Stephen Colletti says Donna Kelce entered The Traitors with built-in protection thanks to Taylor Swift’s fanbase.
At a Glance
- Stephen Colletti claims players feared voting against Donna Kelce because of Swifties
- Donna became the first secret Traitor voted off in season 4, episode 3
- Castmates praise her as smart, business-savvy, and “America’s mom”
- Why it matters: Reality-TV strategy now includes calculating pop-culture backlash
Colletti, 39, told News Of Losangeles that the moment contestants considered writing Donna’s name down, panic spread through the castle. “As soon as people started throwing her name around, everyone was like, ‘I don’t want to throw Donna’s name out there. The Swifties are going to come for me!'” he recalled. “Everyone was afraid of the Swifties right off the jump.”
The Laguna Beach alum believes that armor gave Donna, 73, the strongest shield in the game-even stronger than any shield forged in the Scottish highlands.
First-Ever Secret Traitor Falls
Despite the Swiftie scare, the group mustered enough courage to banish Donna during the roundtable vote in episode 3. The room erupted when she revealed her true role.
“You got yourself a Traitor!” she declared, prompting cheers from the remaining faithful.
After her exit, Donna admitted the role challenged her. “Playing a Traitor was tough, but I gave it my best shot,” she said. Through tears she added, “This has been a dream come true. These are happy tears that I get to do this at this point in my life. It’s just the joy of being in the game.”
Castmates React to Donna’s Game
Colletti shares the News Of Losangeles digital cover with fellow breakout stars:
- Candiace Dillard Bassett (The Real Housewives of Potomac)
- Rob Cesternino (Survivor)
- Monét X Change (RuPaul’s Drag Race)
- Tara Lipinski (Olympic figure skater)
Each had a distinct take on competing against the Kelce matriarch.
Monét, 35, quickly realized Donna understood reality television. “At first, she was like, ‘What’s a TV?’ I’m like, ‘Girl, you know what a TV is,'” the drag queen joked.
Rob, 47, emphasized her intellect. “She’s incredibly smart. She’s a businesswoman. People just think of her as Travis and Jason’s mom, but she’s actually really sharp.”
Candiace, 39, and Tara, 43, connected with Donna over motherhood.
“[She’s] America’s mom,” Candiace said. The two discussed baking cookies and day-to-day parenting. Tara, mom to 2-year-old Georgie, agreed: “We talked a lot about children. I love her.”
Swiftie Effect on Strategy
Colletti’s revelation underscores a new reality-TV variable: super-fandom backlash. Contestants now weigh not only gameplay but also potential social-media fallout from targeting well-connected players.
Donna’s link to Taylor Swift-through her son Travis-created a protective aura that complicated votes. The hesitation shows how pop-culture alliances can spill into competition formats traditionally insulated from outside influence.
Where to Watch
The first three episodes of The Traitors season 4 stream now on Peacock. New episodes drop every Thursday.
