Normal Gossip - Getting Frisky at the Black Rose with Erika Casupanan
Episode Date: December 13, 2023Survivor 41 winner Erika Casupanan joins us this week for a story about the perils of gossiping at work. Listen to Erika's podcast, Happy to See Me! Sign up to hear Normal Gossip's next sec...ret here. Support Radiotopia's fall fundraiser! You can support Normal Gossip directly by buying merch or becoming a Friend or a Friend-of-Friend at supportnormalgossip.com. Our merch shop is run by Dan McQuade. You can also find all kinds of info about us and how to submit gossip on our Komi page: https://normalgossip.komi.io/ Episode transcript here. Follow the show on Instagram @normalgossip, and if you have gossip, email us at normalgossip@defector.com or leave us a voicemail at 26-79-GOSSIP. Normal Gossip is hosted by Kelsey McKinney (@mckinneykelsey) and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin (@alexlaughs). Jae Towle Vieira (@jaetowlevieira) is our associate producer. Abigail Segel (@AbigailSegel) is our intern. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Credits read by Libby Crowe. Show art by Tara Jacoby. Normal Gossip is a proud member of Radiotopia.
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Thanks so much. Hello and welcome to Normal Gossip. I'm Kelsey McKinney. In each episode of this podcast,
we're going to bring you an anonymous morsel of gossip from the real world. I am so excited
to have with me today, Erica Kassoupin and Erica, welcome. Thank you. I am so excited to be here
today. I love this podcast.
Oh my God, I am a huge fan.
So I'm thrilled to have you here.
I will tell the people who you are.
Erica is the winner of Survivor 41
and the first Canadian winner ever.
She's also a keynote speaker, media personality,
and the host of the Happy to See Me podcast,
where she has inspirational chats with people
who have been overlooked and underestimated. She recently returned to reality TV on the Traders' Canada Erica welcome.
Thank you so much. I want to talk specifically about your season of survivor just because I
will give people a little insight into how gossip on the game may or
may not function. In your season right before the official merge, you got sent in what seems
like a very traumatic experience. Yes. And you were given an important choice. Can you explain the
choice and then also how gossip impacted your decision? Yes, okay, this choice was just insane.
It was the first time they did this on Survivor
where I got sent, you know, very humbly sent
to live on an island by myself and you're right,
it was a traumatic, but life changing
and character building experience.
And everyone else who was back at the main camp,
there were half of the people who won the competition and they were safe.
And they were the ones who sent me there.
And then there was the other half of the people who did not win the competition.
And then they were not safe.
And then I had the opportunity to symbolically break this hourglass with a hammer and go back in time and change the result of the competition.
So the people who were safe are now vulnerable and vice versa.
But yes, I made the decision to change the results.
But there was something specifically that I remember
from that experience where the people who won that competition
said that they decided how they were going to make
the decision based on a game of rock paper scissors.
And I'm just like, I never saw the fist go up and down.
Okay, I never saw a piece of a rock paper or scissors be revealed.
And I'm also thinking this is a high stakes televised game.
No one is making a decision like this based on rock paper scissors.
So for some reason, it's like their decision to justify
their decision to
Just to finish by saying it was like based on a game versus based on a game like a game decision
I'm like no, no, this is you trying to like soften
Blow for me and I'm just like then I know that that's not true
I'm always
Saving gossip and always information so I know that that's not true. So it signals to me. I'm like, okay, I can't ride with these people. I have to choose myself first,
choose my safety first. And then sorry, you guys are unsafe now, but not sorry.
I love that. And I think like now if those people are to bring you information in the future,
you're going to be taking that with like a whole box of course sea salt, right? Like I don't believe you for a second.
Is there anything else you'd like to talk about about how gossip works on Survivor?
I think any reality show, especially these reality strategy games, it's so built in gossip, right?
Because the truth is based on what people say about themselves and of each other.
So we're actually always gossiping to each other,
saying, this person wants to target this person,
but then you go to somebody else,
and you say this person's targeting this person,
and then you cheer all these stories,
and you have to be able to deduce
which one is the real one.
And by creating these gossip stories about each other,
then we can make someone see more trustworthy
or make somebody see more threatening.
So that is a huge element of playing the game.
And then something else that I realized after I finished watching the show is even what
you see on TV is the result of gossip because it's like, what do the players say about
each other in their confessionals?
And then I learned from making friends with producers
is that the producers could be on the same beach
and seeing the same conversation
and they could interpret it going differently.
Where they're like, I think this person had the upper hand,
another producer could say, I think this person
had the upper hand, but then it goes through their machine
where they talk about it and it goes through
producers, editors, executive producers,
and then somehow it's like a game of telephone.
And then what you see on TV is like the end result
of that gossip.
So it's all just like hearsay and telephone, really.
So it's also like a POV battle, right?
Where it's like you have one producer saying,
I saw it this way and someone else saying it,
I saw it this way and then eight people down the line.
They're like, we think both these people hate each other.
And it's like, what?
Yeah, exactly.
So it's like, yeah, it's like what we watch on TV
is really just like a rumor that has gone so far,
and now it's on Prime Time TV.
You know, I love that for us as the American people.
That's great television.
A birdie told me that you brought a gossip to share with me.
Is that true? Yeah, so this is like a you brought a gossip to share with me. Is that true?
Yeah, so this is like a vintage high school gossip.
I can share.
I love history.
Great.
All right, so this was back when I was in high school.
So this was something that happened in a high school
in my hometown.
And you know how in high school girls
tend to form groups where it's like the four of us,
our best friends, and we have a name for our group.
So there were four girls who were best friends.
And then just outside of the group, there was a girl named Caitlyn who was not in the
foursome.
Is this mean girls?
Yeah, it is.
You see, you're wearing a Tina Fey.
Okay, continue, great, I love it.
Actually, there's someone.
So yes, there's this Caitlyn who is the fifth person, She's not in the group, but she hangs out. And it's
worth mentioning, there's also a Caitlin who was in the group because at this
point in time, everyone is named Caitlin. Well, yeah. Let's say there's a tall
Caitlin and there's a small Caitlin, but anyways, just not to get them confused.
Okay, thank you. So then one day, and remember, this is the time where MSN is a big deal.
Geocity sites, big deal.
