He sells Christmas trees, and he says he’s annoying.
Sanela Kukac
Kicker
Long before he was plotting on TV, Cape Broyle’s Kyle Dalton was just a seven-year-old kid playing Big Brother in his living room with his cousin. Growing up as an only child and left to his own devices, Dalton spent his free time turning reality TV strategies into childhood games.
The Christmas tree salesman and self-described “menace” has traded the living room floor for the national stage, bringing his lifelong obsession with reality TV to the fourth season of The Traitors Canada.
The Traitors is a psychological reality competition show where 22 contestants complete physical and mental challenges to build a cash prize and try to expose the secret imposters hidden among them. It takes place in a castle in Quebec contestants refer to as the manor.
The casting process took four months, says Dalton.
Dalton was vacationing in Istanbul, Turkey, when he landed his first casting call for the show. Before making the final cut, he had to do a mandatory psychological evaluation — a necessary check for every player because of how stressful the game is.
“My mom was like, ‘Oh God,’” said Dalton, when he told her about the evaluation. “This is probably where your journey ends,” said his mom.
But his journey was just beginning. He packed his bags and went to Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., and his mother had only one piece of advice for him when she dropped him off at the airport.
“If you want to last any amount of time in this game,” she said to Dalton. “Do yourself a favour and keep your mouth shut.”
Something Dalton said he didn’t do, but he’s still in the game to date.
“I’m like a melting pot of Newfoundland and Irish roots. I am gay. I’m a Christmas tree salesman. I’m kind of annoying.”
Dalton describes being there as a “pressure cooker.” He didn’t realize how intense it would be until he arrived. For someone who needs human contact to recharge, he struggled to adjust to being alone in his room with no stimulation.
“You fall asleep to silence,” said Dalton. “All I had in my room was a murder mystery book, a box of protein bars and a bag of beef jerky from Costco.”
Dalton isn’t concerned playing a master manipulator on television will hurt his reputation or future relationships.
I’m not worried, Dalton explained, noting that people who know him understand he’s just playing a game.
“I’m hoping this exposure makes the right man slide into my DMs and come to sweep me off my feet,” said Dalton.
Watching the show now, the only thing he’s struggling with is picking apart his appearance.
“I’m watching the show, and I’m like, why didn’t I shave? My hair should’ve been shorter. Why did I wear that sweater?” said Dalton. “My future husband could be watching the show right now, and here I am calling myself a traitor, with my beard growing out.”
But Dalton isn’t worried about people seeing him in a negative light.
“I think (if) anything someone might see (me) and be like, oh, he’s cute or funny or he’s kind of annoying,” said Dalton.
His friends and family weren’t surprised he was going to be on a reality TV show.
Olivia Carew has been best friends with Dalton since they were three years old.
“He’s always been super theatrical, entertaining, funny, and just the biggest personality in the room,” said Carew. “He comes from a funny family. I think he was born into it. This is probably just the start of him being on reality TV.”
As for the audience at home, Dalton aims to ensure viewers notice he came to play a serious game.
“I hope I’m seen as a strategic player, and not just there for my 15 minutes of fame. I want to be respected by the other greats,” said Dalton.
Landing a spot in the manor wasn’t about putting on a fake persona. For Dalton, it meant amplifying every single piece of his life.
“I’m like a melting pot of Newfoundland and Irish roots. I am gay. I’m a Christmas tree salesman. I’m kind of annoying,” said Dalton.
“I was a theatre kid, and I’m an only child.”
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