Peacock recently unveiled the cast for Season 4 of The Traitors, and while the lineup is packed with familiar faces, one name in particular has fans up in arms: Michael Rapaport. His inclusion has sparked an immediate wave of online backlash, with many questioning why the streaming platform would give a platform to such a controversial figure.
While The Traitors is known for its chaotic mix of reality TV stars, athletes, and pop culture personalities, Rapaport’s casting has struck a nerve due to his history of racist language and far-right commentary on social media. Fans of the Emmy-winning series have taken to Twitter and other social media platforms to express their outrage.
“Amazing Traitors cast sans Michael Rapaport. He’s a piece of sh*t and it’s extremely annoying that Bravo and Peacock keep giving him a platform,” one user wrote. 
Another added:
“Peacock and NBC continuing to platform Michael Rapaport as he spews bigoted, hateful ideology is so dangerous. I desperately need him to be the first murder #TheTraitorsUS.”
Social media sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with calls from fans to eliminate him early in the game, regardless of whether he’s a Faithful or a Traitor.
“Traitor or not, banish Michael Rapaport first,” one user quipped — a sentiment echoed by many.
Some Bright Spots in a Controversial Cast
Despite the outrage surrounding Rapaport, the Season 4 cast does offer a few highlights. The show features five Real Housewives, including fan-favorite Dorinda Medley, as well as strong LGBTQ+ representation with Monet X Change, Kristen Kish, and Johnny Weir rounding out the ensemble.
If Peacock was aiming to get people talking, it certainly succeeded — but not all publicity is good publicity. For many longtime fans of The Traitors, the hope is that the rest of the cast can outshine the controversy and keep the game as compelling as ever.