One day, someone begins hacking the MSN accounts of these four girls.
And then someone is hacking their Geocity sites,
revealing secrets, talking shit,
conversations with crushes are being sabotaged,
new MSN accounts impersonating them are being creative.
It's just like this online war fair back
in the early 2000s.
And these four girls are like, what is going on?
And then they realize who would know all of these secrets?
And they're like, oh, it's the small Caitlin.
So then naturally, these girls are like, okay, small Caitlin,
we don't want to be friends with you anymore if you're attacking us online
and all Caitlin please give us our accounts back we're trying to DM our crushes
exactly it's like think of all of the weird like high school makeouts that have been prevented because of the small Caitlin
so small Caitlin is like I'm not doing this goes to the principal's office because she's feeling shut out by this group.
The principal calls in parents.
The girls are like, we are not bullying
small Caitlin, small Caitlin is bullying us.
And then small Caitlin is just so mortified,
she ends up disappearing from school for a few months.
I don't know, gets homeschooled or something
and then shows up next year
and is just like kind to herself and the dynamic is never the same with this small Caitlin.
But the girls are like, small Caitlin, you were sabotaging us, of course this is happening.
Small Caitlin, it's like sweetie, you hacked four accounts.
Exactly, you are the only one who knows all of these secrets.
You're doing crimes.
Exactly. You are the only one who knows all of the secrets. You're doing crimes.
So then years later, years later, one of the girls in the group as an adult catches up with one of the other girls in the group and then somehow
it all clicks to her that it was not small Caitlin. It was actually
tall Caitlin who was bringing small Caitlin because she was afraid that small Caitlin. It was actually tall Caitlin, who was bringing small Caitlin
because she was afraid that small Caitlin
was getting too close to the group.
And apparently there's only room for one Caitlin.
It's a Caitlin war.
It was the Caitlin versus Caitlin.
So now it's like,
Holy shit.
I don't know if there's ever been justice for small Caitlin.
I don't know if tall Caitlin is living with guilt,
but it was just a Caitlin war.
I think Paul Caitlin should be living with guilt,
justice for small Caitlin.
That's not fair.
For small Caitlin.
She had a leave school.
She was being bullied.
I know, and the other girls didn't realize
that they were just clearly getting the wrong information.
And Tall Caitlin was actually the puppet master
the whole time.
Oh my God!
If a small Caitlin is listening today,
I hope you're okay.
I hope you're justified in knowing
that the truth is out there.
Yeah, it's time for you to seek vengeance.
You were right.
You were right.
Oh man, I feel so bad for small Caitlin.
And I'm also like, tall Caitlin.
It's not your fault that your parents gave you
the same name as everyone else.
But that doesn't mean you have to wage wars.
Like, exactly.
Scarcity mindset in friendship.
No, thank you.
I know.
And like, one of them could have gone as a Katie.
One could have been a Kate.
This all could have prevented.
A Lynn, you have so many options.
Yeah.
A Lynn.
Ha.
Erica, thank you for bringing me this gossip.
I am going to be haunted by it, perhaps, forever.
And that's the best kind of gossip.
Do you want to hear the gossip that I have for you?
Yes, I would love to.
Oh my god, okay, great. Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great.
Okay, great. Okay, great.
Okay, great. Okay, great. Okay, great. Okay, great. Okay, great. You know how when you like see people over and over and over again, like you're in very
close proximity to them over a period of time, you get like a kind of blindness that causes
you to believe that they're hot.
Yes, definitely.
Today's story is about when you combine this kind of proximity obsession with a workplace.
Ooh, okay.
Do you have any experience of this dynamic? proximity obsession with a workplace. Ooh, okay.
Do you have any experience with this dynamic?
I've never had a workplace crash.
Okay, great.
I think you're gonna love this.
Okay, can't wait.
Here we go.
I want you to imagine palm trees.
A small main street with pastel colored homes,
bridges everywhere.
The houses have columns on them,
large sprawling oak trees.
It's the kind of city where light is dappled.
Yeah, I'm like, okay, I'm like,
this is like what, an American South rom-com?
Yes.
Okay.
This is the kind of city that is so historically haunted
that it has been rebranded as Tweet.
That's what we're working with.
Okay, so there could be some spookiness to this too.
Always here, it is wedding season.
Always, it is bachelor at season.
Always, it is someone's 50th wedding anniversary.
I know exactly where we are.
I love that.
Here in the city, right on the water, is a sprawling luxury hotel.
Big pool, striped umbrellas,
rooms with ceilings up to the sky,
think like white lotus American South.
Can you help me name this hotel?
Can we call it the black rose?
We sure can.
In the spirit of white lotus.
It's beautiful.
So we are here at the black rose.
Have you ever stayed in a fancy hotel?
What's your take on them?
I have stayed in a fancy hotel and I'm like,
this is a treat.
I'm going to use every amenity.
I'm going to spend time in the bathtub
no matter how busy the schedule is.
And if somebody wants to carry stuff to my room
wearing a top hat, by all means.
That is your luxury and you deserve it. Our story today is about the people wearing the top hat by all means. That is your luxury and you deserve it.
Our story today is about the people wearing the top hats.
It's about people who work at this luxury hotel.
Oh my god, okay.
Their goal is to make this run so smoothly
that like no one ever needs anything.
They are anonymous and interchangeable to guests
and the guests are always right.
No request you can make is too unreasonable.
Wow, okay, so there's already no boundaries here.
Yes, have you ever worked customer service?
So many times, yes.
Since I was like a kid.
Yes, so you know that you learn a lot about human nature
in this job.
Yes, yeah.
Yeah, and you also understand why all of the requests
I'm about to read you are unreasonable. Yeah, that's yeah. Yeah, and you all also understand why all of the requests I'm about to read you are unreasonable.
If someone needs a strapless bra in 30 minutes, this staff makes it appear.
If someone needs 40 matching shirts in an hour, no problem.
Someone needs 12 p-cocks, none of whom make noise by tomorrow evening, like they've got a guy for it.
And these workers are like supremely competent.
If you're a billionaire trying to lay low,
they know how to cheat the system by putting an asterisk
in front of your name so no one can find you.
But this means that the guests are treated like kings.
They behave like kings and their little demons.
