You are listening to the Reality Steve podcast with your host Reality Steve. He's got all the latest info. And behind the scenes juice on Katie's upcoming season of The Bachelorette and interviewing some of your favorite reality stars. Now, here's a reality, Steve. What's up, everybody? Welcome to podcast number twenty eight. I'm your host reality, Steve. Thank you very much for tuning in. Another great Temptation Island episode 40 this week. Aaron Smith is my guest this week.

And we've got a lot to talk about. We'll get to that momentarily. I know a lot of you have been asking, Steve, we haven't seen one word or heard one word out of you regarding The Bachelorette since Katie's season started filming. That's correct. You haven't. And there's been a reason for that. I haven't put in any effort. I'm sorry, I literally, after six straight months from Tatia seizing lead and right into that season, I just was burnt out right away to just jump in to all of Katie's season and find out what's going on and start digging and all this stuff.

I gave you all the guys the day the names were released on the Facebook page, which are since down on The Bachelorette Facebook page, I gave you all the guys first and last names and their Instagram accounts. It's on my highlights on my Instagram. It's on my Twitter account. But after that, I pretty much said I need a week or two to just lay low and. Have I had stuff sent to me in emails and DMS? Yes, but I have not followed through with it, that's what I usually do.

It's like, OK, start getting information sent to me, start following up, start asking questions. I just haven't. And. I mean, as far as I know, not one other outlet out there has done anything either, so either they're feeling the same way as me or they don't know anything. I don't know anything about this season outside of one thing that I know has happened, nothing major, just, you know, an early elimination and whatnot.

But I just have not put in any effort whatsoever to start doing any work on Katie's season. Will I? Yes, obviously I will I this is my job. But last night was a rose ceremony number three that I know. And. We're we've got another, you know, month of filming left roughly so. All hear stuff and. Because it's in a bubble and because they're not traveling, it's going to be like the last few seasons where I hear things and I just don't get the full breakdown of it like I get.

You'll hear something, but I won't know the details to it, but what I heard does end up happening. I just don't know, like maybe in the particular order that it happens or whatnot, but. You know, you'll get your stuff this season as much as you do every season. It's just that I really haven't put out any effort in responding to emails. And I've got a ton like trust me, I've gotten stuff said to me and I read them and I've seen the first couple of sentences and it's Katie Bachelorette related.

And I just put it into a folder, so I'm going to get to it. I just haven't done it right now. So I apologize for that. I will get to it shortly and I'll start filling in on what I can find out about Katie and what I said. What I do know is episode episode Rossano number three was last night. But can we talk about my March Madness role that I've been on for the four years that I've been giving out first round picks?

I know we're two weeks old on this, but I didn't address it last week. How about the fact that I gave you Ohio? Plus seven against Virginia in the first round of the tournament, and not only do they cover the seven, they won outright. And just as a bonus game, I threw in UC Santa Barbara plus the seven that they were getting against Creighton, they easily covered. They only lost by one. I don't know if they were ever trailing by more than seven at any point during the game.

That's how, you know, it's a good pick is if you're getting points and at no point where you ever were, they were trailing by more than those and they had to get inside the number. But wow, I'm four and so on.

The four years that I've given you a first round pick in the NCAA tournament, I mean, granted, it's one pick and you have to wait a year until the next one.

But I'm pretty proud of myself. I'm pretty proud of the NCAA tournament that I'm also having this year as well.

So it's been going rather well. As for the breakdown of the final two games, I mean, Gonzaga is your favorite. I don't see UCLA competing with them maybe for a half, but Gonzaga is going to win that game going away. Houston, Baylor, Hughes has been a great story. I just don't think they can match up with Baylor. And look, Gonzaga, the Baylor is the national championship game that we need, without a doubt, you know, these two we're supposed to play earlier in the season in Indianapolis, and it was right at the time when Gonzaga had a covid case in their program, like multiple Kolba cases, and they had to take three weeks off.

So I think it would only be fitting to have the national championship game be Gonzaga against Baylor, because Baylor really is the only team in America that I think can even remotely match up with Gonzaga and.

The fact that this could be our first undefeated. College basketball team since 1976 and going against probably the number two team in the nation, I, I couldn't ask for more as a college basketball fan. I didn't know how this tournament was going to go, all being in Indianapolis and they did went a little wonky with the schedule going Friday through Monday on the first weekend and then Saturday through Tuesday on Sweet 16 and lead eight weekend. All I know is college basketball's my favorite sport, March Madness is my favorite event every year, and I'll never, ever, ever not like it.

So I'm excited. I'd love to see Gonzaga win it all and we'll kind of take it from there. But I just wanted to pat myself on the back a little bit for giving you that Ohio pick and the bonus pick of yours, Santa Barbara.

I'm not going to count the Santa Barbara picking my record. We'll just say we'll go with the Forno in the four years that I've given you a first round pick starting in the 2017, 2018, 2019. Obviously, there was no tournament in 2020 and then this year. So yeah. Anyway. Temptation Island, you know what, you love it every Tuesday night, 10:00, 9:00 Central on the USA Network. Aaron Smith is our guest this week and we will get to her right now.

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All right, let's bring her in, she is one half of the Erin and Corrie couple on Temptation Island this season, every Tuesday night on USA Network ten nine Central, it is Aaron Smith. Aaron, how are you? I am good.

