Olympic medalist Shawn Johnson East and her husband, Andrew East, are heading to the new season of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. It seems they had a big secret to keep.
Shawn, who is 33, shared the exciting news on her Instagram story this past Wednesday, August 6. "Okay, we’ve been keeping a secret, and now it’s out," she began. She mentioned that fans had really pushed for both her and Andrew to join the show. "I highly recommend you watch it," she urged.
They’re just two of the 18 new recruits taking on the show’s demanding challenges. The full lineup of celebrities is impressive, including Teresa Giudice, Gia Giudice, Brittany Cartwright, Kody Brown, Jessie James Decker, Eric Decker, Mark Estes, Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia, Jussie Smollett, Eva Marcille, Randall Cobb, Chanel Iman, Johnny Manziel, Ravi V. Patel, Christie Pearce Rampone, and Nick Young.
In another video, Shawn admitted there was "so much to unpack." She said the training program was "absolutely crazy" and that she "didn’t want to die." She confirmed she and Andrew went through it together. She also shared that "a whole lot happened," even mentioning getting hit in the face. Despite the toughness, she praised the cast, saying, "The cast is incredible, we are literally bonded for life."
While Shawn couldn’t spill every detail, she promised to share "absolutely everything" with fans as the season airs.
Here’s where it gets interesting: Shawn revealed they filmed the show during a family vacation. But it wasn’t just any trip. Their family, all five of them, spent two weeks traveling through Japan, Singapore, and Dubai. During this time, Shawn and Andrew secretly left to film Special Forces season four, all while keeping up appearances online with their "vacation" posts.
Shawn Johnson and Andrew East PETE DADDS / FOX
Shawn hinted at the deception, writing, "Remember when it felt like we were in Japan FOREVER? Well, yeah, half that time we went to another country, haha." She added that she couldn’t say exactly how long they were away for Special Forces. She clarified the family’s itinerary: six days in Japan, five in Singapore, and another five in Dubai. Then everyone returned home together. As for childcare, Shawn explained, "Grandma, grandpa, and nana came and took over." She added, "We flew to start the show 24 hours later." Talk about dedication!
One common question about reality TV is how much of it is real. Shawn quickly put those doubts to rest, confirming Special Forces is completely unscripted. Having starred in shows like The Apprentice, Dancing With the Stars, The Challenge, and Adventure Capitalist, Shawn knows a thing or two about reality TV. She rated Special Forces as a "1" on a scale of 1 to 10 for being scripted, with 1 being totally unscripted. "It’s, like, the real experience," she said. "We wore a mic and all cameras were security cameras." She stressed, "There’s no script in this, you’re just really trying to survive. Zero script."
She emphasized just how real it truly is. In another post, Shawn wrote it’s "MUCH more real than they show on the program." She added, "Truly, just like that. No extra help. Nothing like ‘Okay, we’re done for today’ or ‘This is what’s next.’ You are really on the course 100000 percent of the time from day one." Shawn even joked, "They even assign you a psychiatrist when you leave, haha, because… It’s real."
Shawn also touched on the bonds formed with other contestants. She confirmed it was "FUN" to be with Jessie James Decker and Eric Decker. "YES!" she wrote alongside a selfie of herself, Jessie, and Andrew on a plane. "Now we are so close! Bonded for life."
Fans might wonder if Shawn and Andrew protected each other during challenges. The former Olympic gymnast clarified that they definitely supported each other. However, she said they weren’t worried about the physical tasks, even fights with other contestants. Shawn explained their unique dynamic. "The funny thing about Andrew and I’s relationship is that we both know what we’re capable of, and what the other is capable of, so it’s weird to say it didn’t bother us, but it didn’t bother us," she shared. She recounted her mindset during challenges: "I was like, ‘Yeah, come on, love. Come on, love.’ If someone managed to hit me, I said: ‘Turn it around, you can do it.’"
Andrew felt the same way. "You don’t want to fight Shawn," he stated. "I’ve known for years, but now others know… Blood doesn’t win or lose a fight." He thought it was great to see her in that competitive position and wasn’t bothered. Shawn agreed, adding, "I felt the same seeing you."
Catch Shawn and Andrew East, along with the rest of the star-studded cast, when Special Forces season four premieres Thursday, September 25, at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.