For example, the black rows used to have
nice Pendleton blankets that sat outside by the ocean
so that guests could go out at night and not get too cold,
but people started getting frisky under them
and so they had to remove the Pendleton blankets.
How are you feeling at this point in this setting?
It just sounds like there's going to be
so much privilege on display.
I'm excited to really test the limits of humanity
in the story.
It's like, okay, if people are going for it under these fancy blankets and getting peacocks
instantly, and those are just the opening context building, just details that we're sharing.
I'm like, all right, some crazy stuff is happening and I am ready for it.
Yeah, it's chaos sour.
Every guest at the hotel has main characters in
Durham, obviously. But our friend of a friend today, we're going to call her Jade.
She's 23 years old. She's just out of hospitality school. And she works on a
team that we're going to call welcoming. The welcoming team is like, mostly
women. The only person on this team who's not a woman is Sky. And Sky is a person
who everyone at this hotel deems an equal opportunity flirt. Like they will flirt with a
tree if given the option. Charismatic, charming. Sky's whole deal is that they are like drama
royalty. If there's gossip, Sky wants it. From the guests or within the top-hat people or anybody.
Anybody.
Sky will take any more stuff gossip at any time and also they're the manager.
Amazing power dynamic.
This is a healthy workplace.
So this is a messy group, welcoming, obviously.
But they also are very competent.
They check people in.
They coordinate their problems,
every guest has to be walked to their room
because it's this giant hotel.
Our friend of our friend Jade,
her shift is from 3.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. every day.
So there is a culture of having a little drink
at the hotel bar, afterward doing a little smooch.
You know, culture of dating and sleeping
with your coworkers, which is always a healthy sign for a workplace.
But at least it's like a luxurious place, so if you're going to do it, you might among
the expensive blankets.
Yes, there are two problems that come out of this.
The first is that it's a culture of kind of rousing people if they're like dating or
sleeping with each other.
And the second is that if you are dating someone on the staff,
you can't work the same shift.
So like one of you will get moved
to either the morning shift or the overnight shift,
both of which are worse.
OK.
The, it sounds like the picture is clear
because then the manager who presumably is making the shifts
also knows all of the gossip.
It sounds like a scheduling nightmare to be honest.
Yes, because if you know one piece of gossip now you have to move someone's shift to earlier and
like chaos. Today when Jade gets to work, her work rival, Tiff, is already there. Tiff is like a real,
you know, game respects game. Tiff is supremely confident.
She never stays out too late.
Tiff and Jade started at the hotel at the same time,
and like, unlike everyone else who is like,
this is a good job that pays me money
and gives me a lot of time off.
Tiff and Jade are like, this is my career.
I want to move up the ranks of this hotel.
Have you ever had a work rival?
Mostly people who have authority over me, which is not the best way to feel like a rival, re-outwork, but for some reason the people who are
my peers are like, great, we ride together, but oh, if it's someone above me, I'm like,
oh, get ready, I'm coming. I love that. By the time Jade arrives on time, she is always on time.
Tiff has taken all the cool assignments.
Like Tiff is finding a local artist
who can paint someone's dog.
She's finding someone a specialty whiskey.
And so Jade has to do this terrible job of like
trying to find 200 perfectly round ice cubes.
That seems actually reasonable.
If you just give somebody a couple hours,
you could just make them.
Yeah, yeah, but it is annoying.
So Jade is like, this is a boring job.
I don't get to have any fun.
I don't get to meet a local dog painter.
I'm just making 200 round ice cubes.
She's doing this when TIFF like hits her arm lightly.
There is only one thing that TIFF and Jade have in common, one shared interest.
And that interest is the Bellman.
So it's a workplace and a romantic rivalry. Yes. Jade would like to believe that like the Bellman
of this hotel are the brawn, and welcoming is the beauty, but the Belman are both the beauty and the bra.
They wear little hats. They are all very tall. They're all jacked. They all have like
unkempt hair that's a little too long. They're always like a little but not too sweaty,
and they're like high-necked uniforms are always unbuttoned, like flapping open.
What? Technically this is against protocol, but the guests love it and they get lots of tips for it
so they keep doing it.
How are you feeling?
What are your takes?
It sounds like these are the people
who are going to be carrying my bags to my room
and I will happily giving them my American dollars.
And it already sounds like it's wild
that they are just walking around with hats
and open shirts. Yeah, it is wild. I agree. And they're making incredible tips for it. So, you know,
more power to them. In the front of this group of guys is a tall, beautiful lad. His name is
Wyatt. And he's like, I want you to imagine the beast after he transforms into a man.
Okay.
That's big.
The blowing hair, I see the packs, I see it all.
Yes, Wyatt is like charming and charismatic, which as you know is a dangerous combo.
Everyone on welcoming has had a crush on Wyatt at some point.
But he is like very mysterious and very good at boundaries.
He is like, I never date within the staff.
I never have too many drinks, which is torture for TIFF because TIFF has had a crush on Wyatt
for years.
And in the spring, she finally like got up the gall and asked him out and he turned
her down.
Oh my God, no.
Now the rejection is fueling the rivalry even further.
Yes.
And because of this rejection,
they're now always doing this thing
where they're like play fighting,
which makes Jade crazy.
She cannot tolerate this at all.
So like, why it will come to the counter and be like,
Tiff, you forgot to restock the water bottles
in the valley stand and like wink. And Tiff is like, no, I didn't. And he be like, Tiff, you forgot to restock the water bottles in the belly stand and like, wake.
And Tiff is like, no, I didn't.
And he is like, yes, you did.
And Tiff is like, I swear that I didn't.
Like, what will you bet me?
Did it or not?
And they're like always doing this like, chirping thing.
Jade, watching them do this, like rolls her eyes
at her like, work wife Miguel,
who is on the Bellman team.
Miguel is her like, lifelineeline here because she's like,
tiff makes me crazy.
The Bellman are always in this feud with us.
And Miguel is the only one who likes to gossip.
So the two of them will like huddle up at the bar and gossip
about the guests and gossip about the co-workers and gossip
about Sky and gossip about like the other hotels in the chain.
Are you a gossip at work?
A strategic gossip at work.
Yeah.
Where I'm like, oh, you can come and speak to me
because I'm a safe space for you to venture frustration.
Oh, nice.
And then I'm just like, okay, and now I know the crazy shit
that this person's done.
