Road Rules All Stars’ Interviews
Cynthia:
Part One of JJ Web and CYNTHIA chat about real life and the rules of the road.
JJ Web:There are nearly 50 alumni of The Real World. How did Bunim-Murray Productions let you know that you were one of the lucky five picked for the Road Rules trip?
Cynthia: The way I found out was back in May they called me out of the blue and told me that there was an idea that they were trying to do with some of the past Real Worlders. That's when they asked me if I was willing to do another show. And so my first question was, "how long is it?" (laughs) They told me it would be a mini-series, it would only be three weeks. And that it would be a Road Rules type deal. Immediately, I agreed because initially, that was the show that I had tried out for. That's the show I had wanted to be on.
JJ Web:I never knew that!
Cynthia: I wanted to be on Road Rules because I knew I would get to travel more and I love to do that. So when they called, I agreed! And then they told me what to expect -- it's going to be a lot different than The Real World. They were sort of giving me warnings, just making sure I understood what the concept of the show was.
JJ Web:And was this Road Rules experience very different from your Real World experience?
Cynthia: Yes, it was a lot different. Even though in both shows you don't really have any privacy or any time to yourself, in Road Rules you really don't have time to yourself and you really cannot ever get away from the cameras because they're on top of you at all times because you have to travel around in the Winnie. So it's myself and the other four plus the camera crew, which is about three to four people. You're limited to the space that you can move around in. If the camera crew needs to sit where you're sitting, then you need to get up and move somewhere! So that kind of thing was different. To me, in The Real World, they weren't supposed to affect our reality and they were supposed to totally ignore us and we were supposed to totally do whatever we wanted to. Whereas, in Road Rules, there was a plan to each day. You knew what you were gonna do or you knew you had a mission to accomplish. When they gave us a day off, it was not a day off from the cameras. You were still being followed, but you weren't actually doing any Road Rules stuff. But they didn't want to miss anything, just in case someone had sex, or in case somebody got into a fight, or in case somebody... anything! They need to be there for that.
JJ Web:When I saw the first mission at the haunted insane asylum, it seemed to me that you were the most apprehensive.
Cynthia: Definitely!
JJ Web:Do you believe there were actual spirits in the asylum?
Cynthia: I'll tell you this. At the time... They didn't show this on TV, but at one point there was myself and Rachel and maybe two or three of the psychic ladies, and they all had us in this room with them. The torture chambers, actually. And we were in the complete dark and we had to be really quiet and I thought, and it could have been my mind just tripping with me because I knew we were supposed to get documentation and all these other things, but I thought, and I'm not all the way sure, but I thought that I saw maybe a ray of light or something that wasn't there at first. I didn't see fog or clouds or anything, but I saw something. It was maybe in the higher left-hand side of the room. It was kind of weird.
JJ Web:Did Rachel see anything?
Cynthia: What she saw was totally different. She saw actual people. Some guys were standing over a child that was being tortured and all this kind of sh**. So I saw something totally different than she saw.
JJ Web:How long did this ray of light remain apparent to you?
Cynthia: It lasted long enough for me to notice it. It wasn't very long, it wasn't five minutes or anything, it was maybe a couple of seconds. But I saw something. Now, it could have been some kind of hole in the wall where it was getting reflections from the other side of the hallway. I don't know. It's still kind of weird to me. I sound crazy saying I saw something! And I really didn't want to see nothing, because I didn't want nothing by me or touching me or going through me!
JJ Web:I thought your mother's comment was great, when she said "spirits leap."
Cynthia: It's very true. They do. Especially evil spirits. And it's even true with the Linda Blair thing. Since she did Exorcist, she's never been the same. If you play with the devil long enough then he'll come in you all right! And I don't have no time! I'm evil enough, OK? I don't need the actual devil inside me, you know what I'm saying? And when I saw that ray of light, I automatically closed my eyes, because I was like "oh my God, I'm seeing something, I gotta get outta here, it's gonna get on me!" I didn't want it on me. It could have been my mind playing tricks on me, or I could have really seen something. I don't know. But I knew I didn't want it in me, I didn't want it by me, I didn't want it touching me, possessing me, or nothing!
JJ Web:Your next mission was the sheep shearing and the milking.
Cynthia: (laughing) Oh, God.
JJ Web:I know the insane asylum affected you, but it looked like this affected you even more! I have to tell you it's the funniest thing I've ever seen -- it's so entertaining and cute.
Cynthia: (laughing) Is that right?
JJ Web:When you and Rachel had to milk those cows you kept saying "this is the pits of hell!"
Cynthia: (cracking up) Exactly!
JJ Web:Why was it the pits of hell?
Cynthia: Because first of all, the sheep-shearing thing was just too much contact for me. Too much physical contact. I mean, you gotta put the sheep between your legs, put him in a head lock, and hold him down and just start scraping off the stuff! And that was kinda creepy for me. It was really hard for me to get into that.
