Trista Sutter Was Forced to 'Zip' Her Lips About Marriage Rumors While FilmingSpecial Forces: 'You Just Sign Your Life Away'

Mar. 15, 2025

Trista Sutter.Photo:John Parra/Getty

John Parra/Getty

Trista Sutterisn’t a stranger to adhering to an ironclad NDA.On the Jan. 21 episode ofJennie Garth’sI Choose Mepodcast, the original Bachelorette, 52, got candid about the difficulties she faced with keeping her involvement inSpecial Forces: World’s Toughest Testa secret.Before the news of her casting on the military training show went public, rumors of marriage trouble with her husbandRyan Sutterbegan making headlines after he shared a lengthy message about missing her on Instagram. At the time, Trista was in Europe to film season 3 ofSpecial Forces.Trista Sutter on ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’.PETE DADDS / FOX"You have to wait," she said of sharing any news about the show. “You just sign your life away, and you also sign that you have to keep everything in secret. And it’s not my first rodeo when it comes to that.““I remember signing the contract forThe Bachelor, and they were like, ‘Okay well, if you tell anybody, then we’re gonna sue you for $5 million.’ I’m like, ‘Good luck with that, because I don’t have it,'” she recalled. “But it’s like the fear of god or the fear of lawyers are put into you, and you’re like, ‘Okay.'““Zip the lips!” Garth added as Trista agreed with a simple, “Yep."(L) Ryan Sutter and Trista Sutter.James Clark/Disney via Getty ImagesIn May 2024, fans began speculating that Ryan and Trista were facing marital problems when he revealed that she was taking “time” away to find herself again.“I really wish I could talk to you. Ask you how you’re doing? How was your day,” he wrote onInstagram. “I’d really like to hear your voice - just for a minute. So many times I’ve called without much to say, not realizing how lucky I was or how much I’d miss the opportunity if it were gone.”“I want to know how you’re doing,” he continued. “I want to support and encourage and cheer you on. I want to be there for you. But I can’t. And that’s ok cause I know you need this time - time to discover yourself again.”He concluded: “So I’ll be here for you instead. I’ll be here when you get back. I’ll be here to listen to you, to smile with you, maybe cry with you - I’ll be here to love you… I’ll be here… forever.”(L) Trista Sutter and Ryan Sutter.Ryan Sutter/InstagramA week after his initial post, Trista addressed the rumors and shut down any speculation the two were having a tough time in their marriage.“Geez people. Can’t a girl have a nervous breakdown/trial separation/midlife crisis/death/divorce in peace around here?! 😜🤣,” she wrote in her own Instagram post.“In all seriousness, for those concerned, I’m safe and sound, happy and healthy, in love and grateful. 🥰,” she added. “For those who’d rather focus on being critical and searching way too hard for darkness, good luck with that. 🙃.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Special Forces: World’s Toughest Testairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.

Trista Sutterisn’t a stranger to adhering to an ironclad NDA.

On the Jan. 21 episode ofJennie Garth’sI Choose Mepodcast, the original Bachelorette, 52, got candid about the difficulties she faced with keeping her involvement inSpecial Forces: World’s Toughest Testa secret.

Before the news of her casting on the military training show went public, rumors of marriage trouble with her husbandRyan Sutterbegan making headlines after he shared a lengthy message about missing her on Instagram. At the time, Trista was in Europe to film season 3 ofSpecial Forces.

Trista Sutter on ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’.PETE DADDS / FOX

PETE DADDS / FOX

“You have to wait,” she said of sharing any news about the show. “You just sign your life away, and you also sign that you have to keep everything in secret. And it’s not my first rodeo when it comes to that.”

“I remember signing the contract forThe Bachelor, and they were like, ‘Okay well, if you tell anybody, then we’re gonna sue you for $5 million.’ I’m like, ‘Good luck with that, because I don’t have it,'” she recalled. “But it’s like the fear of god or the fear of lawyers are put into you, and you’re like, ‘Okay.'”

“Zip the lips!” Garth added as Trista agreed with a simple, “Yep.”

(L) Ryan Sutter and Trista Sutter.James Clark/Disney via Getty Images

James Clark/Disney via Getty Images

In May 2024, fans began speculating that Ryan and Trista were facing marital problems when he revealed that she was taking “time” away to find herself again.

“I really wish I could talk to you. Ask you how you’re doing? How was your day,” he wrote onInstagram. “I’d really like to hear your voice - just for a minute. So many times I’ve called without much to say, not realizing how lucky I was or how much I’d miss the opportunity if it were gone.”

“I want to know how you’re doing,” he continued. “I want to support and encourage and cheer you on. I want to be there for you. But I can’t. And that’s ok cause I know you need this time - time to discover yourself again.”

He concluded: “So I’ll be here for you instead. I’ll be here when you get back. I’ll be here to listen to you, to smile with you, maybe cry with you - I’ll be here to love you… I’ll be here… forever.”

(L) Trista Sutter and Ryan Sutter.Ryan Sutter/Instagram

Ryan Sutter/Instagram

A week after his initial post, Trista addressed the rumors and shut down any speculation the two were having a tough time in their marriage.

“Geez people. Can’t a girl have a nervous breakdown/trial separation/midlife crisis/death/divorce in peace around here?! 😜🤣,” she wrote in her own Instagram post.

“In all seriousness, for those concerned, I’m safe and sound, happy and healthy, in love and grateful. 🥰,” she added. “For those who’d rather focus on being critical and searching way too hard for darkness, good luck with that. 🙃.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Special Forces: World’s Toughest Testairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.

source: people.com