Michael Rapaport Was Not Trying to ‘Besmudge’ Colton’s Name

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Michael Rapaport lived up to his reputation for stirring things up on The Traitors. Throughout the fourth season, he frequently yelled at other contestants during roundtable discussions, readily accused people of being Traitors if he didn’t trust them, and often talked about his love for the Housewives franchise – even while voting Porsha Williams off the show. His disruptive behavior nearly led to his early elimination, but he managed to stay in the game for five episodes. After a disagreement with Survivor winner Yam Yam Arocho about a shield, most players decided he wasn’t actually a Traitor, just a frustratingly unpredictable Faithful. Then, when Bachelor alum Colton Underwood tried to catch Rapaport in a lie by asking about Alan Cumming’s clothing inside the turret, Rapaport took offense.

The argument between two players escalated to a heated exchange at the roundtable, where Rapaport went too far. He yelled at Underwood, referencing his past on The Bachelor and implying Underwood was hiding something about his personal life. The other contestants immediately criticized Rapaport, who had previously made offensive comments, for what they saw as a homophobic remark. Although Rapaport claimed he didn’t mean it that way, the group quickly voted him out of the game. He later said he regretted the incident, stating he didn’t want to cause Underwood any stress or bring negativity to The Traitors.

People come on The Traitors for different reasons – some want the prize money, others want to get noticed, and some just want to enjoy themselves. What motivated you to participate? Well, I’ve always approached my work without a specific plan, and that’s true here too. I’m not someone who pretends to be anything I’m not. I simply came as a huge fan of the show. I knew there was money at stake, but honestly, I wasn’t focused on winning it. I wanted to perform, to entertain. I definitely didn’t follow my wife’s advice to stay quiet!

We spent two days waiting before we could begin filming. Once we finally started, the castle was eerily silent despite being filled with cameras. All my careful planning immediately fell apart, and I just decided to go with the flow.

What did the signal to start filming mean to you? As an actor, I automatically think of ‘action’ when I see the cameras. I wasn’t hesitant—I was eager to make this season of The Traitors the best one yet.

People immediately criticized me for suggesting that a gamer and a Housewife were likely Traitors. I brought up three points that caused a reaction. First, I stated that Traitors target Housewives, which is true. Second, I mentioned they’ve historically targeted gamers, which is also accurate. Finally, I was the first to express suspicion about Rob from Love Island, and the in-episode reaction didn’t match the strong defense he received online. People questioned my reasoning, asking why I would say such a thing. It seemed like they wished they could ignore it and move on. I stated twice that Rob was a Traitor, and I turned out to be right.

Everyone’s talking about reality TV stars, and I think it’s time for a change. Instead of focusing on the ‘Real Housewives,’ let’s start paying attention to the attractive male stars! Dylan Efron has proven it works, and Rob from ‘Love Island’ is already a hit. I’m predicting ‘hunk hunting’ will be the big trend in 2027 – you heard it here first!

You were correct about Rob betraying us, but people dismissed your warnings because of your delivery. Do you ever wish you’d been able to communicate more effectively and get others to understand your perspective? Strategically, yes. I wish I could have explained things in a way that resonated with people, instead of being so direct and potentially coming across as aggressive.

Did you ever try to slow things down or stop the accusations? The first night, when I wasn’t identified as the Traitor, I clearly stated I wasn’t one, which felt like you were inventing things. I also mentioned that the Housewives were being targeted and brought up the idea about the gamers. Others were saying similar things, but I expressed it in my own unique way.

And to make things worse, it happened in front of everyone. I was trying to fix things after doing so well in the competition, but I messed up by getting too comfortable on the last night. When Colton and Rob started questioning me in the kitchen, you could see the surprise on my face. Watching it back, when Colton asked about what I wore during the challenge, I was thinking, Why are you even asking? I already showed I was loyal! But then the conversation just got worse.

I think Yam Yam and I just started off on the wrong foot. It began at the roundtable when I jokingly asked everyone who was a “Traitor” to clap – it didn’t land well. I tried to clear the air with him in the kitchen, telling him I wanted to get along, but he said he needed time to think about it. Unfortunately, we clashed again the next day. I publicly apologized to him in front of everyone, saying I was sorry for my behavior and wanted to work together more peacefully, but that part wasn’t shown in the final edit.

You know, after our disagreement, we actually had a really good moment. I apologized, and I meant it – I was totally sincere. He accepted, which was great. I even told him he looked fantastic – seriously, he had a great outfit and, well, let’s just say his chest hair was on point that day! It felt like a real step forward. Honestly, I wish they’d shown that in the show. I’m fine with showing the messy stuff, the conflict, but leaving that out feels like it doesn’t give the full picture of my character, and it almost feels like a disservice to me as the ‘villain’. I really think it would have added something.

Absolutely. People were definitely aware of my political views, and it absolutely had an impact on my time on the show.

I’m choosing not to reveal the identities of those involved. I don’t want to create further issues or stir up trouble, and I’d prefer not to involve anyone else. I have no personal conflicts with anyone.

I think the Housewives were aware of how much I admire them. They all knew I was a huge fan – except for Porsha Williams, who had heard me speak very highly of her. I made it very clear how much I loved them when we were all together.

During the roundtable discussion, you were accused of being homophobic. Can you explain what you meant when you described Colton as secretive?

I think words like ‘secretive,’ ‘dishonest,’ ‘lying,’ and so on get used a lot on this show. I was really worked up in the moment, and it just slipped out. It wasn’t directed at Colton specifically—I was just using strong words like ‘conniving’ or ‘cowardly,’ just riffing. I was angry and frustrated because I felt like I was constantly having to defend myself. I was actually surprised I was allowed to speak for as long as I did; I expected someone to interrupt me. When Colton responded, I realized how harsh it sounded and wished I hadn’t said it.

I immediately apologized, but things got worse when everyone else started chiming in. Honestly, I never meant to upset Colton. We actually connected really well in the house – we had a lot in common. We’d talk football, and I even told him I was a fan of his on The Bachelor. I was rooting for him when he jumped the fence, and I really enjoyed his documentary. I even got emotional when I saw his interview with Diane Sawyer. We had some surprisingly deep conversations, more so than with anyone else there, and I truly regret what happened.

When Eric told me, “Even though you’re dedicated, you’re a distraction,” it really surprised me. I honestly thought I was doing a fantastic job as a team member. I was working hard, listening well, and it felt like we were dealing with a manageable situation – identifying people who weren’t on our side, not solving a crisis. I wasn’t being disruptive or causing problems. Eric, bless his heart, also said he had a good sense of what was going on, and I don’t want to criticize him, but I just didn’t think I was chaotic or a distraction.

I noticed you always drink with both hands. Was that how you normally eat and drink even before the show? I started doing that because I only had one outfit change that day, and some water spilled on it during breakfast while we were filming. To avoid that happening again, I started using both hands when drinking and talking to be more careful.

So, were you asking if that’s why I was eating so quickly? Look, I’m not going to apologize for how I eat. I eat fast, that’s just me. But I was alone in the library when I was doing it. People do weird things when they eat by themselves. I even joked with the film crew about how they probably didn’t expect to be filming me eating for that long. They thought it was funny. I’m not always the most graceful eater in public, but I definitely don’t eat like that at fancy places like the Four Seasons.

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2026-01-22 00:56