Interestingly, the “surprising” moment he refers to was not even his crowning as the winner, which speaks volumes about the dramatic twists that unfolded throughout the finale.

In a candid interview with TooFab, Safaree elaborated on his journey through Home of Villains, celebrating his victory while also dissecting the intense final banishment ceremony, which he described as “unbelievable.” His insights offer a glimpse into the emotional rollercoaster that reality TV contestants often endure.

During the climactic final banishment ceremony, the entire cast of villains—including those who had previously been eliminated—cast their votes for the contestant they perceived as the ultimate supervillain. The options included Safaree, Wes Bergmann, and Jessie Godderz, making the atmosphere incredibly tense and competitive.

Teresa Giudice, Camilla Pointdexter, Larsa Pippen, and Kandy Muse all supported Safaree by voting for him, while Tiffany “New York” Pollard, Richard Hatch, Victoria Larson, and Larissa Lima opted for Bergmann. Since Jessie received zero votes, he was eliminated from the competition. However, Safaree and Wes both received three votes each, leading to a tense tie-breaker situation.

Following the voting, host Joel McHale prompted Safaree and Wes to present their cases to Jessie, who dramatically interrupted and challenged Wes to “get on your knees and beg” for his vote, raising the stakes and intensifying the moment.

“Beg, and you’re the winner,” Jessie declared, adding a shocking twist to the proceedings.

The entire room was stunned—yet the true shock came when Wes actually got down on his knees and pleaded with Jessie for his vote. In an unexpected turn, Jessie extended his hand to Safaree, saying, “Safaree, congratulations. You just won.” This dramatic moment left everyone in disbelief.

After being crowned “America’s Ultimate Supervillain” and winning a whopping $200,000, Safaree reveled in his victory, sitting on his throne as he “banished” both Wes and Jessie, sealing his triumph in memorable fashion.

Looking back, Safaree described those final moments of the banishment ceremony as the “most insane” experience he has ever had in reality television, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

When asked if he believed Jessie would ultimately vote for Wes after that intense plea, Safaree expressed, “I, 100%, thought he was gonna give it to him,” indicating the high stakes and intense emotions in the room.

“Being there in the moment, the tension was palpable. The air in that room was so thick. I genuinely believed he was going to do it,” he continued, reflecting on the emotional weight of the vote. “The look in his eye was intense. He said, ‘Apologize for the opportunity that you ripped out of these people’s hands and I will give you the chance.’ I really believed him. I was very shocked when he reached over to shake my hand instead.”

“What surprised me more than winning was how it all unfolded,” Safaree remarked. “That last banishment ceremony was the craziest moment I’ve ever participated in within my decade-long reality TV career. It was a thrilling experience that I was incredibly fortunate to be a part of.”

Immediately following his victory on Thursday evening’s episode, Safaree emphasized that he triumphed without resorting to “any fake politicking,” maintaining his authenticity throughout the competition. His approach was rooted in being true to himself, which he believes contributed significantly to his success.

“All these contestants came in with strategies and schemes, trying to manipulate others, claiming, ‘Yeah, I’m a gamer. This is how I win.’ Honestly, they can keep that to themselves!” he commented to E! cameras, adding, “I entered this competition just being myself. I said, ‘You know what? The Joker was true to himself.’ He laughed his way through life, and I did the same throughout this entire competition, and now I’m the one wearing the crown.”

Safaree reflected on his decision to stick with his original approach, explaining why he never wavered from his gameplay strategy, even during his time on the Hit List.

“The word strategy never crossed my mind once while I was in that house,” he revealed to TooFab. “That’s the crazy part. I mentioned it later on, saying, ‘Hey, I didn’t come here playing a strategy. I came here and I was just myself.’”

He noted that “some people call it a social strategy,” mentioning that Wes approached him after his win and remarked that he “played a great social game.”

“When he said that, I thought, ‘I guess it could be viewed that way,’” Safaree recalled. “I’m a social person. Anyone who knows me or spends time around me knows I’m very likable. I’m a positive, easy-going guy, and I don’t engage in the banter or crazy antics too much.”

He added, “Everybody knew, ‘Okay, Safaree, he’s cool. He’s not a threat. We don’t really have to worry about him.’ I just wanted to have fun. So I guess my strategy was simply being myself and enjoying the experience.”

Before the final vote, it was disclosed during the banishment ceremony that New York and Wes had a pre-existing relationship before filming began, forming a clandestine alliance that they maintained throughout the competition.

While some contestants were not surprised by this revelation, Safaree shared with TooFab that he had “no idea” about their secret connection, which added an intriguing layer to the unfolding drama.

“Even when she mentioned it there, I still didn’t fully grasp it,” he remarked. “… I had no clue that they were genuinely locked in, tied together, yet never communicated. Afterward, I thought, ‘Wow. She never got into any arguments or had anything to do with Wes.’ It was very sneaky and quite crafty.”

Additionally, Safaree expressed his feelings about New York ultimately casting her vote for Wes instead of him. He stated that it reflected significantly on her character and their shared history throughout the competition.

He further explained his shock regarding New York’s vote, which he believed held deeper implications.

“I thought me and her had a sort of unspoken understanding,” Safaree shared. “But evidently, her alliance with Wes was stronger. I felt like throughout the show, I was always rooting for her. We kept having conversations and saying, ‘Hey, if we could take each other to the end, let’s do it. I’ve got your back, and I’ll never let anyone cross you.’ I never intended to put her up for banishment in the end, but the energy wasn’t reciprocated.”

While discussing his experiences with Home of Villains in comparison to his extensive tenure on the Love & Hip Hop franchise, Safaree candidly shared his thoughts on how the two shows differ in terms of dynamics and production quality. Having appeared on all four iterations of Love & Hip Hop—Hollywood, New York, Atlanta, and Miami—he provided unique insights based on his firsthand experiences.

When it comes to assessing where Home of Villains stands, Safaree confidently stated that the E! series ranks at the top of his list!

“Honestly—and I’m not saying this just because I won—I must say that after nearly eleven years in reality TV, Home of Villains has been my #1 experience doing a reality show,” he told TooFab. “Everything about it was exceptional—the producers, the filming style, the quality, the budget, and the overall concept of the show. It felt like a fun environment where we could genuinely be ourselves.”

“It wasn’t filled with all the bantering, arguing, and mindless drama that characterizes other shows,” he continued. “I’m in a space where I want to step away from that nonsense, as I’m aware that viewers believe everything they see on TV.”