I'm going to keep that in mind for the future.
You just hold it all in your little hands.
And then, yeah, have the right moment to deploy it.
Yeah, I love that.
This night, after the shift, Miguel and Jade
like settle at the hotel bar to debrief.
Eventually, Jade is like, oh, let's check in.
Like, what about Wyatt and Tiff?
Like, do you think that they're ever gonna hook up?
And Miguel's eyes get like really wide.
And he's like, oh my god, I forgot to tell you.
He's like, Wyatt told me that he has a girlfriend. And Jade's like, oh my god, I forgot to tell you. He's like, why it told me that he has a girlfriend.
And Jade's like, what?
Who?
And Miguel is like, I don't know, it's this girl
who lives a couple hours away, like he showed me a pick.
Why are you making that face?
I don't know, I was hoping it was gonna be Tim.
I was hoping it was going to be from within the house.
I feel a little sad for Jade now,
because like not only has she seen this inseparable flirting,
but I'm like, oh, he's not even available.
I know.
Jade is like, wow, this is very upsetting,
because I've had to watch all this play flirting
and now he's not even available.
She's like, do you think that they're gonna stop
flirt fighting?
And Miguel is like, I mean, I doubt it.
Like, could they even stop it if they wanted to?
This drama goes on for all May.
Tiff and Wyatt are like still hiding each other's key cards.
They're still making up fake things that guests need.
They're like doing these little pranks on each other
that are like teasing.
You are Jade.
You know that Wyatt has a girlfriend.
Knowledge famously is power.
Do you tell Tiff?
No.
So fast in for a while.
No, she is my workplace rival.
So I'm like, it sucks for me to watch it all go down,
but at the same time, I'm like, okay, whatever history we have,
where she's my workplace rival,
I'm like, I don't think I need to have
her best interests in mind.
I think I can just allow her to go down this journey
and figure it out the hard way.
I don't know.
I wouldn't say anything.
Here are what Jay thinks are the pros and cons.
Jay's like, the pro is that baby if she knew
he had a girlfriend, they would stop like flirt fighting
in front of me, which would be great.
She's like, but there are two cons.
The cons is, then I lose the entertainment of them flirt fighting in front of me, which would be great. She's like, but there are two cons. The cons is then I lose the entertainment
of them flirt fighting.
And it could make Tiff grumpy,
which would make her worse to work with.
Which, yeah, very important.
If you already have a rivalry with her,
you don't want her in a bad mood.
Yes.
So Jade's like, I'm not going to tell her.
I'm going to keep this little knowledge inside my heart.
But then in June, two fakes happen.
Tiff and Wyatt stop play fighting entirely, like abruptly.
They are ignoring each other.
The second thing that happens is that Sky
announces that they're leaving
to go to a different hotel,
which means there is now a power vacuum
and Tiff and Jade both apply for that position.
Oh my God.
Okay, I am ready for this. And I'm also like, did Tiff and Jade both apply for that position. Oh my God. Okay, I am ready for this.
And I'm also like, did Tiff and Wyatt hook up?
Like, what has happened here?
Why do you say that?
Well, just for them to automatically stop talking
and like, did they hook up?
And then she finds out he had a girlfriend
and then something goes down.
Or tell me, tell me it's even crazier than that.
That is too pedestrian of a theory.
Okay. Too pedestrian, way too pedestrian, but that. That is too pedestrian of a theory. Okay.
Too pedestrian, way too pedestrian,
but we're not gonna get there for a second.
Do you try, if you and TIFF are both applying for this job,
that is management of your team that you work on,
do you try and talk to TIFF about this?
No.
No.
No, I'm like, we're just applying for the job,
let the powers that be, make the decision,
just put my best foot forward.
I don't feel like I need to talk to Tim about that.
I love this boundary setting that you have.
You're like firmly, she is not my problem.
Yeah.
Jade does not have this self-awareness.
And so she's like, Tiff, I just want you to know
that I know we're both applying for this.
And I'll totally support you if you're the one that gets it. And Tiff is like, Tiff, I just want you to know that like, I know we're both applying for this and like, I'll totally support you
if you're the one that gets it.
And Tiff is like, thank you.
I'll be happy for you too if you're the one that gets it.
They're like, great.
Now you've had like a nice, tiny conversation.
Do you want to ask her what's happening with her and why it?
Oh, yeah, 100 times.
Yeah.
That's actually very big of them in hindsight
to share the all the intro
ever, but it's just like, okay, if you get this little bit of nice behavior,
like why not see if you can scratch and get a bit more. So yes, 100%.
Yes, she's like, great, I'm so glad that we're both supportive of each other.
Is everything okay between you and Wyatt? And tips like, what? And Jates, like, oh,
I just noticed that you're not like play fighting anymore? And tips like, what? And Jates like, oh, I just noticed
that you're not like play fighting anymore.
And tips like, what are you talking about?
Jade like drops it, but she's like,
I feel like I'm losing my mind.
Like I have been watching these two people play flirt
for like months.
I have watched them do these little fights.
And now TIFF is standing in front of me saying,
like, I have no idea what you're talking about.
We've never done that.
I just can't imagine what is going to be
on the other side of this,
because it's like everyone in this hotel has eyes.
We have seen the play fighting.
We've seen the hidden key cards.
There's no way you can convince anyone
that this hasn't been happening.
Yes.
Jates, like, I'll drop it,
but like, I'm paying attention,
and I know that something is happening here.
One day, the next month, they're at the desk and why it comes running in. And he's like, a guest has arrived.
We've got a code yellow.
Code yellow is when a guest wants something that the hotel has not done before, so they
like don't know how to obtain this thing.
In this case, it's that this man wants to go purl diving.
And everyone is like, we don't have any guys that do this.
We don't even really know what this is.
Like, this should be a chaotic moment.
But as why it is explaining the code yellow,
TIFF is just like a brick wall,
like not responding to him at all,
clicking around on her computer,
like not even paying attention.
You're Jade, you're sitting at the desk next to TIFF,
listening to why it tell you about this Codialo,
what do you do here?
I mean, okay, listen to the Codialo,
put your job first, figure out all of that stuff,
but I think once that conversation is over,
it's like I have to turn to her and be like, girl,
what is going on?
How are you not responding to this at all?
