In case you missed it, The Traitors went completely off the rails this week. In Season 4 Episode 5, “If You’re Gonna Come For Me, I’ll Finish You,” Michael Rapaport and his mouth crossed a line. It happened during a heated exchange with Colton Underwood.
Throughout the episode, the two traded accusations about who might be a Traitor. Obviously, that’s the name of the game, but the notoriously sensitive “actor and comedian” felt especially rattled by the finger-pointing. When it was time to face off at the roundtable, things escalated, and Michael made a comment that immediately sucked all of the air out of the room.
Colton Underwood’s sexuality was seemingly brought up by Michael Rapaport on The Traitors Season 4
At the top of Episode 5, Colton opened up to the group about his coming-out story. Some of the other players didn’t know that he came out as gay after appearing on The Bachelor. At the roundtable, Michael seemingly used that information as part of his argument for why Colton might be a Traitor.
“Nobody in this room would be better at holding a secret than you,” Michael said.
“There it is,” Colton responded. “You think it was fun for 29 years of my life?”
Michael insisted that the comment had “nothing to do” with Colton’s coming-out story. However, many of the castmembers in the room sided with Colton.
“You can’t blame someone for being forced into a closet for the majority of their lives,” Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir said. “That is what we took it as.”
The votes rolled in, and they were overwhelmingly against Michael. Many players admitted that they weren’t voting for him because they thought he was a Traitor. They just wanted the negative energy out of the castle.
Following his banishment, Michael gave a final confessional interview that sounded less like his normal bravado and more like a statement from a public relations team.
“I meant what I meant within the context of the game,” Michael claimed. ”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 the intention.”
After the episode aired, fans online have been calling out Michael for taking the game to such a toxic place and accusing him of making a “homophobic” remark. Unsurprisingly, he’s been replying to the feedback by mocking the LGBTQ+ community and doubling down on his behavior. It’s all very on-brand for this strange, little man.
The Traitors continues on Thursdays at 9/8c on Peacock.
TELL US – WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO MICHAEL’S COMMENTS ABOUT COLTON? WERE YOU EXCITED TO SEE THE CAST BAND TOGETHER TO BANISH HIM?