Thank you for having me.

How are you doing? I'm good. My voice is doing a little bit better than yours, as I can tell off the bat.

Yes, I lost it over the weekend, so just bear with me a little raspy. Now, wait a second now. And I think about it. Rutgers lost last weekend in the NCAA tournament, so it couldn't have been from yelling at the March Madness game. Right.

It wasn't from that, surprisingly.

OK, so before we get started, there's one question I got to ask right off the bat, because it's been a little bit I don't know. I don't know if it's been clear enough on the show yet, so I just wanted to get some clarification. Do you play soccer by any chance?

I should have already known that was going that I like. This is going to happen.

I am a retired athlete. Yes. I played soccer my whole life. I played at Rutgers, did one school, and then my senior year at Rutgers. I was actually drafted to play professionally by the Houston dash and I was with them for a little bit, you know, before. So you so you did play in the MLS, the women's the women's MLS. What's it called? Is it the women's NWSL NWSL?

The MLS obviously is the men's segment of the NWSL. So you played for Houston, OK?

Yeah. So I was I was drafted my my senior year, unfortunately, you know, it didn't work out the way that I hoped it would. So, OK, I ended up having to hang up the cleats early. But now that now that it's on TV, I mean I guess I get to relive it every day.

Now I know one of the things I wanted to bring up and I'm curious if anybody has asked you about this.

Has anybody commented to you on the picture at the beginning of the show of you and Corey? Have anybody said anything to you about that? The picture at the beginning of the show, yeah, like when they're when they're running through the four couples that we're going to see this season in the opening credits with, you're not going to tempt me playing underneath it. As anybody said anything to you about the U.N. Koorie picture. No. OK.

It looks like this is just to me, it just because because when I when I saw the Chelsea and Tom and I saw Kendall and Erika and I saw Julian and Kristen there kissing and Kendall is behind Erica with his arms wrapped around her. And Tom and Chelsea are pretty chummy. You and Cory look like a prom picture of two people that are dating.

But just as friends, you know what someone actually did say that I remember now, someone was like like, why do you need to look like they don't even know each other or something like that? I was dying. Yeah, no, I honestly. I don't know because. You know, preparing like leading up to the show, we had to do a lot of Photoshop, a photo shoot, we had to do a lot of scenes and video.

It's like being sensual, kissing, picking me up, screaming me around. So I'm not really sure why. Why that photo or was chosen, but I did realize that someone did say something I was on next Tuesday's episode.

Yeah, when you look at it, there's like a good probably six to nine inches between, like, your guys is stomaches. And it's just you're just not standing next to each other. It just looks kind of it does look like two people that are just like, OK, prom night prom by two friends, but they don't want to get too close or whatever. Yeah, it's just kind of fun, that is. All right.

So let's just get started with you and how you became part of this show. How did it happen for you? Were you recruited on Instagram or something like that? Or did you how did you get on this show along with obviously Corey? Who was it presented to you first and then who had to go to the other one and say, hey, do you want to do this?

Right. So one of my friends that actually reached out to me, I was like, oh, my gosh, like you. I feel like you would be really good on this show. Like, I know that you're in, because at the time when we first applied, I don't want to say it was like a new relationship, but like it was like relatively like. I don't know, we were it was probably like nine months in, so not new, but like, you know what I mean?

And he was like, I know that you are in a relationship like like you would be great on this show, all this stuff. And I was like, what the heck? Like, what is this? Because I actually have never watched it before. And then after I looked it up and like talked for a little bit about it, I was like, all right, you know what I am going to buy? So it was my idea.

And then it was just a long process after that, but. You know, we're in the beginning, Corey, with a little iffy, but then towards the end middle, he did come around.

So we'll end up when you guys left for Maui, how long had you been in the relationship? Was it a year or year and a half? Year and a half?

Year and a half. OK, and he obviously, you know, what has been shown to us over and over is his insecurities about him not being an athlete. You've dated athletes, predominantly athletes in the past. And you know him feeling a little bit insecure about that. Yeah.

Is is that part exaggerated in terms of who you've dated in the past or have you really kind of just dated athletes because that's who you've talked?

It's a thousand percent exaggerated and being on the show, it's. Exaggerated even more because there are other people who have died in the past that he has known about and I talk about on the show as well. And. I also like I don't I never compare Cory to the people I did in the past. The reason that he knows about them and the reason that I've even ever talked to him about them is kind of because of what I've gone through.

And I have never been like I've dated these people, and so you don't compare or you're not good enough, I you know, up until the show I actually didn't really know Corey felt that way about himself when it was pertaining to my past relationships, because and I unfortunately, I feel like it really isn't shown on the show where it does make it seem like I'm like, you know, I can only use athlete.

Corey is one of them and I don't know, whatever. And it's more just like. Our big thing was that we are very different, our personalities are very different. I'm not saying one is better than the other, but our personalities are different. And I think that is what I think. That's what scared me the most. And that was the reason that I wanted to kind of go on the show and figure out why am I building up this wall for no reason and pushing someone away who loves me, or am I right?

Are we two different? You know, I can only go off seven episodes, but are we when we talk about your personalities, is it safe to assume that he's more of an introvert and you're an extrovert? Yeah, definitely, and that's that's completely accurate. And again, it's not like one is better than the other. It's just like I. And used to dating people with similar personalities to mine, which is probably why they always fell through and that they weren't the best relationships.

