caroline’s fault, and Danielle, for killing all of the Housewives last season. I was mad. And the thing is, in a game that is based on strategy, the gamers did not trust each other. In our head, one of us was a Traitor. So, the fact that you had the heart of strategy in the game not trusting each other, it created an air of mistrust within the rest of the people. This was a bad season for gamers to play. I mean, good for Natalie for outlasting, but bad for the rest of us.
I love your fashion. Where did everyone get their clothes?
All of my outfits were done by my husband. My husband is a stylist and a fashion designer. He did all my clothes for Survivor as well. This last outfit was assigned to me by the stylist of the show, and her name is Ricky Finlay. She’s super cute and her team is really, really amazing. But every other outfit that I wore was done by my husband.
Yamil ‘Yam Yam’ ArochoPeacock
Rob R’s blue overalls went viral. You saw those in person. What did you think of them?
He could have worn a pillowcase and it would’ve been hot! I had no idea who Rob was, so I didn’t know that was a thing. They were always putting so few clothes on him, and the one at the banquet where his back was out, with just ribbons of lace going back and forth, and you could see the V-shape of the abs, I was like, “Oh, Rob!” It was so nice to see.
It seems like Candiace and Rob are going against each other now. What should their strategy be? Should they try to reconcile in the turret, or should they just go at each other’s throats?
Go at each other’s throats! Candiace is a great commentator and a super smart player. So is Rob. But Candiace is bigger than life. I understand Candiace’s reaction and actions to make a point, because she knows what’s going to look fun. Rob is playing a more quiet game of defending himself and just melting in with the Faithfuls. But Candiace is doing the Candiace thing. I give props to both of them. It’s fun to watch. Had I been in that position, I wish I could say I would be chill and turn the page, but knowing how I am and how everybody there is, I feel like I would’ve been just like Candiace. I would’ve been throwing that guy under the bus as well. And the only thing is, don’t let that person know you’re coming for him unless you have all your ducks in a row. He has way more connections that she has at this point. Why would you go out of your way to make a point?
Also in this week’s episode, Reality Derby dishes “The Black Banquet” episode of The Traitors and recaps the first episode of American Idol Season 24.