Trista Sutter Faced ‘Pretty Big Battles’ on ‘Special Forces,’ Not a Divorce

Trista Sutter

Former Bachelorette Trista Sutter’s widely speculated social media hiatus was due to her casting on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.

“Was it a divorce/nervous breakdown/mid-life crisis/death/trial separation back in May?! Not unless that’s what you call Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, season 3,” Sutter, 52, wrote via Instagram on Friday, November 15. “Thankfully, none of those things are associated with my experience in filming the show.”

She added, “As you get a glimpse of in the trailer, the angel on my shoulder did have to face some pretty big battles. You’ll have to tune in in January to see the battles play out, but for now, just so grateful to be a part of this epic adventure.”

The official trailer for Special Forces season 3 dropped earlier on Friday, during which Sutter was seen crying in the wilderness.

Bachelorette's Trista Sutter and Ryan Sutter's Relationship Timeline

“The devil on my shoulder is going, ‘You can’t do this,’” she quipped. “I’m just trying to believe in the angel that’s telling me, ‘You can do it.’”

Sutter filmed season 3 alongside fellow Bachelorette alum Ali Fedotowsky, Denise Richards, Stephen Baldwin, Brody Jenner, and more earlier this year. While Sutter was off in the jungle with her fellow recruits, her husband, Ryan Sutter, alluded to her absence on social media.

“I know you wish you were here for Mother’s Day. We wish you were too. But sometimes being a mom means letting go of their hands, granting independence and stimulating their courageous spirit,” Ryan, 50, wrote via Instagram in May. “Sometimes it’s necessary to exemplify the characteristics you preach — to do rather than say.”

He added, “Sometimes it takes being uncomfortable and scared to show them that it’s OK to be uncomfortable and scared. Sometimes you have to go away so they know you’ll come back, that your love is not limited by distance or difficulty or time.”

Hours later, Ryan clarified that Trista was “great” while soothing fan concern that the pair were not getting divorced.

Ryan Sutter Says He and Trista Are Trying to 'Do Our Best' After Reunion

Ryan and Trista met on the first season of The Bachelorette, which aired in 2003. After a TV wedding, they went on to welcome son Maxwell, 16, and daughter Blakesley, 15.

Trista returned home several weeks later in May, also poking fun at the breakup speculation.

“Geez people. Can’t a girl have a nervous breakdown/trial separation/midlife crisis/death/divorce in peace around here?! ,” she joked via Instagram on May 25. “In all seriousness, for those concerned, I’m safe and sound, happy and healthy, in love and grateful. . For those who’d rather focus on being critical and searching way too hard for darkness, good luck with that. .”

Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test premieres on Fox Wednesday, January 8, at 8 p.m. ET.