Michael Rapaport represented Colton Underwood’s sexual struggles, but it backfired and was a huge failure.
During the roundtable portion of Thursday’s episode of “The Traitors,” Rapaport accused the former “Bachelor” star, who came out as gay in April 2021, of being a traitor because “there’s no one in this room better at keeping secrets than you.”
Underwood, 33, retorted, “Yeah. Do you think I’ve had fun for the last 29 years of my life?” As such, Rappaport insisted that his comments “had nothing to do with that.”
The 55-year-old actor added, “I think you came into this game loving the idea of being a traitor.”
However, the group did not accept it. Some people that night debated Mr. Underwood’s resignation, but most changed their votes to Mr. Rapaport after hearing his remarks.
Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir, who is openly gay, said: “You can’t blame someone who’s been kept in the closet for most of their lives.” “That’s what we received.”
“The Real Housewives of Potomac” alum Candace Dillard Bassett (who is in the game as a traitor) chimed in, asking Rapaport to “clarify” her statement if she didn’t mean to mock Underwood’s experience.
“His actions are traitorous. His actions are secretive. Conspiratorial, warbling, caring and cowardly,” Rapaport claimed.
Regardless of his intentions, even though the group told the comedian he was “wrong,” he yelled back, “Do whatever you want. This is a traitor. You’re a traitor. A traitor with compassion and complicity.”
In the end, Rapaport received the most votes and was kicked off the show. Although the goal for the Faithfuls is to discover and eliminate traitors, many in the group made it clear that their votes had something to do with Rappaport’s actions.
Even “Survivor” alum Natalie Anderson (who was friends with Rapaport, but mostly to stay on his good side) was upset by his statement that she “kept a secret.”
“For me, it doesn’t even matter. … Seeing how you spoke to Colton today, just writing your name is enough for me,” she said.
After his ouster, Rapaport explained, “That’s what I meant within the context of the game. It had nothing to do with his sexuality. If I offended Colton or anyone in the house, I sincerely apologize. That was never my intention.”
He added in a statement to TMZ on Friday, “I spoke to[Underwood]right after filming. We had a great conversation one-on-one and everything was very cool and respectful. I like him and wish him and his family the best.”
Underwood appeared on “Good Morning America” nearly five years ago.
“I’ve been running away from myself for a long time,” he explained to Robin Roberts in a sit-down interview. “I hated myself for a long time. I accepted that earlier this year and I’ve been processing it. And the next step in all of this was to let people know.”
Underwood, who realized she was “different” at the age of six, admitted she was in a “dark and bad” place before she realized the truth about herself.
“Overall, the reason I’m[coming out]now is…I’m in a situation where I’d rather die than say I’m gay,” he confessed.
Before coming out, the former NFL player dated “Bachelor” contestant Cassie Randolph, who later accused him of “stalking” and “harassing” him. He has since apologized to Roberts, saying, “I wish I had the courage to correct myself before tearing others down.”
Underwood married Jordan C. Brown in May 2023 and gave birth to a baby boy through a surrogate in September 2024.