However, when that's all, you know, in relationships, you kind of just assume that's the type of person you're supposed to be with, even if it fails so many times. And then I met someone like Corey who was very different. He was an introvert and like I didn't know how to act. I was like, you know, this is like, is this too good to be true? Am I know so? Yeah, I just.

OK, well, is it like a beginning, a beginning of the season? I think it was. You were the couple where you he was your boss, right? Yeah, so how did you. So how is that? So obviously that's how you guys met. But is it was it something to where you kept a distance because of the whole work thing? Or was it something that you guys openly talked about? We were like, look, we're we're going to have to do this.

Or once you started dating, did one of you leave the job? Now, so, yeah, we we started dating at work and we actually had to keep it a secret, basically our whole our whole relationship, I think that kind of also is a reason why we or at least I would kind of like. I don't know, like create scenarios in my head, because I'm like, we can't publicly, I can't show people that I have a boyfriend, he can't show people that he has a girlfriend.

And for someone who has had trust issues in the past and insecurities about people who like you, don't post me. And then my my gut feelings are correct. Yeah, it did add a lot of insecurity into our relationship because we were never fully able to be open, like we had to hide it all the time. So it was hard, we've never really had. We never had, like, a fair shot at just being in a normal relationship.

So it was the first time anyone, any of your coworkers saw that Corey and Erin were dating when they found out you were on the show or left to go on the show?

Yeah. Oh, wow. Yeah. They were like some people who obviously had assumptions. And I think, like one of my close friends I told, but like for the most part, everyone was kind of like, oh, my gosh. Like we we we thought something was going on there. Like we had no idea, like, what the heck? Or like. Yeah, like surprised.

OK, so you were the one that obviously had to talk Corey into because it was presented to you and you were the one that said, let's do this. And he was a little bit reluctant at first. And then he ultimately decided, OK, let's do this. Right.

What was your. I mean, I guess what was your goal heading into the show, what did what was I mean, obviously we know that the mark says in the first episode and we've seen it now play out over seven episodes, that whatever questions you had going into it, probably not the questions that you ended up getting answers to as the process went along. But going into it, what did you want to get out of this experience? So going into it, I honestly, I just wish you and I we were at a place in our relationship where things had kind of fallen very complacent.

You know, I just I was curious truly to see if we were both with the right person, because, again, we are both very different. And I just I had a lot of questions about our relationship. And there were things also that I thought we both could work on. Like, for instance, we both struggle a lot with communication. I communicate very aggressively and passionately and gory. He he doesn't really he doesn't really communicate at all.

Like I it's just like I have to kind of pull teeth to get him to tell me how he feels. And then it's like I'm assuming the worst. And then I just I my love languages, words of affirmation. So to date, someone who doesn't really communicate that with me, I again, I struggled.

So I was like, you know, I want to go on this experience and I want to find out if I am just in my head pushing someone away, because obviously Corey is a great person and he's amazing. I never doubted that. I never doubted his love. For me, it was more just like, are we compatible or. You know, am I creating a scenario in my head that, no, we're not compatible? And if so, why am I doing that?

And what was quarry's going in? I mean, I was speaking to Corey probably next week, but. You can obviously, as his girlfriend at the time, you knew, like, OK, I know what Corey wants, do this as well.

But what did he tell you going in that he wanted to figure out if this thing was just like getting his confidence back? I think that, again, you know, when we went on the show, we were both in a point in our lives where we weren't being the best versions of ourselves. And I know that Gloria talked to me a lot about just wanting to gain confidence back, getting his swagger back. And obviously, it's funny seeing it on the show, but like, it was a real thing, like, you know, and he also wanted to work on communicating because we both thought it was kind of affecting our relationship, not being able to actually talk about some of our issues or some of our insecurities or what's on our mind.

And, you know, when you're going through the motions for so long, eventually it's like, all right, we either need to figure it out, which is what we thought was our reason for on the island, or we need to just walk away. And instead of walking away, I think we both agreed that going on the island would be just a great opportunity to finally figure it all out and either come together stronger or walk away from the relationship.

So the first impressions happen, and when the guys, the 12 guys had their first, you know, one liners to you guys, was was there anybody that stuck out to you initially?

I mean, I'm afraid to say my answer to that are not going to get ripped apart for it, but, you know, honestly, Griffin, he did stick out to me. And as as corny as it sounds, it was soccer related, not because I like I'm obsessed with soccer and athlete like I'm obsessed with soccer. But the reason I picked it, it was more like, you know, he I felt like. We have gone through similar journeys, even though Griffin was a little more successful with soccer, it was just like I really wanted to have a conversation with him about about his soccer journey.

And I don't know, like I felt like when I when I saw there was a soccer player, I was intrigued because it was just a conversation that I wanted to have. Yeah.

I mean, I don't even remember Griffin's intro. Did we know at that point that he was a soccer player or. Yeah, he said something, I honestly can't remember exactly what it was, but he did say something about. Soccer or whatever, and then later, we know before the first date selection, him and I actually had two very intense conversations that weren't weren't shown about the. Soccer. OK. And also, you know, our backgrounds and family and all that stuff.

When you were watching the show back and. I think Corey was the first one to really get emotional before, gosh, I want to say he started crying before the first date between you and Griffin even happened. I think it was on his confessional after you had chosen Griffin, where you guys, you know, the first picks are in front of your significant others.

