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On tonight’s episode of The Letter, four Hollywood Hills club kids looked to help each other by exchanging anonymous tough love letters, telling their friends how they really feel about them but are afraid to say.
At the beginning of the episode, we met Samara, Savannah, Dio, and Katie. Samara is a singer/songwriter who is struggling with the aftermath of sexual assault and has a fear of performing in front of an audience; Savannah is an aspiring actress that is holding herself back because she is afraid of rejection; Dio is a gay man with all straight friends; Katie is also an actress, but is not always the most reliable of the group. Her friends think she’s a “flake.”
They drew names and anonymously wrote to the selected person a letter outlining their opinion of what behavior or actions need to be changed. When each friend received their letter, they had to follow all of the letter’s instructions for one week. Samara has to open up about her horrific sexual assault encounter and perform her original music for people; Savannah has to ask people ridiculous questions to hear the word “no”; Dio is forced to join a gay men’s kickball league in West Hollywood to meet men; and Katie has to learn how to be there in the moment and on time by working for a food delivery service.
There were many bumps along the way, but each person made it through the week of challenges. Check out our Q&As with Samara, Savannah, Dio, and Katie to see how their experience was doing The Letter challenge.
Make sure to watch a new episode of The Letter every Tuesday @ 9PM ET/PT on Freeform.
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Celeb Secrets:Â As mentioned in the beginning of the episode, the four of you have been friends for a really long time. How hard was it to write the anonymous letter?
Samara Williams: “It was definitely hard writing the letter. It’s kind of a tough love scenario and you never know what the response will be.”Â
Celeb Secrets: Some of the challenges were really rough and made you come out of your comfort zone. What made you stick through the week?
Samara Williams:Â “It was something I needed. I’m one to hide a lot of my feelings so being out of my comfort zone was a new challenge for me.”
Celeb Secrets: What did you take away from completing the challenges?
Samara Williams:Â “It’s ok to talk about what has happened. It’s healthy to not look at yourself as a victim and more of a survivor. I feel I’m more comfortable with myself as well as being open about my story and my music. Music has always been a huge part of my life, at the same time sharing something I have written myself leaves me feeling vulnerable.”
Celeb Secrets: Did revealing who wrote the letters affect your relationship in any way moving forward?
Samara Williams:Â “I think it was all positive. Sometimes it’s hard to hear what you really need to. But who better to push you than your best friend? We all just want the best for each other. I think writing the letter made us closer as individuals and as a group.”
Celeb Secrets: Have you been keeping up with your new decisions and outlooks, or have you found yourselves going back to your old ways once in a while?
Samara Williams:Â “I’m definitely still scared about sharing my music. I’m working on being more open to sharing. As far as my story I have realized that I want to be a voice for those who aren’t comfortable talking about their experience. It’s not an easy topic to talk about and put yourself out there.”
Celeb Secrets: Your whole story on The Letter was very emotional but also really powerful. How do you think your challenge will help other girls (or even boys) come and speak out about their dealings with sexual assault?Â
Samara Williams: “Everyone knows that communication is the most important part in a relationship, any relationship, including with yourself. I just don’t want anyone to feel ashamed. It took a lot for me to be so forthcoming about this subject. Nobody should have to feel scared or feel like they need to keep this hidden. For a long time it was a secret for me. Being so open about my story makes me want to show people that it’s ok to feel however you feel. It wasn’t your fault.”Â
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Celeb Secrets:Â As mentioned in the beginning of the episode, the four of you have been friends for a really long time. How hard was it to write the anonymous letter?
Savannah Mills: “Oh, it was for sure tough. Sam and I have been through a lot, and I remember vividly how much she struggled with everything that she went through. It’s nerve racking being the one to bring up such a sensitive subject, but it hurt me watching her hurt. This show gave me the opportunity to potentially help her in a way I wasn’t able to before. Writing it was hard, but I’m really happy then I did.”
Celeb Secrets: Some of the challenges were really rough and made you come out of your comfort zone. What made you stick through the week?
Savannah Mills:Â “I think knowing that everyone else was going through something similar helped me push through.”
Celeb Secrets: What did you take away from completing the challenges?
Savannah Mills: “I gained a whole new sense of self. It was freeing to realize that a “no†is nothing more than a two letter word. It shouldn’t change the way I live my life.”
Celeb Secrets: Did revealing who wrote the letters affect your relationship in any way moving forward?
