‘Help! I’m in Secret Relationship!’ Co-Host Travis Mills Teases ‘Craziest Episodes’
Q&A
Travis Mills and Rahne Jones are back to uncover the truth and get answers for people who feel they may be getting played on Help! I’m in Secret Relationship! on MTV. The two hosts lead these investigations down the rabbit hole to find out what may motivate someone to keep their loved ones under wraps. Whether it’s digging into social media or speaking to those connected, as seen in the past, things aren’t always what you’d expect.
Mills, one-half of the music duo girlfriends, is no stranger to these shows built on the formula of Catfish: The TV Show. He also worked on Ghosted: Love Gone Missing with Rachel Lindsay. Before another 12-episode run begins, we caught up with Mills who teases why the most shocking cases he and actress Jones (The Politician) face are still to come.
How would you describe your dynamic with Rahne?
Travis Mills: Rahne is an incredible co-host, partner, and friend. I couldn’t imagine doing this show with anyone else. The way it all happened, how we jumped into this experience together, and how our relationship strengthened. A bond was formed. It’s something you could only dream of. We spend so much time together where we are traveling to and from different states every week. Once the cameras shut off, we all hang out together as well. I’m extremely grateful and lucky to have someone like that in my corner.
What are some things you have bonded over?
We’re going to places sometimes we’ve never been to. So, we’re discovering a new city together. We’re finding cool places to eat and fun places to shop. We get to cross things off the bucket list and find what people are into and their hobbies. For me, I love vintage shopping. Our makeup and hair glam artist is our friend Britney. So we’ll all go hunt for these cool vintage shops and find nice restaurants. Stuff like that. While it is a job and a lot of work, it’s also fun at the end of the day.
What were some of the places you haven’t been before that were eye-opening to you?
Arkansas believe it or not. Arkansas has some of the best food ever. I was pleasantly surprised. We went there in season 1 and were all blown away at how amazing the restaurants were, and how cute a town we stayed in. In this round of episodes, we spent a lot of time in Chicago. I’ve been there touring. A lot of these cities and states I’ve been to as a musician. I have my little rituals of where to hit, etc. I’ll always share that with the crew.
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What have you learned from past experiences as you tackle new cases?
When we first started doing the show it was easy to look at who was hiding as the “bad guy.” When we show up to places, the people who ask for our help are obviously impacted by this, emotionally, and mentally. They’ve gone through the trouble of reaching out to ask for help, which is not the easiest thing to do. You’re kind of predisposed to look at whoever they are in a relationship with to be like, “There is something bad or nefarious going on with you.”
Then as you spend more time with these people, you realize what these people are going through. There is a lot of empathy involved. I think that is what I’ve taken from my host role with this new batch of episodes. You can’t judge a book by its cover. You never know what a person is going through. Often it could be a fear of rejection, something they are struggling with personally, and feel if they are honest with their partner, they may not want to be with them anymore. So you learn how to really feel for people.
I’d say there is a lot of what you’re talking about in the first episode back with Karl and Jasmine.
True, but don’t get me wrong. There are cases where in the end that person is awful and mistreating who we were there to help. That’s when we need to step up and offer insight. Like, “Look, you don’t deserve to be treated like this. There are people out there who will treat you with decency and how you deserve to be.” It’s not our place to dictate what someone does in a relationship. Whether they stay or decide to leave. We’re just there for moral support, to guide, and offer moral support. There are scenarios where people have awful reasons for keeping someone hidden. That’s where we need to step up and be the friend to lean on or big brother.
Do you find it more challenging to do your job as people start knowing the show exists?
Yes and no. People are watching the show. It’s a beautiful thing, but I don’t think it changes the fact that when a conversation needs to happen, it should. It doesn’t matter who we are or what show we hosting. Ultimately, it’s their relationship on the line. If you don’t want to participate in a conversation where your partner has set a clear boundary and wants answers, then that’s their decision to make. I think what we do really well is create a space to feel supported and where they can be honest. It sets the stage for them to have an honest conversation, which they haven’t had up to this point.
What can you say of the stories coming up? In the first episode, things get heated, but from what I’ve been told, that’s nothing like what we’re seeing in future episodes.
I just have to say. These are some of the craziest episodes that people will ever see on this show. If this is the bar that is set now, I don’t know what you do moving forward. There are so many instances where Rahne and I are holding each other saying, “What the hell just happened?” There are also a lot of people telling their truths and sharing their human experiences and struggles. It really tugs on your heartstrings. There are vulnerable moments as well with people being extremely honest, which I think is a great balance. Obviously, there is the drama and shock value, but there are also the personal and touching stories. Lost loved ones, and people who are really going through their own struggles and willing to come on a television show and talk about it. There is a lot of relatability to come this season.
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Anything you can tease about what you’re referencing?
Just the audacity of some people. There is a story in particular where it’s not a romantic relationship but two best friends. They’ve been friends for over two decades. By the end of it, I couldn’t believe that you could do that to someone who has been like a brother to you for your entire life. Just put myself in their shows…I hadn’t seen the entire edit, but I pulled him in the back and had a heart-to-heart with the person we were helping saying, “Enough is enough. You don’t deserve this.” Trying to instill some confidence and a backbone because people get manipulated. That’s where we come in as that shoulder and bring the advice they sometimes don’t want to hear but need to.
Does security have to intervene a lot when things go bad?
There is one story that definitely had to happen. That goes back to the jaw on the floor. Where it’s, “Wow, I can’t believe I’m sitting here watching this.” I think that the only reason they had to get involved was because there were more than just two people involved. The sheer capacity of people in one confined space. You never know what is going to happen.
You clearly build a connection with these people. How would you say helping others has helped you gain a different perspective in your own relationships?
I think if anything it makes me extremely grateful for the people I have in my life and the relationships that I have. It’s hard out here, man. I think traveling and meeting people from all walks of life gives you a new perspective. I think that’s why I’m able to even offer advice in the first place because I have done so much work on myself. So, if I can offer something that has worked for me in the past or something I‘m going through now and that could help someone. It comes down to relatability. Everybody is going through something. It then becomes how we can turn our pain into purpose and share our experiences to help people navigate their own. I like to think that is what Rahne and I bring to the table.
Help! I’m in a Secret Relationship returns, October 24, 9/8c, MTV
Help! I'm In a Secret Relationship! where to stream
