Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport sparked widespread controversy during the latest episode of Peacock’s The Traitors, facing accusations of homophobia after making pointed comments about fellow contestant Colton Underwood‘s sexuality. The heated exchange ultimately led to Rapaport’s banishment from the reality competition series.
During Thursday’s episode, titled “If You’re Gonna Come for Me, I’ll Finish You,” tensions escalated at the roundtable when Underwood called out Rapaport for rallying against him. The situation intensified when Rapaport, visibly frustrated, labeled Underwood as “conniving” and made a remark that struck a nerve with many viewers and contestants alike.
The Controversial Comment
Rapaport told the group: “Nobody in this room would be better at holding a secret than you.” The comment was widely interpreted as a reference to Underwood’s time in the closet before publicly coming out as gay in 2021. Underwood, who appeared on The Bachelor in 2019 while concealing his sexuality, immediately confronted the remark.
“There it is,” Underwood responded. “You think it was fun for 29 years of my life?” His emotional reply underscored the personal nature of Rapaport’s jab, which many felt crossed a line in the game.
The exchange revealed the sensitive territory Rapaport had entered. Earlier in the episode, Underwood’s history had been discussed during breakfast, with contestants acknowledging his journey from The Bachelor to his public coming out on Good Morning America.
Cast Members Rally to Underwood’s Defense
Other Traitors contestants quickly came to Underwood’s defense. Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir, who came out publicly in 2011, directly addressed Rapaport’s comment. “You can’t blame someone for being forced into a closet for the majority of their life,” Weir stated.
Love Island star Maura Higgins called Rapaport’s remark a “very low blow.” Meanwhile, Survivor winner Yam Yam Arocho bluntly confirmed what many were thinking when asked if the comment referenced Underwood’s sexuality, responding simply: “It was.”
Despite attempts to reframe his criticism as purely strategic, Rapaport continued to describe Underwood’s behavior as “secretive,” “conniving,” and “cowardly,” which only reinforced perceptions that he had crossed ethical boundaries in his gameplay.
Rapaport’s Banishment and Apology
The roundtable ultimately turned against Rapaport. He received the majority of votes for banishment and was revealed to be a Faithful, not a Traitor. Following his elimination, Rapaport expressed remorse in his parting confessional.
“It sucks, but I felt backed into a corner, and I tried to fight my way out of it,” he said. “Maybe I fought too hard. I meant what I meant within the context of the game. It had nothing to do with his sexuality. I really, sincerely apologize if I offended Colton or anybody in the house. That absolutely wasn’t my intention.”
The Traitors season 4 continues streaming weekly on Peacock.
