Ekin-Su reacts to Parvati poisoning her on The Traitors: 'It was a last-minute bad mistake'

Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Traitors season 2, episode 4, "The Funeral."

The leader of the Black Widow Brigade has struck again. But this time, Survivor winner Parvati Shallow took out her target on The Traitors with a poisoned chalice in plain sight ... and her victim never saw it coming.

Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu was never intended to be the Traitors' next murder, but when Parvati couldn't get any of her initial targets to drink out of the rusty wine goblet, she went for an easier mark. She initiated a cheers with Ekin-Su, and when Ekin-Su said she didn't have anything to drink, Parvati simply handed her the chalice, watched her take a sip, and smiled. The next day, after the Faithfuls learned the Traitors had poisoned someone in plain sight, speculation began on who it could be. But Ekin-Su didn't remember that moment with Parvati, and never suspected she had an expiration date.

Even after Ekin-Su was literally buried in a coffin and learned she'd been poisoned, she still didn't think about that moment with the chalice. So how does she feel about getting played by Parvati now that she's seen it happen onscreen? And did she really not remember getting fed wine out of that very suspicious glass? Below, Ekin-Su breaks all that down and so much more.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Before it was revealed you died, did you ever suspect you were the victim who had been poisoned in plain sight?

EKIN-SU: I thought there would be no reason to. But I did think after the Shield thing, if Janelle's a traitor, are they going to kill me? But I didn't know I was poisoned that night. I was just in a very giggly, giddy mood, having fun with people and socializing and mocking people like, "Ooh, if there's any Traitors in the room, we're going to get you." I was just being silly, but to my surprise, Parvati was actually the one poisoning me.

But every time I watched that episode back, I'm like, those guys didn't even want to kill me. It was a last-minute bad mistake, a strategic plan that went wrong. They wanted to get MJ and it all went downhill. And I think after my death, things just went chaos in there. And I died in an iconic way and I couldn't have asked for anything better.

What was your immediate reaction when you learned you had been killed?

I didn't know it was me until the coffin closed and I was buried, and it still didn't hit me for hours after. I was shocked because I had kind of paused my life here, and I went into a fake world where I was really involved in the game and I made friends and I was playing this murder mystery game, and I enjoyed every second. So for me, it was a different passion than the other contestants in there. I really wanted to stay in this game as long as I can. I don't care if I win or lose, I'm enjoying every experience in this game. So I cried a lot when I died after, with the welfare team, just overwhelming tears, almost like it felt like I died. It felt quite traumatizing, but in a nice way, a spiritual awakening happened to me. The old me died and the new me got reborn after that. And ever since that, I've not been the same. I feel a lot stronger mentally.

Who did you think was the Traitor who poisoned you?

I thought Janelle. I didn't know exactly who the Traitors were at that stage. I mean, Parvati had been doing expressions like she could play a Traitor well — she wasn't disguising herself as innocent. Dan, we all had kind of our fingers on. But I did think maybe Janelle got me because of what happened the night before, but I was wrong. I always thought maybe Sandra could be a Traitor too, because she likes to win, doesn't really use emotions in the game. I remember when I died in the coffin, I heard her saying, "We've lost $20,000." Everyone's sad that I've died, and she said, "We've lost $20,000." Which is fine, but ... yeah.

When did you learn it was Parvati?

When I watched the show back. I'm like, "F---. Why?! I could have been in that game longer." If I'm not walking in that kitchen, I swear to God, it's all about timing. But actually, I'd rather be killed like that than be banished, so it's worked out well. Things happen for a reason. I would've never died in a coffin if I lasted longer, so I think I left a good mark in the game.

What was it like watching it back and seeing her feed you from the poisoned chalice?

I was shocked because I have nothing against Parvati. You wouldn't go for someone you are friends with. Dan even said to me after the show, "I never had the intention of killing you. And I was angry that Parvati poisoned you because we wanted to get MJ or someone else." So it was annoying. I'm frustrated that I was gone for no reason. There was no strategic plan to kill me. It was just a random death.

Have you spoken with Parvati about what she did?

We definitely spoke after, and she's really sweet. She messaged me and said, "I love you, Ekin. I didn't mean to kill you. It's just a game." And I said, "It's no big deal. It's just a fricking game. It's a show, it's not real, and I have love for you too." I'm friends with everyone from the cast, even Janelle, there's no one who I'm beefed with. I've learned that from Love Island — you can't take things personal, otherwise you go crazy.

After the cast learned someone had been poisoned in plain sight, the Faithfuls figured out someone either ate or drank something, and so everyone began speculating who it was. Did you really not remember Parvati giving you wine out of that cup?

I just remember everyone getting drunk that night. I genuinely don't recall Kevin not drinking. Everyone was desperate for wine that night. You can only drink one drink a night anyway, it was quite restricted. I remember everyone needed a drink from that round table, it was really intense. And I remember thinking, "Parvati gave me another drink. That's sweet of her." That's what I thought in the time, didn't think anything about being poisoned. I think I've learned a big lesson there in my life: you can't trust everyone that smiles at you. People have bad intentions, and that's what that specific scene has taught me.

If you hadn't been poisoned, how do you think the rest of your game would have gone?

I swear to God, if I didn't get killed with that chalice, I believe I would've gone far. I'm very opinionated when it came to round tables, I wouldn't let anyone stand over me. I'm not afraid to talk. I speak logic, and I think some women in the game were shocked that I actually have a voice like this because you associate Love Island with bikinis and just your looks, but it's not like that with me anyway.

When you eventually learned who the Traitors were, who surprised you the most?

Phaedra. But then there was moments when I had my finger on Phaedra — there was one breakfast and when John walked in, Phaedra went, "Oh my God," three times. And I thought, "Why is she repeating oh my god three times? Is she trying to get people to see she's shocked to see John? That's really weird." But then I let it go because you are so involved in the game. I always thought Dan would be a good Traitor. He's so quiet and I said it to him a few times, "What would you do if you were a Traitor?" And the truth comes out that he was. If we could go back, I would've definitely seen the signs a lot clearer. But in life, you never get second chances.

How did The Traitors compare to your time on Love Island?

The thing is, Love Island can be produced sometimes. The Traitors is not produced. You are who you are, you get rules said to you before the game starts, there's microphones everywhere, there's cameras everywhere, and it's a bit like Big Brother. You just go in and you play the game. It is intense. And it's not like a Love Island thing where you go in there to find love, it's completely different. You have to be using your actual brain in this game and play mind games. There's a lot of betrayal, backstabbing, there's a lot of manipulation, lies. You have to use that twisted side of your personality for this game. But I loved my experience. If they ask me to do Traitors again, with a blink of an eye, I'll be there. I'll be there for season 3, or if they're doing All Stars Traitors, I fricking would go back in.

The Traitors debuts new episodes Thursdays on Peacock.

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