“Thinking more of his image” — Special Forces: World's Toughest Test Instructors explain why they disqualified Stephen Baldwin

Stephen Baldwin was the first contestant eliminated from Special Forces: World's Toughest Test season 3, which premiered on January 8, 2025. He was removed after staff members Rudy Reyes and Billy Billingham felt Baldwin was seeking an exit with the medic.

In a January 9 interview with Decider, Reyes and Billingham explained that Baldwin initially thought the experience would be more relaxed, but as the challenges became tougher, he realized it was much more intense.

The instructor further noted that the actor was also more concerned about his public image than completing the challenges given to him.

"I don’t think he realized it was going to be as real as it was. And then he realized. I think he was thinking more of his image and what people think of him,' He wants to look good. And that’s not what it’s about," Billingham said.

Billingham recalled Baldwin's final challenge noting that he was "looking for the excuse" after realizing he was going to fall and was "out of his depth". The instructor shared that contestants often find an excuse to blame so that they don't have to take responsibility for their failures.

"We don’t do that. We’ll take you off the course once your legs have dropped off or your arms dropped off," Billingham continued.

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Special Forces: World's Toughest Test instructors felt that Stephen Baldwin was finding an excuse to exit the show

Rudy Reyes and Billy Billingham, instructors on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, explained in a Decider interview why they removed Stephen Baldwin from the show. Reyes, a former U.S. Marine, and Billingham, a former SAS leader, stated that they couldn't focus on any one contestant for too long.

They felt Baldwin was not meeting expectations, and when it became clear that he was taking up too much time, they had to remove him from the course.

"I think people think this is a show, an actual show. No, it’s not. We’re running a course. There are no reshoots. There is no downtime. They’re living hard in the barracks. They’re cold, wet, and tired. They need to lean on each other," he continued.

Billingham emphasized that the challenges on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test were tough and demanding. While all the contestants were eager to perform well, they were also concerned about how they would manage to overcome the obstacles.

The instructor added that Baldwin realized that the challenges were going to be harder than he had expected. The actor was seemingly finding an excuse to exit the show, however, Billingham noted that they weren't going to give it to him and instead removed him from the course.

"I’ve been in conflict and seen and know what people can do and being able to read people. So we’re reading [contestants] all the time. And when someone’s trying to show you an excuse, as Rudy said, we want a result, not an excuse. When people are giving us excuses, you’re just looking for a way out," he continued.

The Special Forces: World's Toughest Test instructor further explained that most men sometimes get aggressive and start blaming something for their shortcomings.

Billingham observed that Baldwin was displaying similar behavior, seeking a way out. Rather than offering him the "glorious exit" he seemed to want, they chose to give him the exit he was meant to receive.

"That’s why Rudy called him out and took his armband and told him to leave. It is brutal, but he has to face the truth," the Special Forces: World's Toughest Test instructor added.

Billingham later clarified that he wasn't trying to put the actor down, but rather just explaining the brutality of the show.

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New episodes of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test season 3 will air every Wednesday on FOX.