Yes, Jade is like, Tiff,
are you gonna handle this code yellow
or do you want me to handle it?
And Tiff's like, I'm not handling it.
And so Jade's like, okay, why it come over here?
Like, what's this, which guest is this?
What does he need?
And why it's like, oh my God, finally, thank you.
And then he winks at her and leaves.
Luckily for Jade, she doesn't have to talk to Tip about her behavior because Skye is still watching this
because they're staying there
until the replacement is chosen and trained.
So Skye is like, Tiff, you cannot ignore the bellman.
Like it is your job and a Codiello is serious.
And Tip's like, yeah, I know, I'm sorry.
And then Skye is like, just because Wyatt hit on you,
doesn't mean you can ignore him.
And tip is like, okay.
And Jade, in her heart, is like, what?
What?
Are you asking a follow-up here?
I'm just like, what?
It's like the hitting on her.
What was it for it to cause this much of a reaction?
Are they not play fighting and play flirting for years?
Like wonder what this was?
Yes, Jates like Tiff.
What?
And Tiff's like, it's nothing.
He made a pass at me at drinks last week,
sky saw it and like helped me shut it down.
And Jates like, I do not understand what's going on here.
What is going on?
Jates, theoretically, why it has some long-distance girlfriend?
Or I guess could have lied to Miguel,
and it's just like being shady.
What do you think here?
I have no idea,
because I'm like,
we wouldn't him hitting on her be something that's welcome?
Like, is she not nudging Jade saying,
look, why it is here?
Yes.
And yeah, where does the girlfriend factor into this?
If they spend this much time at this resort,
they get together for drinks after work,
presumably when they drink, they talk about their lives.
How is it also not out in the open that he has a girlfriend?
Jade gets answers to none of this.
He said the tension between Wyatt and Tiff
continues to escalate.
Like, she's not talking to him.
She won't help him at work.
Wyatt then begins to like go on the offense.
Like, he starts talking to Tiff
in an exaggerated imitation of like her phone voice.
And they both start throwing each other
under the bus with guests.
So when a guest asks why it's to help him find a date
for a wedding, why it will be like,
oh my god, Tiffany would love to help you with that.
So Jade keeps having to intervene in these conversations
because she's like, you're gonna fuck up
the guest experience here.
And that is our whole job.
Sky is on her team about this,
obviously. So Sky and Jator like gabbling about this at the counter one day. And Sky to Jade is like,
if Tiffany and Wyatt do not stop this like elementary school behavior, I'm gonna lose my mind. Like,
it's fucking up our job. And Sky is like kind of joking but not really. Why it over here's this, and is pissed, like so angry.
And he leans over the front desk, and it's like,
I know that you all think that this little like drama gossip club is cute,
but you are a manager, Skye, and this is inappropriate, like you need to stop it.
Wow, where did why it get boundaries from?
And also this is where he's going to step up
and speak up for himself.
Are you skeptical about?
You're making a skeptical face.
Yeah, I'm very skeptical of that.
I'm just like, wait, there has been this weird tension now
for however long and this is the moment
when I think that sky is actually being very reasonable
and saying that this is fucking up the whole team, like why is why it just now
saying something? Yes, and I think maybe if sky were staying longer, they would have
like investigated this, but because sky is on the way out, they're just like,
I'm sorry dude, like my bad. Yeah, it also sounds like Jade is probably the front runner for this job
between her and Tiv, because she's not actively
fucking up this team as far as we know.
So that's for Jade.
Great transition.
Thank you.
At the end of June, Sky comes to Jade
and is like, congratulations, you got the job.
You're going to be the manager starting in July.
Go Jade, our girl.
Jade's like, oh my god, thank you. She's like ecstatic.
She's like, this is my career. I'm so happy. I really didn't think I would get it.
Like, thank you so much. And then she's like, can I ask like why I got it over Tiff?
Expecting that Sky to be like, well, Tiff has been behaving like a 14 year old with why
it. And so I can't get for this job job and Sky is like, oh, Tiff pulled
her name from the running.
And but Tiff still works there.
But Tiff still works there.
Jade's like, so I was the only applicant.
And Sky's like, yeah, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve it.
Would you feel bad here?
Like how would you feel?
I'm just like, J, don't go into the title waves.
Just be happy.
You got me job.
Don't do this weird comparison shit.
You're getting, you're gonna get paid more.
You're gonna have more responsibility.
Like, don't ruin yourself image over that.
But then also, now she has some questions for TIFF.
And as a manager, she can ask that.
I love this.
Jay, it feels a little bad for one second. and then she's like, I got what I wanted.
I don't really care.
This doesn't matter.
Before she starts as manager, before Sky's last day, she gets to use one of the few perks
they have in this job, which is that for one week every year, you get to stay in a sister
hotel. So Jade takes her
week vacation in June, she goes away, she gets to be a guest, someone deals with all of her petty
insane requests, and then she comes back and she's feeling refreshed and good. And she comes in on
her first day as manager and things feel different. Partly because she's the manager. And partly because she has changed her outlook on work, right?
She's like, as a manager, I have decided
that I will not replicate the mistakes that Sky made.
Like, Sky encouraged the culture of this place
to be unprofessional and gossipy and deranged.
And like, I am gonna do better as a manager.
She's like, I'm gonna become a totally different person
who's not interested in gossip.
Now that I have this position of power,
do you think that that's possible?
I mean, after one week of having people cater to all of her
crazy requests, maybe that changed something in her?
Where she's like, oh, I realized how deranged it is
that I can have a peacock on request.
So maybe I need to come back down to earth.
Yeah, she's like, I feel great about this revelation and I think it's the right thing to do.
Until she walks in the front doors.
And she watches, why it, come up to the counter and be like, hey, lean on it and be like,
hey, can I get a pen?
And TIFF be like, oh yeah, of course.
Like which pen do you want and like fan them out
in front of them?
And she's like, they're getting along.
They're flirting again.
You've resolved to never gossip again
and you are the manager.
Do you ask?
Yes.
Yes.
Because now it is totally within my job
to know about the social while being of this team.
So yeah, I'm gonna ask.
You're just gonna be like, what's going on here?
What's your move here?
Like, how do you ask?
I think that I would frame it as,
so what has happened in my week away?
How have the relationships changed?
