The Traitors winner Meryl Williams admits she has had some ‘negative comments’ since the show

By Liam On Jan 6, 2023

He won the £101,050 prize alongside Aaron Evans and Hannah Byczkowski in the recently released series The Traitors.

And Meryl Williams opened up about her experience since the show this week, explaining that she’s faced some “negative feedback.”

The 25-year-old former call center agent, who was the first person with dwarfism to win a reality game show, explained that even before appearing on the show, people were ‘pointing and staring’ on the street.

‘People stare and point’: The Traitors winner Meryl Williams admits she’s had some ‘negative feedback’ since appearing on the show

Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Friday morning, Meryl explained her ‘incredible’ experience on the show as it changed the way people view dwarfism.

The presenters Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway questioned the Scotsman about the decision to participate in the company.

Explaining that trolling was a problem with or without television, he shared: “I think because I experience it [trolling and hate] On a day-to-day basis, even before the show, when I go out into the street, people do stare and that was before the show.

“After the show I got some negative feedback but it was nothing I hadn’t heard before and because I had such a good experience on the show I just brushed it off.”

Winner! She won the £101,050 prize alongside Aaron Evans and Hannah Byczkowski in the recently released series of The Traitors.

Grateful: Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Friday morning, Meryl explained her ‘incredible’ experience on the show as it changed the way people view dwarfism

WHAT IS Dwarfism?

Restricted growth, sometimes known as dwarfism, is a condition characterized by short stature.

There are two main types of restricted growth:

Proportionate Short Stature (PSS): a general lack of growth, where the length of the trunk and limbs are in proportion
Disproportionate short stature (DSS): where the limbs are shorter or out of proportion to other parts of the body

In addition to being short, some people with restricted growth also have other physical problems, such as bowlegs or an unusually curved spine.

However, most people do not have any other serious problems. They are often able to live a relatively normal life and have a normal life expectancy.

Source: NHS Options

She continued: “But I experienced it, I knew what it would be like to have people stare and point because that’s what people would do before, but I thought by doing this I can at least change people’s ideas so they at least know we can do the same as them.

Meryl also explained that awareness was the reason she wanted to do the BBC show in the first place, as she hoped to change perspectives.

Continuing: The whole reason I wanted to go on the show was to raise awareness, a lot of people don’t think I can do the same things they can. So I thought, if I go ahead and do the same challenges that everyone else does, we all have a level playing field.

“A lot of the challenges that people would ask if I have extra time and stuff and I didn’t. Even when I go out, people are like, ‘Oh, they can’t do this and they can’t do that,’ so I just wanted to show that I can do exactly the same as everyone else’.

And after winning big on the show, the TV personality previously touched on the potential of her own clothing line for people with her condition.

Expanding on the idea, Meryl explained that she wanted to make clothing “accessible and affordable” for people, and her Nan currently changes adult size clothing to fit her.

‘I love Zara and buy adult clothes, I’m a size 8-10, and my grandmother alters all my clothes so she can alter everything for me.

“Maybe I’d like to make more accessible and affordable clothing for people with dwarfism because if I wanted a pair of heels, I’d need them custom made and it’s very expensive.”

Trolling: Explaining that trolling was a problem with or without television, he shared: “I think because I experience it [trolling and hate] in the day to day even before the show, when I go out on the street people look at me and that was before the show

She continued, “After the show I got some negative feedback, but it wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before and because I had such a good experience on the show, I just brushed it off.”

Meryl, Hannah and Aaron managed to beat ‘traitorous’ contestant Wilfred Webster for prize money in the show’s tense finale.

The prize sum was divided equally between them as they worked together to solve the case of finding the last traitor.

And Meryl still has the money, as Kate and Ben asked her if she’d blown it all after the win, which was filmed earlier this year.

She replied: No. I haven’t spent it all, I have money left. I’ve always said I wanted to do gigs and stuff, so I thought I’d give myself six months and have that money as a security blanket so I can try different things. It’s obviously a great security blanket, and then just watch, hopefully he continues that run.

Making a change: Meryl also explained that awareness was the reason she wanted to do the BBC show in the first place, as she hoped to change perspectives.

New company? And after winning big on the show, the TV personality previously touched on the potential of her own clothing line for people with her condition.