JJ Web:Were the sheep very strong?
Cynthia: Of course! They were stronger than I am. I'm really not a physical person, as you can see. But I thought I was getting away with it when I was doing my half of the work, doing the little sweeping up and sorting the little wool out and all that kind of stuff, without actually having to touch the animal. I was fine with that. I thought we were home free, until they told us we had to milk some cows and the girls were gonna do it. So I thought to myself, OK, I've seen on TV how they just get on down there, they have a bucket and they just start squeezing and the milk comes out. I had no idea that it was so much more advanced than that. I didn't know that there was an actual machine to do it for you. I thought I was gonna maybe milk two or three cows. It was like two hundred cows coming in! These cows automatically know where they're going to be milked, so they just herd themselves in pretty much.
JJ Web:What were you thinking as they were moving in?
Cynthia: When I saw them coming, I'm thinking, (laughs) 'Who's milking all those cows?' That's what I'm thinking in my mind! Then when they came closer, you could just smell the aroma of them. And they haven't even actually got up on you yet. I was smelling dookie! I was smelling animal. It was creeping me out. So I'm trying my best. But then they showed us this thing that you had to connect onto the bottom of the cow. And then when they started s****ing and pissing, it was over with for me after that. I was like, "oh, no." I was totally disgusted by the whole idea, because you never know when the cow is gonna go. And you have to be pretty fast, you have to be accurate. You have to get in there. Because as soon their tail lifts up, that's when it's coming. And while you're underneath them and trying to figure out where the nipple is to put this suction thing on, you can't really pay attention to the tail. Meanwhile, the tail is swinging back and forth with all this days-old boo-boo hooked onto it, so you getting the cooties all over you! And so I am just totally creeped out, I cannot explain to you, I was just so disgusted with the whole idea. Rachel was taking it much better than I was. I was like, I wished I would have sheared the sheep, because at least they weren't using the bathroom while you're trying to work. And the boo-boo wasn't coming out in lumps, it was coming out in streams! (laughs) My God, I was dying, I thought it was a punishment from God. There was boo-boo everywhere.
JJ Web:How long were you in that pit?
Cynthia: To me, it felt like we were in that pit for an hour. Now, it could have been all but fifteen minutes, OK, to tell you the very honest truth. But I felt like it was forever. I was dying, you have no idea! (laughs)
JJ Web:The next day, you took a turn on the Fly By Wire rocket. I was surprised that you agreed to go first.v
Cynthia: I volunteered to go first, because nobody wanted to.
JJ Web:I remember on The Real World, when you went on your trip and you went swimming, you were very apprehensive. But you jumped right on that rocket!
Cynthia: Yeah, I sure did, didn't I. (laughs) At that point, it was so cold out there, I was like I'll go first so we can get it going and get it over with so we can be in the car with the heater blowing. That's all I wanted to do!
JJ Web:Did you enjoy the ride?
Cynthia: Very much. I thought it was a very cool invention. It's very unique, I'm glad I went first.
JJ Web:How long were you actually up there flying around?
Cynthia: Probably about five to seven minutes, I would imagine. It was a nice little ride, actually. And while you're up there, it feels like it's much longer. It was beautiful. The scenery was just beautiful.
JJ Web:Is there anywhere that you've been in the United States that you would compare New Zealand to?
Cynthia: I could never compare anything in the United States that I've seen thus far in life to New Zealand. It's awesome. It's very green, it's full of mountains. It's clear, the ocean is beautiful.
JJ Web:You're one of only five people who have been on both The Real World and Road Rules. Which show is more intense and which one did you prefer?
Cynthia: I prefer Real World over Road Rules because you don't have to be around your roommates all the time. You can come and go as you please. Whereas, on Road Rules you're around each other all day long. Everything you do has to be a group activity. Plus you still have the camera crew on your ass. But I would prefer Road Rules over Real World because of all the things that we do. These things are just outrageous. And now that I've become involved in these types of things, I can't stop myself. I'm ready to jump out of a plane now. My friends are like, that MTV stuff done f***ed up your mind. I'm totally crazy now. I'm willing to try anything now. I used to think people who take life-threatening risks are crazy, but there's actually a rush that you receive.
JJ Web:And it builds your courage so you can deal more effectively with everyday situations.
Cynthia: Yes it does. And I like bragging about all the stuff we've done! Who can say that they've done the stuff that I've done! I have my normal everyday life, and I have my crazy MTV life, and I try to keep the two separate. But I thank God all the time that I got the chance. I'm really blessed.
JJ Web:If you had it to do over, would you go on the shows again?
Cynthia: I would definitely do it again. I know if I ever have kids, they're gonna say "mama, you crazy." And I'll say, "yeah, your mama is off the hook." My mother is proud, but my sisters and my friends think I'm crazy. From 1996 up to here, MTV has made my life very exciting and I have no regrets.
JJ Web:I know you keep your MTV life separate from your private life, but a lot of people want to know, are you dating anybody?
