Being part of the main cast of the series”Temptation Island” isn’t a walk in the park, according to one of the show’s leading ladies, Sydney. During a new interview, Sydney opened up about what it was like to slowly fall in love with her new partner, Xzavier, while also dealing with intense feelings about her relationship with Mikey. Elsewhere, Sydney also got candid about the hardest part of filming the show.
Sydney realizes the hardest part of filming Netflix’s ‘Temptation Island’
While speaking with Tudum, Sydney said she couldn’t help but fall in love with Xzavier, despite being in a relationship with Mikey.
In season 2 of the Netflix series, viewers saw Sydney slowly explore her relationship with Xzavier, which later blossomed into a full-fledged relationship.
“He gave me a different perspective on what men are like in today’s dating world,” Sydney said of their relationship.
However, with her new relationship, her year and a half relationship with Mikey came to an end.
“The hardest moment was having to let go of my best friend,” Sydney said of the moment she ended things with the 24-year-old. “But I know that relationship wasn’t good for my mental health…He’s a great guy, but he’s just not my guy.”
Sydney had no doubts about leaving “Temptation Island” with Xzavier
As the new couple exchanged “I love yous” on the beach, was there any doubt in Sydney’s mind about her decision?
“This experience really showed me what I deserved as a woman,” she said. “My biggest lesson is that it’s okay to be transparent with your emotions, and to love purely and outwardly.”
Mikey, meanwhile, would have left the show with Sydney if she had chosen to reestablish their relationship.
“I know I went alone, but if she had said to me, ‘I want to go home with you,’ I probably would have said, ‘Fine. I bet. We have a lot to figure out,'” he admitted.
‘Temptation Island’ is more than just steamy hookups
Mikey and Sydney weren’t the only couples to experience relationship turmoil on “Temptation Island” — but ultimately, that’s what it’s all about.
Beyond the steamy relationships and dramatic fallout, “Temptation Island” is meant to test the bonds of the four couples and help them determine if they are truly meant to be together.
It’s a job that animator Mark L. Walberg takes extremely seriously. “It’s real to me, and I don’t know how to untie it or phone it in,” he told Tudum. “I’ve been doing it for years and years now, I can tell you that the people who come [Temptation Island] really get their questions answered.
Whether the answers come during the cast’s solo dates or during the intense bonfire sessions, Walberg said her main goal is to support the couples on their journey.
“For me, that’s all [about] listen. We don’t follow a script. There is nothing planned. I have chosen over the years not to watch the clips before [the bonfire]because I want to have their trust. I want to be able to sit down with them and then ask questions – gently or firmly – to see if there is anything to learn,” he said.
Hosting the show can be a little emotional for Walberg
Like the cast members themselves, Walberg admitted to also experiencing intense emotions while filming the series.
“I’m getting choked up and I have to come to my senses. I know this sounds like a line, but I tell them, ‘I’m more determined that you get something out of this than I am about you right now,'” he said. “When I just see a light turn on [inside them] and they’re considering something in their life that they’ve never had before – that’s the thing you have to make room for.
Season 2 contestant reveals behind-the-scenes secrets
Season 2 contestant Kai Stone shared a similar sentiment, according to The Blast. During a recent interview, the 29-year-old software company CEO said things can get a little intense inside the villa and it’s rare to find a space to cool off.
“You’re on the mic all day, the cameras are always there, when you’re not filming something structured you’re always on,” he said.
He went on to say that the actors don’t have “a lot of time to step away and reset,” which makes the experience much more exhausting. “We lose track of time a little,” he says.