US EditionMichael Rapaport Receives Backlash for Colton Underwood Sexuality Shade
Michael Rapaport was voted off by 11 of 16 cast members after his remarks about Colton Underwood's past were seen as homophobic, prompting backlash and public apologies.
- On January 15, 2026, the fifth episode of The Traitors season 4 aired on Peacock, where Michael Rapaport clashed with Colton Underwood during a tense roundtable that boiled over into a heated argument.
- Rapaport tied his accusation to Underwood’s past secrecy, accusing him of being a Traitor by saying `Nobody in this room would be better at holding a secret than you`; contestants had been told of Underwood’s April 2021 coming out earlier.
- Olympian Johnny Weir directly rebuked Rapaport, `You can't blame somebody being forced into a closet for the majority of their life`, while Maura Higgins called his remark a very low blow and Underwood responded, 'There it is.'
- Following his banishment, Rapaport issued apologies in his confessional and on social media, and canceled scheduled exit interviews for Friday, after 11 of 16 cast members voted to remove him.
- Critics labeled the remarks homophobic and likened them to a dog whistle, as viewers and social media users said Rapaport "wanted to use Colton Underwood being in the closet as ammunition," sparking a broader reality-TV conversation about personal histories as gameplay.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Exclusive: Colton Underwood Was "Rattled" By Michael Rapaport's 'Traitors' Comment
Euan Cherry/PeacockFor most people playing or just watching The Traitors, each day is filled with physical and mental stress and anxiety. For Colton Underwood, it’s just another day at work.“Everybody’s like, ‘That show had to be so hard and so intense,’” he tells Bustle over the phone. “I was like, ‘Compared to the other shows I’ve done, Traitors was a cakewalk.’” Underwood, 33, got his start as a contestant on The Bachelorette before becoming …
‘The Traitors’: Michael Rapaport Claims Controversial Remark to Colton Underwood About Keeping a Secret Had ‘Nothing to Do With His Sexuality’
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers from “If You’re Gonna Come for Me, I’ll Finish You,” the fifth episode of “The Traitors” Season 4, now streaming on Peacock. Michael Rapaport is under fire for his latest comments on “The Traitors.” During the fifth episode of Season 4, which was released on Thursday night, the actor called out Colton Underwood during the roundtable. Earlier in the day, Underwood and Rapaport got into a yelling mat…
Controversial comment by Michael Rapaport erupts on 'The Traitors'
The actor appears to insinuate Colton Underwood is a good liar because he hid being gay.Euan Cherry/Peacock Michael Rapaport on 'The Traitors' season 4Warning: This article contains spoilers about episodes 4 and 5 on season 4 of The Traitors.Michael Rapaport is a controversial and polarizing figure, and he brought even more controversy with him into the castle on this week’s episodes of The Traitors when he appeared to imply that fellow contesta…
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