You coming back from ex-Hail Island?
What has happened in my week away?
Oh no.
Jade is like, oh, did you and Wyatt like work your little problem out?
And Tiff is like, what problem?
And Jade's like, I mean, it seems like you had a problem
with Wyatt.
And Tiff's like, I've never had a problem with Wyatt.
These people just need to be honest about where they're at.
It's okay if there's a conflict, Tiff.
It's okay. It's fine. Yeah,
exactly. And Jade is like, okay, whatever. Like, maybe this is the sign from the universe that I
was right to try and stay out of it. Like, I'm going to keep trying. This goes on for a few months.
Everything is calm. Tiff and Wyatt are still flirting all the time. And then one day in September,
Tiff is like, I have to run an errand. Can I take my
dinner break now? And Jade is like, yeah, no problem. Like, who cares? But then, when she needs a
bellman for something in calls one, Miguel comes. And Miguel is like, oh, why it just took his dinner
break? Do you have the number of this card retailer that we need? A guest is asking. And Jade is like,
well, well, well, why it is on his dinner break at the same time as Jade.
That's very interesting to me.
I'm intrigued.
I'm like, we need some answers.
Everybody has been exposed to this for too long.
We all deserve something.
I don't like this hot and cold.
Just tell us what's going on, Tiff.
Jade is like, it's not really gossiping to speculate with your work wife, right?
So she and the gal are like, could they be together?
Like, where could they have gone?
What are they doing going on and on?
When another employee comes up and is like,
what are you guys gossiping about?
Do you tell your employee what you're gossiping about?
See, I fully agree that there's this sanctity
in the relationship with the work wife
where all other social decorum gone, you can say whatever.
Yes.
It's a tough position because you are the manager,
so I think you shouldn't be telling this other employee,
but I get the feeling that Jade is going to say something.
Jade is like, it's nothing.
We're just gabbing.
And the other employee is like,
so you're sure it's not about Tiff getting into why it's car.
And Jade is like, don't tell me about that.
I don't wanna know that.
And then the employee leaves and she and McGell are like,
what?
What do you do here?
Do you do anything?
It's, I mean, one, continue to gossip with the work wave.
Yeah.
But I think when she comes back, I think it's reasonable to say, hey, how did that Aaron
go?
It appears that you and Wyatt went on the errand together.
Was it productive?
I think you can't find a way to ask,
because at this point, it's like, come on guys,
it's been years.
Yeah.
They come to the conclusion that Jade is getting nothing
out of Tiff.
Every time she asks a question, Tiff just stonewalls her.
So they're like, you try.
Miguel, you try with Wyatt.
So Miguel goes off and does his job,
and he comes back next day, and he's like, I talked to Wyatt.
And Wyatt said they are absolutely not dating.
They are absolutely not involved.
Like, he just took her on an errand because she needed to dress him and his aunt is a
tailor.
I also can't believe that they haven't used Miguel and Wyatt's relationship as a resource
up until this point.
You mean like Miguel has never asked Wyatt at all about this?
I know. It's like boy, hour over there where where he's like this guy showed me a picture of his long
distance girlfriend on his Instagram and I asked no follow-up questions. What are you doing?
He's actually like probably one of the worst people to have in your gossip arsenal if he's not
doing the work to get more information to. Yes, luckily in this case, Miguel is like,
oh, it's nice that you hooked Tiff up with your aunt,
who's a tailor, but like, why did you need to drive her there?
Yes.
And why it's like, oh, oh, oh, oh, I've been driving her places
because her car is broken, and she can't afford to get it fixed.
And Jaden, her head is like, this is a little
like the lady,
Doth, protest too much to me.
Like, a lot of excuses happening here.
But she's like, I'm not gonna ask Tiff
because I am reformed.
I shant ask her about Wyatt,
but as a manager, it is,
perhaps my duty to know if her car works.
So she's like, Tiff,
I heard that you're having car trouble.
Is that true?
What happened with your car?
And Tiff's like,
oh, my car is broken.
And Jade is like,
oh, I'm so sorry about that.
Like, let me know if you need anything.
And Tiff is like,
yeah, actually I do need to talk to you.
Can we talk for a minute?
I'm ready for the reveal.
Let's go, Tiff.
Or at least tell us why you don't have the Uber app.
Yes.
Jade is like, it's definitely not gossip if she confides in me.
She's like, come to my office, what's up?
And Tiff's like, listen.
I've been dreading telling you this because I know it's going to create all sorts of problems
and like, the fall out blah, blah, blah, blah, and Jade's like, yay, yeah, get to it.
What is it?
And Tip is like, I put in my request for my week
at a sister hotel at this big fancy hotel overseas
that no one ever gets approved for, and I got it.
And I'm going the first week of October.
And Jade's stomach plummets into the round
because she's like, first off,
this is not the gossip I wanted.
This is an amateurial bullshit.
She's like, second, the first week of October
is like the biggest week for us this year.
We have three weddings, two billionaires on site
and a conference for food and drink people
who when they were here last year
drink the whole bar out of booze. She's like, the staff had been strategizing for this for weeks, like months maybe. She's like,
and Tiff is supposed to be the point person for like all of these weddings. So her leaving for this
has fucked up everything. What do you do? Well, one, it seems like Tiff is really skilled at
fucking up a lot of shit here. What do you mean you're leaving during that week?
What do you mean you have had this weird flirt man forever?
What do you mean you can't call an Uber when your car is in the shop?
And also this is a very expensive hotel
So I would think that like you're at least making enough to cover the usual cost of living. So TIFF, not trusted
but
This is a moment with privacy. So, I don't know
if Jade's gonna do it, but as someone who is really invested in the story, I hope she takes this
moment to ask what the fuck is going on. Jade is like, could you go to this fancy hotel any other week?
Instead of the first week of October, she does not take the wide open door chance to ask a question here.
And TIFF is like, no, that's the only week they offered me.
But Jade does not believe this.
And with the system that she has, she can see
whether or not they offered TIFF more than one week.
Do you look?
100%.
Why?
It's within your managerial right.
Jade looks and she sees that Tiff was offered three different weeks and that
Tiff shows the one that she would be the busiest on. What do you do? So is Tiff
aware that Jade can see all of this. I would assume so. OK.
