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SPIDER DIVE

American Idol's Carmen Rasmussen was locked on a sled and lowered into a tunnel filled with thousands of tarantulas. Covered in spiders she learned what Fear Factor is all about as she recounts in this week’s Tale Of Fear.

FEAR FACTOR: What were your thoughts going into this stunt?

CARMEN: : I almost didn't do it. I really almost didn't do it. In fact, I pulled Anthony aside and I said, I can't, do it. You know, I was totally freaked out. I thought we were done with the creepy crawlies. I mean, we had the snakes and the alligator, the bugs, and now tarantulas. Mentally, I didn't think I could finish this stunt.

FEAR FACTOR: What was it like laying on that sled waiting to descend into the tunnel?

CARMEN: They handcuffed my hands above my head and my whole body was just shaking. I wanted to do it, for all the people watching back home, I didn’t want people to think I was chicken. I wanted to prove to them that I could do it. But I was the scaredest I’ve ever been, that that was the worst, hands down.

FEAR FACTOR: So what was your reaction when you where finally lowered in and they were climbing all over you?

CARMEN: Just imagine all these tarantulas crawling all over you, it was horrible. And it just got worse and worse. They shot out these microscopic hairs that stick on you. It was the weirdest feeling. I didn’t know there would be crickets in there. So when they poured them on me, I thought they were baby spiders. I was biting my lip so hard that my lip was swollen. One of the tarantulas actually bit me on my ear a couple times. I don't know why they liked it so much. It was honestly the hardest thing I've ever done.