Michael Rapaport Thinks ‘Traitors’ Controversy Will Help NYC Mayor Campaign

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Michael Rapaport received criticism for a tense argument with Colton Underwood on the show The Traitors. However, he believes the resulting controversy might benefit his current run for mayor of New York City.

During a disagreement with former Bachelor contestant Clayton Echard, 29, actor Michael Rapaport, 55, made a comment about Echard keeping secrets, which many people interpreted as a reference to his sexuality and his past reluctance to publicly come out as gay. Rapaport later said he didn’t intend any offense and was “just talking,” but the comment led to him being voted off the reality show in Season 4, Episode 5. This happened shortly after he announced his plans to run for mayor in 2029 against Zohran Mamdani.

I recently spoke with a prominent figure who believes their show actually boosted a political campaign. They pointed to the fact that New York City now has a mayor with a past life in entertainment – a rapper, actor, and music supervisor who’s openly admitted to making mistakes. They feel their own authenticity, particularly as displayed on the show Traitors, demonstrates they’re a straightforward and honest person, and therefore would be an honest mayor. Essentially, they’re saying what you see is what you get, and that’s a quality voters should appreciate.

In 2029, New York City will have a mayor who admits when they’re wrong. This mayor will be clear and direct, focused solely on what’s best for the city, and won’t pursue a career in politics after helping to restore New York to its former glory.

(Watch Rapaport and Underwood reveal their gameplay strategy on The Traitors below.)

Michael Rapaport Reveals If He Has ‘Beef’ With Colton Underwood

Even though they had a difficult interaction on The Traitors, Rapaport said he and Underwood resolved their issues after filming ended.

We had a really great conversation over FaceTime. We talked and laughed a lot. I’ve moved past any hard feelings, and he seemed genuinely sincere about the same thing. He even contacted me right after the show aired to check in, which I really appreciated. There’s no bad blood between us. It’s unfortunate things happened, and I’ve apologized for my part.

I regret upsetting him, and I’m also sorry if anyone else was offended, either in person or while watching.

Rapaport mentioned that not everyone appreciated his sense of humor. He could have pretended to be nicer and more agreeable on the show, but he didn’t feel that was his role.

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He clarified that he wasn’t hired to be disruptive, saying, “And I definitely brought the energy!”

I went in there to perform, have fun, and entertain the audience. Once I figured out I was on the Faithful team, my goal was to help them win.

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2026-01-28 21:35