Trista Sutter discusses her departure from 'Special Forces', the most challenging trials she faced, and the fabricated marriage storyline.

In May 2024. "Bachelorette" star Ryan Sutter accidentally triggered a media maelstrom with cryptic Instagram posts lamenting his apparently missing wife, Trista, including one wistful missive that read, "I'd really like to hear your voice ― just for a minute."

Bachelor Nation freaked out, fearing this paragon of reality show love — married for two decades — was splitting. Trista, 52, eventually broke through the noise to dispel the concern with a different reality drama. The OG Bachelorette had been in Wales, slogging through Fox's reality competition series "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" with 15 other celebrities, including Cam Newton, Stephen Baldwin and Denise Richards.

"People are drawn to the sensational details. It's surprising how much attention this has received. I find myself asking, 'Why is everyone so invested in this?'" Sutter shared with USA TODAY regarding the public reaction. "I wasn't going through a divorce or experiencing a meltdown at home. I was having a breakdown while perched on a 300-foot bridge in Wales."

In Wednesday's episode, Sutter, whose time in the "Special Forces" came to an end, reflects on her journey filled with joy, sorrow, harsh realities, and completely fabricated stories.

Ryan Sutter's Instagram updates were like a loud declaration of his love for me.

Sutter had no knowledge of her husband's online activity and the controversy it ignited, as "Special Forces" instructors, including ex-U.S. Marine Rodolfo “Rudy” Reyes and former Royal Marine Commando Jason "Foxy" Fox, had taken away the celebrities' phones.

Her triathlete husband, a firefighter from Colorado, left her with final words brimming with motivational wisdom, such as, "Keep pushing forward until you feel pain."

"I tried not to dwell on my family too much, as it would just make me long to be home," Sutter shares, a parent to two kids, Maxwell, 16, and Blakesley, 15, with Ryan. "For him, Instagram was a loud declaration of his love for me. It may have seemed mysterious to others, but for me, it meant the world."

The physical challenges involving water, the loud and demanding instructors, the uncomfortable experience of sleeping on cots in damp clothes, and even the makeshift toilets were pressing concerns. "Special Forces" kicks off with a fast-moving boat where former SAS member Billy Billingham pushes each celebrity into the frigid waters, instructing them to swim to the shore. Sutter, who has a significant fear of deep water, admits, "I wasn't concerned about sharks or anything like that, which usually terrifies me. My only focus was reaching the shore. Drowning was my only fear."

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