Candiace Dillard, Tara Lipinski open up about leaving children for 'The Traitors'

The Traitors contestants Candiace Dillard Bassett and Tara Lipinski are sharing candid reflections on the emotional dilemma of leaving their young children behind while filming the hit Peacock reality competition series in Scotland. 

In an exclusive interview with People, both women describe the difficult yet ultimately rewarding experience of balancing motherhood with life inside the castle.

For Bassett, known for her time on The Real Housewives of Potomac, the toughest part was saying goodbye to her then-8-month-old son, Jett, when production began. 

As per the outlet, she admitted that wondering how she would handle the separation weighed heavily on her, but appreciated The Traitors production team’s willingness to let her and other parents check in with their children via FaceTime during filming.

Moreover, Lipinski echoed those sentiments, revealing it was hard to commit to the show because her daughter, Georgie, was just 18 months old when she left. 

The Olympic gold medalist added that while The Traitors was intense, and even served as a psychological escape from the challenges her family faced after their home was damaged by a 2025 fire, staying connected to her daughter provided comfort.

On screen, Bassett plays a Traitor while Lipinski competes as a Faithful, and both say the experience pushed them in unexpected ways and fostered personal growth.