<\/p>\n Naming Chrishell Stause<\/strong><\/a> as a potential Traitor was just one of many mistakes Tom Sandoval<\/strong><\/a> made while filming season 3.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought it was ridiculous,\u201d Chrishell, 43, exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em> about Sandoval\u2019s initial approach. \u201cI just felt like of all the people and all the minds at this table, do we really think Sandoval solved the puzzle in 0.5 seconds of leaving the room? No.\u201d<\/p>\n Chrishell noted that Sandoval\u2019s decision to name her right off the bat<\/a> \u201cworked\u201d in her favor, adding, \u201cI felt like he was so loud and so wrong. It really felt like whoever he says [the Traitor] is, we probably know it isn\u2019t. So I think it helped in my case, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n During the three-episode premiere, Sandoval, 42, got off to a rocky start when he accused Chrishell of not being a Faithful despite no evidence to support his theory. The pair faced off at the first roundtable banishment meeting where Chrishell accused Sandoval of naming her<\/a> just because she\u2019s close with his ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s terrible [at playing the game]. To be honest with you, there was no other reason for him saying my name,\u201d she said. \u201cHe just said it so blatantly that he knew I was a Traitor. Of course he\u2019s going to act like, \u2018Oh, I really was just playing the game.\u2019 To me, it felt personal and you probably can\u2019t change your mind at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n Chrishell told Us<\/em> she \u201cdefinitely\u201d didn\u2019t ask Ariana, 39, for advice about dealing with Sandoval before joining the hit Peacock series.<\/a> Before he was cast as a season 3 contestant, Sandoval received major backlash after his March 2023 split from Ariana due to an affair with their Vanderpump Rules<\/em> costar Rachel \u201cRaquel\u201d Leviss.<\/strong><\/p>\n After Sandoval and Ariana\u2019s breakup made headlines, Chrishell weighed in, writing via X alongside a red carpet photo of her and Ariana, \u201cI love when we can all agree on something.\u201d<\/p>\n Rumors of a feud between<\/a> Sandoval and Chrishell began in November 2024 when she shared a series of promotional photos of all her fellow contestants \u2014 except Sandoval. The Selling Sunset<\/em> star didn\u2019t address the omission at the time but is now opening up about her strategy going into the show.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt was to make friends and lay low. You don\u2019t want to really even make the edit that much in the beginning. My name was being brought up at the very first round table. I went in with the best of intentions and had to throw that game plan away,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI had to go with what I could, which was to really defend myself and make sure people felt like I was a Faithful.\u201d<\/p>\n Chrishell continued: \u201cBut then if you do too good of a job, you\u2019ll be up for murder. So I knew I had to get a shield and then I had to defend myself at the roundtable. At that point in time [after Sandoval named me], my game plan was shot.\u201d<\/p>\n The reality star was able to avoid getting banished \u2014 or murdered<\/a> \u2014 in the first two rounds but it remains to be seen how long she lasted as a Faithful on The Traitors<\/em>.<\/p>\n![\"Chrishell](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Chrishell-Stause-Thinks-Tom-Sandoval-Traitors-Game-Was-Terrible-2.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
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