When you saw that and when you saw how emotional Corey got over thinking immediately, oh, my God, I'm going to lose her to the soccer player. I mean, obviously, it's. It's weird to think of now because that aired, you know, in January and obviously you already know whatever happens between you guys. But when you watched it, was it was it hard to watch?

Yeah, it was definitely hard to watch, honestly, like just when I see these episodes, like I get really motional about them because for me it was like I didn't know the impact that I was having on someone and to know that someone. Care that much about, like losing me and to see that I'm hurting someone. It it broke my heart. And again, it's like every week that I'm watching, I cry about something else, which is so weird because I did not know that I was an emotional person, I swear.

And so doing the show like we joke all the time that me going like me being on that island was the most I've probably cried my whole life and I'm not like wholeheartedly. And then now that I'm watching it, I'm like crying. And I'm like, what did this show do for me?

Like, yeah, it seems to really dove into people's emotions for sure.

Yeah.

I when I was looking when I was watching it, you know, you said a couple of things in your items that were why don't he calls you guys, call them confessionals or items like the post interviews.

Well even not even just words one on one with you in the camera, either with the background or you're standing there filming just solo you.

Yeah, they're like post interviews or I. OK, so a couple of things that you've said have been pretty. Telling one of the things that you said was, you know, the way that I was talked to and manipulated, speaking about your past relationships, you know, I I did to Corey.

And you've also said that he's going to realize. He can be treated better when you when you say stuff like that. Is it stemming from. The fights that you and Corey used to have fights, but just arguments or disagreements that you guys have, that what makes you say that you feel like you the way you talk to and possibly manipulate? You do that to Corey as well. Yeah, I mean, I definitely would not say manipulate, I don't I don't do that.

I don't think I do that, but I do when and I have arguments or conversations, I think that some of the things that I can say to him are hurtful. And when you're dating people who your relationship consisted of just saying things to hurt each other to one up each other, and then you go to dating someone like Corey, who's amazing, it's like. I'm just used to those heated crazy fights and gory and I don't we we never fought at all at all the way that I have in the past.

It's more just like when we argue or when we get in fights. And when I say fight, I mean, like literally just like a heated argument. Yeah, I'll say things that I'm like, oh, I shouldn't have said that. I feel like I said that to hurt him, because that's just what I'm used to. You, Sue, and. Yeah, it's more like that, I don't I don't think that I, I don't think that I manipulate him.

But I can be a little a little hurtful with my my word. Well, I think the consensus seems to be from just the people that I talked to about this show that Corey is literally looks like he's.

I mean, he just comes across as like a sweetheart, just the nicest guy in the world that is kind of almost in the twilight zone out on that show, because it just seems like he doesn't want to be there, not because he's not having a good time, but just that. Like what? You know, what did I get myself into? What am I doing here? You know, he clearly has.

I mean, I guess he's I guess he's made a little bit of a connection with Amanda, been a little bit flirty with Amanda and stuff like that.

But nothing I mean, we're not talking, you know, Kendall here, but he's he's he's he's been very slow moving in terms of with any of the other single women. Right. I don't know what happens coming up, but my personal opinion is I'd be shocked if if Corey got with anybody because it seems like he's just there to ride it out, learn some stuff about himself, which we've seen at the bonfire where he said, like, I feel like I'm a good catch.

I feel like I'm a I'm a funny guy. I'm a witty guy. It seems like he's coming out of a shell a little bit, but almost riding it out to the end to just get to that final bonfire with you and almost see if you've experienced what you came out there for, huh?

That's kind of the impression that I'm getting. But I don't write, do you? I know you can't say anything about the final bonfire, but is that when you when you've been watching Corey in the episodes, even though, like you said, we already know what happened or you already know what happens?

Have you been surprised by what you've seen for the first seven episodes out of Corrie, and were you surprised by any of the clips that you saw, Bonfire?

I actually you know, I actually was surprised. I feel I'm surprised when we watch it and not the clips of the bonfire, just because, again, you know, one of our big things was communication and him opening up and being vulnerable. And I felt like with me it was again, like pulling teeth to get him to, like, show emotion or just express to me how he's feeling. And when I was seeing it on the show, him opening up so quickly, I was a little shocked.

And I mean, you can see it when you watch it. Like, I was really emotional because I was like, dang, like if he's doing it so quick with someone he just met, like maybe I am the issue. Maybe there are things deeper that I needed to work on. It wasn't just all Koorie, but I, you know, I. I never assumed that he would. Do anything physical going into the bonfires, I was more like, I feel like I'm going to be more distraught if I see him making an emotional connection, which he was making one.

So I think that's also why I was getting very emotional, because I also going into it and even though I feel like people think this is like a cop out, like I truly meant it when I said, I want you. To be happy and find happiness, and if it's with me, then we're we're we'll be fine. But if it is with someone else, like I care and I love you and I care about you, I, I want that for you.

And I think people thought all these crocodile tears like you just want to cop out. No, I really did mean that. So it was just. I don't know. Did did you like when you when you watch it, you know, obviously. You watch it with a totally different perspective than us as as viewers, because you experience right. And whatnot, but. As Cory done anything out of the ordinary, like you said, I guess my next question was going to be, but you kind of answered it already was what would have bothered you more at a bonfire seeing him hook up with somebody or developing an emotional connection?

