> At a Glance
> – Lisa Rinna, Candiace Dillard Bassett, and Rob Rausch were tapped as Traitors in the Jan. 8 premiere
> – Donna Kelce was the secret Traitor, revealed only after her banishment in episode 3
> – Why it matters: The first-time double Housewives-Traitor twist and hidden fourth Traitor shake up the Emmy-winning Peacock series
Season 4 of The Traitors debuted on Jan. 8, bringing celebrity players into the Scottish castle for deception, murder plots, and a historic twist: two Real Housewives cast as Traitors plus a secret fourth Traitor hidden from everyone.
The Chosen Traitors
Host Alan Cumming opened the game by selecting Lisa Rinna (RHOBH), Candiace Dillard Bassett (RHOP), and Love Island USA alum Rob Rausch during the first round-table ceremony.
- First time two Housewives share Traitor status
- Each player lobbied Cumming for the role
- Selections based on personality tests, arrival interactions, and Cumming’s interviews
Secret Traitor Revealed
A fourth Traitor was chosen in plain sight at the castle gates, operating solo and unknown to viewers and players alike.
- Episode 3 mission: retrieve tarot cards, pick a target, burn the card in the breakfast room
- Success would have let the trio meet their hidden ally in the turret
- Donna Kelce was unmasked when the Faithfuls voted her out, declaring, “You’ve got yourself a Traitor” before departing
How Players Become Traitors
Executive producer Mike Cotton told Variety the process blends science and instinct:
- Personality tests flag traits linked to deception
- Production watches social dynamics on arrival
- Cumming’s one-on-one interviews serve as a “job interview”
- Final choices aim for “a healthy mix of conflict and team spirit,” Cumming told Entertainment Weekly
Cumming circles the blindfolded cast “hundreds” of times before tapping shoulders, calling the moment “incredibly stressful” because one wrong pick could derail the season.
Player Reactions
Candiace Dillard Bassett:
> “I just won Miss United States.”
Lisa Rinna:
> “I’m happy I get to lie, deceive and kill people… My skills of being an actress are gonna help me a tremendous amount.”
Rob Rausch:
> “I’m hard to read… I like to win.”
Donna Kelce:
> “I know I’m the sacrificial lamb, and I know that I had a blast meeting every single one of you.”
Key Takeaways
- Lisa Rinna, Candiace Bassett, and Rob Rausch are the openly known Traitors
- Donna Kelce served as the secret Traitor until her banishment
- Cast selection uses psychology tests, observed interactions, and host interviews
- Two Housewives as Traitors is a franchise first
The Faithfuls must now root out any remaining Traitors to split the prize; if a Traitor survives, they keep the entire pot.