Cynthia: No, I'm not dating anyone right now.
JJ Web:You're available for dating!
Cynthia: I'm available for dating, I'm available for marriage, I'm available for a boyfriend. Please write that in big, bold letters!
JJ Web:I'll put the word out.
Cynthia part 2:
JJ Web and CYNTHIA discuss the Zorb on the mountain and Eric between the sheets.
JJ Web: Did you enjoy the Zorb ride?
Cynthia: I did to a certain extent, until I got sick. I get motion sickness. You keep turning me around in circles, I'm gonna get sick on your ass! I did two runs, and I made it to the finals. I was supposed to compete against Rachel, but I just couldn't do it again. I was like, one more ride down this hill and I will be throwing up and you guys will be baby-sitting me the rest of the day. So I just bowed out. I couldn't go one more time. However, it was very fun.
JJ Web: What were you thinking when Jon was crashing during his Zorb ride?
Cynthia: First of all, I was thinking when he was coming down he was bouncing so high I was like, damn, he's getting high. But I didn't think it would break. But I guess Jon is a little big, and he was a little heavy. As soon as he stopped and he wasn't moving, I was like wow, I hope he's OK. He had bounced quite high, and we were kinda worried. When he came out and he was OK, then it was funny. The trip I think would have been totally spoiled if Jon would have gotten hurt like that. He could have broke his neck or anything could have happened.
JJ Web: You said the trip would have been spoiled if Jon had gotten hurt. Would it also have been spoiled if you had left Eric behind, as you threatened to do?
Cynthia: In my mind, I was telling them, let's go! I was like, he said he wanted to stay and he must have had a little bit of money in his pocket or something like that. He'll meet us, so let's go. I was like, you guys better be glad I can't drive this vehicle because he would have been a left ass. Don't test me, because I will leave him. Plus, I was really upset with him that day because I didn't like the tone he was using when he was talking to us. I was very upset about that. So at that time I was like, hell, let's leave him.
JJ Web: What tone was he using that day?
Cynthia: He was just loud, obnoxious. Being very disrespectful. He kept trying to play, kept trying to play. And we were like, come on Eric let's go. He had already been down the hill five times. He just wanted to keep going and keep going. But we were tired and ready to leave. We had somewhere to be at a certain time and he was just holding up the whole show.
JJ Web: I saw a clip where Rachel reminds you that you were attracted to Eric at one point.
Cynthia: I don't know what that was about exactly. I told her it was their fault that he was acting like that or something. She said something like that, and I was trying to get her to spit it out, but she wouldn't. And from that day on, she hasn't said anything to me about it. However, I've heard that Eric has told somebody that we had some kind of "doings" with each other as far as sex or something, and I'm like "huh?"
JJ Web: I must admit, that is the rumor.
Cynthia: Right, that is the rumor.
JJ Web: Why don't you tell me your side of the story?
Cynthia: I'll tell you this, there have never been any dealings between me and Eric. And that's the bottom line. Now we slept in the same bed for one night, because Rachel and Sean were always with each other and always trying to get on each other. So Jon had asked me to stay in the room with him and Eric. But Eric was gone for most of the day. When we got to LA, or wherever we were, he would stay gone for most of the day. And so I stayed in the room with Jon and Eric and when Eric came home that night, he got in the bed. And then the next day came. Now the next thing I know, Eric and I had sex. (laughs) It was really disgusting, actually, the whole little details that I heard. I really can't get into it, but I will tell you as far as I know, I've never had any dealings with Eric. I've never felt him put anything in me or on me or anything like that -- I think I would know about it, OK? Maybe he's used to whenever he sleeps in the same bed as girls, he probably does get it. And then when he slept in the bed with me and he found out we were sleeping, he had to say something. You know, he's Eric Nies from The Grind. He can't be like "I slept with Cynthia and I didn't touch her." That makes him look like a sucker! So, of course, he's gonna be like, you know.
JJ Web: I didn't hear this rumor from Eric.
Cynthia: It was from Rachel. I talked to Allison who is doing the book, and she told me that Jon said that Eric said something to him. And she told me Rachel was talking about it. But I've set the record straight. That still won't stop them from showing what they want to show. I'm really not upset about it. I guess there is time for me to have some type of scandal in my life, being that there hasn't been any. But I will definitely address the people I need to talk to when I see them. Whether it's at the reunion, or if I see them on the streets in L.A. somewhere, they're gonna be addressed about it. Because I don't appreciate it. Rumors start. People believe what they want to believe and they usually believe rumors because it's a little bit more exciting than saying "no, he didn't get the ass." That's kind of boring to hear. People want to hear "they got busy." But it's definitely not true. But if it was true, I wouldn't be ashamed to admit it, because he is an attractive person. But nothing happened. I know I hadn't been drinking or nothing like that, so I was very clear on everything. He was a total gentleman while we were sleeping and Rachel was there.
JJ Web: Well thank you for setting the record straight!
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