But it sounds like emotional would have bothered you a lot more.

Well, you know, I say that, but I do think that, like, so, OK, the body shot, that was so like I did not picture Corey ever doing that, which is it wasn't even that serious, but like, I truly was like, dang, OK, like turn it up over there. I'm high five and people licking boobies like ok, like I see with that. But in that same clip was like him, like talking to either Nicole or Amanda I think.

And they were like having a deep conversation. And I think in that in in the bonfire clip or at the bonfire you hear me say, you know, the body shot. I told him, I told him I wanted him to have a good time. What bothered me more was the way that he was talking to these other girls about me and our relationship. One, because it hurt my hurt my feelings. I was like, dang, I didn't know he felt this strongly about me.

I didn't know that I was like making him feel X, Y and Z because again, he's never expressed it to me. I guess that was just something he was internally feeling and never really told me about, and then I also was upset because I was like, wow, if I'm making someone who loves me feel this poorly about themselves, like, that's not OK. I want to change that. I want to fix that. But I think out of everything, yeah.

The body shot was probably the most surprising so far that what I've what I've seen. That was probably the most out of the ordinary, that heat that he thought I thought he would do. I know one of the bonfire clips that you were shown was of Nicole talking about her opinion of your relationship with Corey, that I know it didn't sit well with you. And I don't remember exactly I don't even remember exactly what she said. I just remember you not taking to that.

And you even, I think, even shaking your head when you were watching her talk about your relationship. And obviously, she only knows it from what Corey tells her because she didn't know, obviously, who you guys were before you even got to the island.

But what about that clip of Nicole saying what she did about your relationship with Corey that really got to you or bothered you? I think it was honestly, Maddy, the other girl who said the thing that hurt me, it was like, no, like she was having a conversation with Nicole, the two of them were talking and one of them was like, you know, she's a Jersey girl. She's a boss. Like, she has this. She she's whatever, and then I think Mattie was the one who said.

He either brought him here for that he really could work on things or she brought him here to break up with us. And that last part is what bothered me, because I feel like a lot of people assume that. I think they still assume it. And it's just one of those things where it's like that. Yes, it's like a reality TV show. But I took my experience on the island very seriously. What I learned on the island I still carry with me today.

I think it was a great experience and it helped me learn so much. So to hear people think that you're here for the wrong reason and don't really understand the whole truth, it does. It hurt and it can get to you, you know. Yeah, no, I hear you.

And there's one thing I really wanted to ask you, and I know I know it has nothing to do with you, but it's, you know, what's happening with Kendall on the island and and what we're seeing in the episodes and the whole Kendall and Erica relationship.

I mean, it's they by far the most talked about couple this season. And it's it's really not even close like everybody is like, you know, Erica, run for the hills.

So I just want to I just want to get your opinion. Obviously, when you guys watch the clips, you know, I think we even see you guys whose mouths are open. You can't believe we're watching.

A couple of things, one, I mean, I pretty much already know if that were Corey or the other way around, you would be livid and just like, oh yeah, just like Eric is.

But what were you telling Erica in the moment and just overall? Your thoughts on what was happening on that side of the island with Kendall and, you know, the Thrussell Alexis and Anna Nicole. I just I kept telling her that she she deserves better and to just take this opportunity to now focus on herself, work on herself. Realized. The type of person that she wants to be with and just to learn from these guys, I feel like I was affected a lot by Erica's bonfire because I have been cheated on in the past.

And she said something at the bonfire where she was like, I used to date someone who would cheat on me like every other weekend. And I literally was like, damn. And if honestly sick, that was a real thing. But like. I literally felt so like I felt for her so much because I have been there before, but then to watch it unfold on television, like made my stomach like my stomach sick, I was like, oh, my God.

Like the fact that this is happening. And she's watching it like, I know that it's happened to me, but I have to watch it. Oh, my God. So, you know, I feel like all three of us just really supported Erica with whatever she was going through, were feeling at the moment in the house and like we all are. So we're still so close and we all support each other no matter what happens. And I Erica and I checked very frequently.

I tell her all the time how amazing of a person she is. She's literally beautiful inside and out. And she knows she knows her worth, you know, everyone knows her worth. So, yeah, I think that I think she'll be OK.

Well, yeah, it's I mean, it's one thing, you know, you said you experience it yourself as well when she said I was cheated on basically every other weekend and and you admitted the same thing. But it's one thing to I mean, it sucks either way to be cheated on. But to have to watch it, I mean, I don't unless you ever walked in on your ex, you know, having sex with somebody else or a threesome, you probably never witnessed it firsthand back.

Maybe you did.

Maybe you walked in one time or whatever. But now, thanks a not.

Yeah, but yeah. I mean, it's it's it really is. And you know, we've talked about it in all these interviews that I've done all season with with the couples and even with with Alexis and Nicole last week. It's like, you know. I think. If Temptation Island being the show that it is, if there was not any hooking up or couples straying from their relationship, it would be the most boring show on television, like people as much as people.

