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

Trista Sutter isn't a stranger to adhering to an ironclad NDA.

On the Jan. 21 episode of Jennie Garth's I Choose Me podcast, the original Bachelorette, 52, got candid about the difficulties she faced with keeping her involvement in Special Forces: World's Toughest Test a secret.

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

Related: Trista Sutter Says She Was Relieved to 'Finally' Reveal Special Forces News After 'Speculation' About Her Marriage (Exclusive)

"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 for The 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."

Related: Trista Sutter Recalls Hitting a 'Breaking Point' on Special Forces as the World 'Lost Its Mind' Over Ryan’s Cryptic Posts (Exclusive)

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 on Instagram. “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.”

Related: Trista Sutter Says She Did Special Forces to 'Get Back to Me' as She Wonders What It'll Feel Like 'When My Kids Go Away'

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. 🙃."

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Special Forces: World's Toughest Test airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.

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