I feel like she has to go back and say, hey, I see that there's actually other weeks available.
Can we work something out where maybe you get a bit more
than a week, and then you can go at a different time.
Maybe we can figure out a compromise.
I love this strategy.
Like I love your manipulation of this.
I think that would work perfectly.
Jade is like, I'm so mad at her that I want her out.
Like I'll do it without her.
She can leave for the week, whatever.
But then the whole lead up to that week,
she's like panicking and planning and rushing.
Like one of the brides wants 5,000 pink roses.
So someone has to source those.
One of the fancy guests wants two rooms that connect,
but this doesn't exist in the hotel,
so a contractor has to be brought in to like connect them.
Jesus Christ, I didn't realize
that they're renovating for these guests too.
By the time the week begins,
Jade is like, I don't even have time to think about TIFF.
Like, I only have time to work.
And at the end of the first day of that week,
she's like, I'm so exhausted.
Like, I'm not having a drink at the bar.
I'm going home, and I'm going to sleep.
For three days, she works so hard that she has no memory
of the day before.
On the fourth day, she's stuck late doing some dumb request.
And she's like, looking at things on on her computer trying to find something for a guest
When Miguel comes in and he's like, hey, do you want to get a drink at the bar?
And Jade's like, yeah, I feel like I'm absolutely dead and Miguel is like, oh, why?
And she's like, I mean, I told you that Tiff is gone because like she got into the swanky hotel and so she's left and
Miguel is like, oh my god, I forgot that that was this week.
Miguel's like, isn't it interesting
that Wyatt is visiting his brother in Miami this week?
Stop.
Of course, I was about to ask
is Wyatt there this week too,
but of course they are both gone at the same time.
Mm-hmm.
And also, Miguel, you need to be more forthright
with this information.
Yes, come to the desk and tell me immediately. Jade is like, this girl screwed be over,
is constantly creating problems for me. She's like, do you think that they're together to Miguel?
And Miguel is like, yeah, of course, I think they're together. He's like, they're both gone this same week and he's like,
isn't Swainky Hotel like the most romantic of all of our hotel properties?
And Jade's like, yeah, I think it's like four couples.
And Miguel's like, oh my god, it is.
You and Miguel have the power of management and friendship on your side.
And you want proof that they are together.
How do you get it? Is there like an interconnected network of welcome
team managers at the different hotels? Like can you reach out to the the equivalent
of you at the swanky hotel and figure out who she's with. That is a great idea and they will do it but not yet.
Okay. First thing they do is Miguel is like,
it's an international hotel. He's like, what I'm gonna do is I'll call
Wyatt tomorrow. And this I did not know this. These people are very smart.
Apparently the ringing tone, like when you call someone is different in
different countries. Oh shit. tone, like when you call someone, is different in different
countries. Oh shit. Okay, I learned something. Yeah. So like the US uses like, there's a two-second
ring followed by a four-second pause. In like the UK, for example, you hear a double ring. So like
two-bring-brings followed by a two second pause
So Miguel is like I'll call Wyatt tomorrow if the ringer is different. We know he's not in Miami
We know he's a brat so Miguel calls in the morning it rings
The ringing totes different And why it answers his phone
And Miguel is like oh hey, like what's up?
We're just bored at the front desk
and we're wondering if you know where the cards are.
And why it's like, what do you mean you're bored
at the front desk?
Isn't this like one of the busiest weeks
that the hotel has all year?
And Miguel's like, ha ha, yeah.
Okay, Miguel needed a real plan for this.
I was like, Miguel needs to be coached through
like this gossip and information sourcing.
Yes, Miguel is like, yeah, it's bad,
but do you know where the cards are?
And so why it's like, yeah, like the cards
are in the valley stand like, did it it it it it it.
Miguel's like, great, thank you so much.
How's your brother?
Are you having a good, a good time?
And why it laughs and hangs up the phone.
Now they are very mad and more suspicious than ever
because they're like, did the two of them leave us
in this hellscape to go on in this secret romantic vacation?
This is where your idea comes in.
Jade is like, I don't have access to that hotel system.
So I can't just like look them up.
She's like, but I could call the version of me that's there
and ask a strategic question and probably find out.
Yes, I like what Jade is doing here.
This is like the way to play the game.
Yes, Jade.
What kind of strategic question do you want to ask?
You don't want to get caught as being snoopy on your employees and you don't want them to
find out that it's like you calling,
but you want to know for sure that why it is there.
Can you call and say that you're like the sister of somebody and you want to send a bottle
of champagne or some type of like anniversary surprise? Oh my god, you're so good at this. I'm
going to start calling you with my problems. She calls and she's like, hey, so sorry. Uh, we're having a bit of an emergency here
at the hotel. Could you transfer me to Wyatt last name's room really quick? And the
her on the other end is like, yeah, absolutely. Give me one second. She directly got there.
The transfer signal begins to ring.
Do you let it ring?
No, because clearly these people are not capable
of having the conversation when he picks up.
When you call someone, there's the risk
they're going to pick up and you need a plan for that.
So no, don't let him pick up.
First ring Tiffany picks up the phone.
She's like, hello, Jade hangs up. First ring Tiffany picks up the phone. She's like, hello, Jade hangs up.
Ha ha ha ha.
Miguel and Jade are like dying.
They're in hysterics with the front desk.
They're like, these two think that they're so sneaky.
They're like acting like they don't go on vacation together.
Like, come on, we have like solve the mystery.
They're so proud of themselves.
They're patting themselves in the back.
Why don't you forford turn the next week?
They have their stories straight.
Jade asked why it how it was Miami and why it's like,
oh, it was great.
I did a walking tour.
I ate ceviche.
I saw the beach.
She was so fun.
Jade asked Tip how her vacation was.
It tips like, oh, it's so good.
I got some alone time.
Jade is like, ah, like, why are they like this? Like, they this? They're so difficult and I can't prove it.
I don't want to deal with them anymore. This is just annoying me now.
I almost feel like, okay, if they're not clay fighting anymore and it's not ruining
the guest experience and they're not passively, aggressively handing each other pens, at this
point I'm going to be like, you know what, just go off and secretly date, like fuck it.
But then I guess they did leave during
the busiest time of the year.
So actually, I think I would be salty still.
A couple of weeks after their trip,
Tiff comes to Jade and is like,
hey, I'm putting in my two weeks.