Think it sucks for Erica. I think people do get some sort of guilty pleasure out of watching it happen. I mean, they think they still feel sorry for her, which you obviously can be. I don't think anybody's watching that and being like, yeah, Kendall, that's how to treat a woman. You know, I don't think they're looking at that way, but it adds to the salaciousness of the show, because if all for you couples just said, you know, like I said last week, just sit in the corner and Twitter your thumbs all season and don't want to get to open up and learn anything about yourself or even attempt to possibly hook up with someone of the singles.

It would just be really boring. Like we wouldn't enjoy it as a fan base. It would just be like the show sucks.

But, you know, but we've gotten, you know, the Kendel. And then this past week, we got to a second hookup with with Chelsea and Blake.

But, you know, I think it was what did you guys have your rules of no hooking up whatsoever. Yeah, I mean, just going back to what you said, I do think this season was more like an emotional season, like things were talked about and opened up about that really had never been in the past. And I think that's why it's like. It's a very different than past even, but as far as Corey and I go, we did go into it with rule.

I think surprisingly, I think we were the only couple who had rules. I was like, I don't know, you guys are crazy. Like, I don't know what. Well, have you heard anything, anything watching Chelsea and Tompsett on their first episode?

No. Or I can remember she said it on the show and she said it to me on the podcast, which was no kissing, no one in your bed and no sex that was there.

That was the rules. One of those rules was broken this past week. So I'm curious to see how that plays out with them. But that was the rules that they had set for obviously, Kendall and Erica. We know because Kendall, I think, has told us every episode, I have no rules, so. Right. And then Julian and Kristen, I don't remember what if they ever established anything. But I think it's pretty clear at this point Julian went on the show strictly to prove he can do this without cheating.

I mean, that's that's what I've gotten out of it.

And I don't think.

I think I don't think they have rules either, and honestly, looking back, I remember being like, wow, look, these couples are very confident, like, you know, good for them, I need rules. But then when I was hearing why they were coming to the island with no rules started to make more sense. And, you know, like like you said with Julie, and it was he wanted to prove to Kristen that. He could could be faithful to her with Kendall and Erica.

It was just to see if they. Are compatible. I don't really I don't know. I don't think any of us know. I mean I mean, they've told us and, you know, I mean, I've spoken to both of them. And, you know, Kendall has Kendall goes live after every episode. And I listen to and I and I watch some of it up to a certain point. And then I'm like, OK, I I'm still kind of confused, but, you know, I guess I'll have my answers in a few weeks.

But, yeah, it's. I mean, I think I think it's safe to say, like, you can go there and just be like, let's see what happens, but you can also you can also go there and learn about yourself and learn about your relationship.

Without. Having sex with someone or getting it or having a threesome, that's my whole thing, like Kendall could have gone there with the greatest intentions and said no rules. And I think he could have gotten to whatever place he needed to get to for himself without having sex with somebody and without having a threesome.

And then this past episode wanting it again and kind of being turned down for the threesome like it. And, you know, but he says I you know, I just get so confused.

I almost feel like I need to talk to them when this thing is over. What?

But but yeah. I mean, you guys you and Corey, at this point, you know, we have just this past episode, we have the eliminations, the second elimination. So there's only six singles left, I believe, for each side. And then.

Oh, that's what I wanted to ask you about Shaquille. So that was confusing to me as to why I mean, everybody could see that there was a connection with Shaquille and you and you even told Shaquille, like as you were sending him away, you're the best friend I have out here of the of the single men. So why was Shaquille eliminated? Yeah, I do think this was very confusing for viewers, but basically my thought process at the time was I did not want you seeing me.

Getting close with someone, because I really was like, I I want to focus on my relationship. I want to focus on myself, like I don't want to risk anything. Like, I just know I was very I had blinders on and I felt like by me. Sending home someone who I was close with, it would kind of. Like, just. I just didn't want him seeing me getting close to someone, and I also knew that Jack had developed feelings for me.

He had expressed that to me in some of the other girls. And I wasn't at a place where I could juggle so many emotions and focus on my relationship. Now I have to focusing on Jack. And I just I didn't want to lead anyone on because I didn't even know where my head was at. And I think that there were so many conversations that haven't been shown that elimination with me. And Jack was like 20 minutes of us both just like crying, then laughing like it was a really great emotional conversation we had.

And unfortunately, you see me cry and then be like stone, stone, face like normal. And I'm like, no, there was like so much that was expressed and I feel like I clarified so much, but obviously it only being an hour show. Yeah. They have to they have to get to the point. Yeah, I think it was more just like I was I was just really. Focused on. How I could be a better girlfriend for Corey if he chooses to leave the island with me or not.

Yeah, and and I would think, you know, with Shaq gone, then, you know, we all know that, you know, the final dates of the season are, you know, you have to bring somebody on an overnight doesn't necessarily mean hookups are happening. But, you know, I mean, I think it's safe to say that Griffin is probably the person that you're going to ride with to the end of this thing.

But at this point in the process, when you were at that point of, OK, just eliminated Shaq, you were not really thrilled with Corey's video message.

So what? Yeah, walk me through that. When you saw his video message, what that was about.

That that's another thing. I was I was very happy with what I saw from Corey. And again, when we do our first interviews, they're like 40 minutes long. Yeah, I was excited. I was excited that he mentioned Mieko. I was excited that he was learning and growing. And I expressed that I was very proud of him. But I was also like, oh, my gosh. Like for Corey to not say, I love you.