Savannah Mills:Â “It just made us all closer, to be honest. We all have such strong relationships with each other, to the point where nothing could tear us apart. That was never a concern we had.”
Celeb Secrets: Have you been keeping up with your new decisions and outlooks, or have you found yourselves going back to your old ways once in a while?
Savannah Mills: “Obviously it still sucks to go into an audition and not book; it always will. But it’s not because I’m being told no, it just sucks because I would rather book the job- ha-ha. It’s all perspective :)”
Celeb Secrets: Have you been going on more auditions now that you have overcome your fear of rejection?
Savannah Mills: “Unfortunately I’m not the one who decides how many auditions I go on, ha-ha. That’s up to my reps and the casting directors. But I definitely approach auditions differently now!”
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Celeb Secrets:Â As mentioned in the beginning of the episode, the four of you have been friends for a really long time. How hard was it to write the anonymous letter?
Dio Anthony: “It wasn’t too hard writing the Letter for Katie. I knew that no matter how harsh it could’ve felt, that she would know it was coming from the very best place of sincerity.”
Celeb Secrets: Some of the challenges were really rough and made you come out of your comfort zone. What made you stick through the week?
Dio Anthony: “Honestly, getting back together with the girls every morning comforted me. Even though we weren’t speaking about what we were doing when we weren’t around each other, it felt good to somehow touch base with them by just hanging out.”
Celeb Secrets: What did you take away from completing the challenges?
Dio Anthony:Â “Something I already knew within me. Stepping out your comfort zone is always rewarding.”
Celeb Secrets: Did revealing who wrote the letters affect your relationship in any way moving forward?
Dio Anthony: “Not at all! Our foundation was too deep rooted.”
Celeb Secrets: Have you been keeping up with your new decisions and outlooks, or have you found yourselves going back to your old ways once in a while?
Dio Anthony: “I’ve moved to a new city and have definitely taken what I learned on The Letter with me.”
Celeb Secrets: Since completing the challenge on The Letter, have you found yourself getting more involved with the scene in West Hollywood?
Dio Anthony: “Since I’m no longer in Los Angeles, I am not.”
[/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”Katie Wallace” tab_font_select=”default” tab_font=”||||” tab_line_height=”2em” tab_line_height_tablet=”2em” tab_line_height_phone=”2em” body_font_select=”default” body_font=”||||” body_line_height=”2em” body_line_height_tablet=”2em” body_line_height_phone=”2em”]
Celeb Secrets: As mentioned in the beginning of the episode, the four of you have been friends for a really long time. How hard was it to write the anonymous letter?
Katie Wallace:Â “That was actually really difficult! I had to be careful not to use any of my typical “lingo” because they are all so aware of my usual key phrases and token words. It was also difficult to say something that could maybe hurt one of my best friends.”
Celeb Secrets: Some of the challenges were really rough and made you come out of your comfort zone. What made you stick through the week?
Katie Wallace:Â “I wanted to be there for my friends! One of my challenges was to show up for each of my friend’s challenges (since my letter said I was a flake).”
Celeb Secrets: What did you take away from completing the challenges?
Katie Wallace:Â “It ended up being a blessing to get to see each of my friends step out of their comfort zone first hand. Sav and Sam are jealous they didn’t get to see Dio play kickball! And Dio and Sam wished they could have witnessed Sav approach random strangers all day in Venice. I’m fortunate enough to have shared those experiences and memories with each of them.”
Celeb Secrets: Did revealing who wrote the letters affect your relationship in any way moving forward?
Katie Wallace:Â “Not at all. Before we started this we all knew we were gonna be friends through and through. Going through this experience did make us, however, 100 times closer.”
Celeb Secrets: Have you been keeping up with your new decisions and outlooks, or have you found yourselves going back to your old ways once in a while?
Katie Wallace:Â “I mean I still am not super attached to my phone and never will be one of those people that is constantly on it. I don’t see that as a bad trait. However, I am now very aware of responding to my friends and showing up when they need me. I never want to make them feel like I have something better to do.”
Celeb Secrets: Did you ever think that not answering your phone or not being with your friends all the time really affected them, or did it never crossed your mind?
Katie Wallace:Â “I didn’t think not answering my phone really affected them as much as it did! I just thought it was a quality of mine that they should accept. But now I am much more aware. I really put in the effort to respond to them as soon as I see the text message. I’m still not the greatest, but I am light years better. As far as being with them all the time…we are pretty much inseparable!”
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