She's like, I'm transferring to another hotel
in like a new city.
And Jade's like, okay, bye.
The relief I feel. And then she immediately is like, where's Miguel? And she goes to Miguel and she's like, Miguel, tip is leaving. And Miguel's
like, oh my god, why it is also leaving. Like he has transferred to a different hotel in that same city.
So the two of them are like, well, well, well. We have all the proof we've ever wanted. Like, we've solved this mystery.
We are almost at the end, whose side are you on?
Okay.
I think it's Jade.
I think that it's always been Jade.
I think that perhaps Jade could have been more strategic
in how she went about this.
But at this point, if I was Jade,
I'd be like, girl, you won.
You got the job, your
workplace rival is leaving. You don't have to do this weird Sherlock home shit anymore.
And then you can have the satisfaction of knowing that like they're just out of there
and you can have this toxic, free workplace environment.
Yes.
Tiffany, why it leave?
Bliss. Jades job is so easy.
No one's doing play fighting.
People are just hooking up in a normal way that doesn't cause any problems for her.
A few months after this, she's leaving at the end of her shift and she runs into Sky on
the street.
They're gapping.
They're happy.
She's like, oh my god, you'll never believe what happened with Wyatt and Tiff.
And she tells Sky this whole story.
And Sky is like, oh my god, you don't know.
And Jade's like, no, what?
And Sky is like, so I'm friends with Tiff's sister on Facebook.
And Jade is like, why would you be friends with Tiff's's on Facebook. And Skye's like, she's hot.
Like, don't worry about it.
That's not important.
She's like, OK.
So Skye is like a couple of weeks ago.
I'm on Facebook.
And I see that she posted photos from the fall of last year,
right?
Like an album titled Fall, whatever year.
Skye's like, so I'm scrolling through the photos
and look what I see.
And they turn their phone around. and on it is a photo.
It is a photo of Tiff and Wyatt and they are kissing and the sun is behind them and
they look so beautiful.
And her hair is so thick and gorgeous and Jade is like, wait a second.
Is that a fucking veil? And Sky nods flips to the next photo and they are
standing at an altar. Like full tux full white dress full marriage. The two of
them got secret married in the fall while working at this hotel. Why is this a secret? Why does this have to be a secret?
No, why is it a secret? Why are they hot and cold with each other?
If people are in the same time, you can obviously have these arrangements. Why is this a secret?
Janice, what are the fucking dates on this? She's scrolling through the photos. They got married the week before
Hell Week and their trip to that hotel was their honeymoon. So that's how she got
into that hotel was by being like, it's my honeymoon, please. I think it's very
humblings. I was like, okay, if everyone is gossiping here and Jada's supposed to
be the manager who knows everything, It's like, I just, these
people have been fucking married and I had no idea. But I'm also so confused like, why
is this a secret? I'm sure you could like go to HR and say you're married and it's fine.
Why is this a secret? What happened to why it's girlfriend from hours away? Yes, I don't
understand why this is kept from everybody.
No one understands. She goes to Begell and she's like, what the fuck is this? And Begell is like,
oh, maybe that's why they were fighting because wedding planning is really stressful.
And Jates, that doesn't make any sense. Why did they need to hide this? Jates, I feel like I'm
losing my whole mind. Do you have any theories of why they might hide this. Jade's like, I feel like I'm losing my whole mind. Yeah.
Do you have any theories of why they might hide this?
Why they would feel the need to hide this?
God.
I'm like, was I, I really like Adelaide,
was she worried she wasn't going to get the manager job?
Like, I just, I cannot think of a reasonable reason to be hiding this.
Yes. Jade is like, this is going to send me into like a quick descent into madness. Like,
I am going to be checked into a mental hospital. I am going to lose my mind. So she's like,
you know what? Fuck it. I'm like, going to bring this to the whole team and see if we can
like, sort it out. She's like, did any of you know that they
were married? No one knew that they were married. And everyone's like, did any of you know
that they were dating? And everyone's like, no, we thought that they were just fighting
all the time. It turns out that like basically they were just like, we want privacy. And so
we won't be telling anyone about our relationship. Like we want to work the just like, we want privacy. And so we won't be telling anyone about our relationship.
Like we wanna work the same shift,
we wanna be able to carpool,
we don't want anyone in our business,
so we have secrets now.
Okay, boundaries, I guess.
I guess.
But it's like fighting all the time
is such a weird way to throw people off the scent
because you're just drawing attention to yourself.
Yes, it's like the worst stealth technique of all time to be like, we're enemies actually.
Yeah. Let's openly show people that we don't get along. I don't understand. I don't get it. I
don't understand them. I don't know. We are at the end of our story. Do you have any takes? What are
your final thoughts? Lay it on me. I mean, I love how the one Jade did not complete her mission of having a gossip
prevert place that she calls in the whole department and is like, okay, let's get to the bottom of
this. So I'm rooting for Jade, but unfortunately, Jade has not hit her goal during this. I still do not
understand this tip and why a thing. At all, like, truly, I don't. And then I wonder now that they're
in a new city, like what happens? Is it a clean day? Where they can live openly as a married couple
or is this roof going to continue? Right. They'll never tell their co-workers about each other.
Right. It's like, is that why you're at different hotels? Is so that like you can continue to do
this ruse where like you're just a nobody who has no interests
and no one knows anything about you?
Like, imagine being able to keep that many secrets
about yourself, like certainly could not be me.
I feel like you would go home and just scream or something.
It's like, I wonder what they talk about
in the car ride home where they're like,
all right, baby, another day to come.
No one knows, I think we're just fighting.
I guess that's a question.
It's like, do you think it could be some kind of kink?
Like some reason to like, keep it a secret?
Yeah, what if their names aren't even tiff or Wyatt at all?
Like, what if they're whole?
What if everything about their identities are fake?
And what if it's not actually following her sister on Facebook?
Like, what if nothing is real?
Wow, that's a terrifying and beautiful place to end.
Erica, thank you so much for coming to the podcast.
It was a delight to have you.
Thank you so much.
It was an honor to talk about this.
I still cannot wrap my head around this story.
Thank you for listening to Normal Gossip. If you have a gossip story to share with us,
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Thanks to the rest of the Defector staff.
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