I started having, like, a panic attack because I was like, you know, I know Corey. Like, he would say he would say, I love you. And I just started to get nervous. I was like, oh, wow. Like, you know, maybe he really is moving on. Maybe he did realize that he deserves better. And there's also like. I don't I'm not really sure what I can say, Steve, or if you edit it.

So, well, I mean, I said I'm just going to say it in my video message to Corey, I do say I love you. I don't I don't know where it went, but I said it OK, and. And that's where I feel like I'm getting a lot of heat for that, and I'm like, well, I know what I said and I know what's not being shown, but I can't. There's only so much I can do at this point, you know?

Yeah, so you said it in yours and we don't know what he might have said it in his. We don't. You know, I don't we don't know if he did, but what was shown to you was he didn't say it, correct? Exactly. Yeah. Yeah.

So, I mean, it's. When you when you saw Corey for the first, I would say you saw him for the first time, you'd seen him at bonfire clips and this was basically another just clip. But it's obviously of just him when you saw the clip. So you overall in general, you were happy with it outside of the fact that you never heard him say, I love you. Yes, yes, like I I was so happy that he was.

Diving into this experience, gaining his confidence back like he even looked like he was like he looked like he was like glowing, like I'm standing tall, taller, like I was genuinely proud of him. And obviously seeing him, I'm like, oh, my God, frickin model over here. Like, he just. It was. It was. They were great, but in the same breath, I was sad, I was like, oh my gosh, like you did not say you love me.

Like I know he was guided. So he must really be, you know, maybe he's over it.

When you when you saw that video and you I'm sure you had running through your head every clip that you saw of Corey connecting emotionally with someone on the island, it seemed to be Amanda was the one mostly that he was connecting with. Is what you saw of Amanda?

Was she somebody that you could see Corey with? You were like, OK, I kind of get it with her. Or were you like, no, I don't get that at all. Like, because Erica flat out told me, like Kendall, when I asked her about Kendall and Alexis, she's like, no, I didn't see that coming at all. He's not a right. So what about with Corey and Amanda?

No, I mean, I think it made it makes sense because, you know, we both are blond and just from what I've seen in the bonfire clips, like I feel like her and I have like a similar personality in a sense, where she does seem like. A strong female, and she feels like she's athletic and she seems like a lot of fun. So I was like, oh, OK. Like it sense. OK, why? You know, why he would pick her.

But at the same time, I was like, oh, like, wow. Like he is opening up so quickly to someone like this is scary.

Yeah. No, I mean the whole process must be, I mean it's got to be a trip and I've said this before and I'll say it again, like this isn't a obviously a normal way. A normal way. A couple would determined a couple that was at a crossroads in their relationship would determine how to move forward normally. And just regular life. I mean, and we all applaud the four of you or else there wouldn't be a TV show.

So we have to thank you because it it it it entertains us. But it also is not a normal way to go about, well, is this the person I need to be with, like Jillian and Kristen easily after 11 years, did not need this show. They could have figured it out another way, whether it's counseling or just continuing to date or setting a timeline of, OK, if Julian wants to get married, then Chris and I want to propose to you by this point.

And if you're not, then I have to move on or something like that. It didn't have to be done on the show. But we appreciate the people that do come on it.

And it's got to be really weird because, one, you're dating, you're like being forced to date other people or at least. Right. Develop a connection with somebody and then people get mad at you because you're technically. Well, why are you doing that to your boyfriend? It's like, well, why you agreed in the first place. Come on the show, you can't sit there and do nothing because then you're just be just boring television. I think I think it's more about just kind of finding out, like like you said, kind of what you want.

And is this person the one for me? And I think if you would have and if you do, I don't know. There's still four episodes left. Maybe you do step out on Corey. I don't know. But if you do get to that point where you feel like I need to hook up with another guy or whatever, I really like Griffin or whatever the case may be, then I think that says about it would say something about you and Corey's relationship and vice versa.

If he were to get with Amanda, it would say something because there would obviously be something missing there for him to feel that way to do that to you.

I know, because, look, we've had it's a small sample, there's only been two previous seasons, but I'm pretty sure everybody that's cheated has never left the island together, I don't think I'd have to go over the couples in my head, but I don't think anybody that ever hooked up with a single at the final bonfire decided to stay and ended up a couple. But I could be I could be wrong anyway.

Yeah, but yeah, it's it's. I know. I know it's tough. I know the whole experience has been tough.

Social media probably hasn't been the most fun for you, Friedl, but I mean overall without giving anything away. You probably made three of the best friends you're ever going to have in your life, and can you say that you got everything out of the experience that you wanted to? I think so, I definitely don't have any regrets. I, I think that I, I definitely got what I needed. I got more than what I honestly thought I needed going into the show.

Well, here's a question what's what's what's one thing that you got out of this show that you never thought when you left to go to Maui? Was even on your mind of something you thought you would get out of it? I honestly never thought that I would open up about my past relationships. I never thought that I would just learn so much about myself and maybe the reason why I have a tendency to kind of push people away. That goes back to losing my best friend, you know, at a young age.

I just was so angry that someone so close to me could be taken from me. And with the fear of just losing people, I pushed them away before they can hurt me. But all these things and I hear a lot about therapy like this and I go to therapy, I'm an advocate for it, like I love therapy. But this experience was just very different. It was it made me open up. It forced me to open up, and it forced me to realize things about myself that I never really thought I knew, but I never really dug down inside and was like, OK, like, what is triggering this?

Why is this happening? Why is that? And market bonfires, even though they're short little 15 second clips, we talk for like 40 minutes each person and he he forces you to open up and it's like I need that. I needed that. So I just feel like holding myself accountable. Like, I feel like that's something that I have I've learned to do more of and. Yeah, just just knowing that not everyone is out to get you, because I have which we'll see throughout the season, I do start opening up, opening up a little bit more.

And I feel like a lot of these guys throughout the way have helped me a lot. I think that the one thing I wish I would have done differently would have been to keep Shaq around, because I think that, you know, looking back, I'm like, he probably was. One of the most genuine guys on the island, and I think that had I had not sent him home, he would have been a great person to confide in and to trust.

And because I know that he has a great heart and that he does care a lot about me. But that's the one thing. Looking back and re watching and kind of processing my thoughts, I wish that maybe I'd done differently. But other than that, I don't regret going on the show and that my best friend, I learned so much about myself. And I feel like honestly, after leaving the island like I can, I can proudly say I have become a better person and I'm proud of myself.

Well, you had mentioned, you know, your friend that you had lost. How long ago was this? I lost her. She passed away two days before my 19th birthday. And you're, what, twenty twenty four point five? Twenty five?

Yeah. And so that's something that I've honestly never. Coped with like I feel like looking back, I'm like, I wish I would have kind of talked to someone when I lost her instead of, like, internalizing all these feelings and becoming just a little angry. I feel like I never was like I went through the grieving process. I just pushed down all the feelings, which is why they still come up very, very raw when I talk about it, because it's like I've never sat down and been like, wow, this really affected my life.

It's really affected the person that I am today. And that I was just like, you know, I was just holding it all in.

Well, if you don't mind me asking, was this a sudden? Or was this was she sick? She was sick, so she had a brain tumor. OK, OK. Yeah, and she fell into a coma again two days before my birthday and then she passed away. And this is something have you ever spoken with?

Did you have you I mean, obviously Corey knows about it, but have you ever gone in depth with Corey about had you gone in depth with Corey about her before? I mean, I definitely obviously she's still my best friend, she's a big part of my life, Bill, and he knows all about her and I have told him about how she passed away, but I don't think that I allowed him again. I wasn't, like, vulnerable with him about her passing away.

Like, there were a lot of things that I had to watch my best friend. You know, there was a point where she didn't even remember who I was and to see someone who you spent every single day of your life with. Slowly forget who you are. It really is traumatic and it affected me, so I've kind of expressed to him some of that. But again, it was more just me. Like pushing, pushing it down and internalizing those feelings.

And just acting tough, you know. Yeah, so you never you never went to and you never saw anybody counselor, therapist after that happened? No, no.

Yeah, I mean, I guess looking, looking, looking, yeah, I was going to say, looking back on it, maybe he probably should have at that at that time. But at 19, you know, it's a little taboo.

Probably you probably didn't even I don't know.

Was it I feel like that just wasn't a thing that wasn't a thing for me back then. And I feel like it was so hush hush that was like therapy was like something no one ever talked about. And I wish that I had gone. I wish that I was more I wish that I was more like educated about it. But now now that I'm going, I love it and I think that it's helped so much and I definitely recommend if anyone is struggling with anything, they should talk to someone, even if it's about something, maybe.

Not as dramatic if you think you need to talk to someone, I highly recommend it. Well, yeah, I mean, I think that's something that we all could do, and for sure that's something out there. Mental health awareness is is become a bigger deal in the last couple of years, especially since the pandemic started and what people have gone through. But, Aaron, thank you so much for this conversation. And in talking about this and opening up and just kind of explaining to people your side of of things, because I know it's been a little bit harsh out there for you and social media.

So I appreciate you doing this. I appreciate you coming on and, you know, look forward to seeing how this all plays out in the end. Yeah, of course. Thank you. Thank you for having me. You're welcome. And good luck with everything. And maybe when this is all over, Will, we'll reach out again and and kind of go over everything that we couldn't cover in this podcast.

Right, right. Yeah, for sure. Let me know. All right. Take care. All right. Perfect. Thank you so much. All right.

Well, thank you to Erin for that. A lot of good stuff there really opened up. On a lot of things for her journey and Cory's journey and some things I didn't really know about, so it was really nice to hear her kind of give us a little bit of insight to some things. The Shakeel thing, the video message, where she did say, I love you because I know she got a lot of shit on line for saying people telling her, you know, you never told him you loved him, but yet you're upset that he didn't say it to you.

So I get it. You know, that's that's something that clearly changes a narrative on a television show when she clearly did say it in her video, but yet it wasn't shown. And then everybody jumps on her for that. And says, oh, you're a hypocrite, but she said it, so she's not a hypocrite, but what you saw on the show. Yeah, I get that you're making a reaction by what you're showing, but not everything is shown.

So tough show to be on, at least. Anyway, thank you to Aaron for coming on. I really appreciate that. Next week probably of on to get his side of things. So thank you all for listening. Please read, subscribe and review in our podcast, Temptation Island. Every Tuesday night, only four episodes left. We got next Tuesday, the Tuesday after that, and then the Tuesday after that is the finale and then the Tuesday after that is.

So for Aaron Smith, a reality star. Thank you all for tuning in. We'll talk to you next week.