At a Glance
- Michael Rapaport told Colton Underwood “nobody in this room would be better at holding a secret than you” on the Jan. 15 episode of The Traitors
- Underwood, who came out as gay in April 2021, said the remark re-triggered emotions from his closeted years
- Rapaport claimed the comment had “nothing to do” with Underwood’s sexuality, then apologized
- Why it matters: The exchange highlights how reality-TV banter can still sting for LGBTQ+ people navigating public identity
Colton Underwood is breaking his silence on the pointed remark Michael Rapaport directed at him during The Traitors, saying the comedian’s words reopened wounds from the years he spent hiding his sexuality.
The Round-Table Blow-Up
Cameras captured the tension as Rapaport, 55, accused Underwood, 33, of being a Traitor at the Round Table.
“I’m angry, I’m pissed off and I’m isolated because of him,” Rapaport shouted, jabbing his finger toward Underwood. “And nobody in this room would be better at holding a secret than you.”
The line landed like a gut-punch. Viewers and contestants alike read it as a swipe at Underwood’s journey of coming out publicly after starring on The Bachelorette in 2018 and The Bachelor in 2019 while dating women.
Underwood shot back: “You think it was fun for 29 years of my life?”
Rapaport insisted the jab was “nothing to do” with Underwood’s sexuality, yet the damage was done. The cast voted Rapaport out that night-even though most believed he was actually a Faithful.
Processing the Fallout
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly after the episode aired, Underwood admitted the moment stung more than typical game-play trash talk.
“The coming-out process takes a long time, and I’m still very much in my coming-out process, so there’s always little things here and there that sort of re-trigger old emotions,” he told the outlet.
Underwood said he accepted The Traitors invite precisely because the drama is “game-focused,” not personal. Rapaport’s pivot to referencing his real-life identity felt like a blind-side.
“When it got personal and he was using me as a human being instead of my gameplay against me, that’s what caught me off guard,” Underwood explained.
Locker-Room Echoes
Underwood, a former NFL hopeful, recognized the tone immediately.
“I grew up around those types of people. It’s very much like a locker-room-style environment, and I think phrases and little digs and things towards the gay community get thrown out a lot in those types of environments,” he said.
Still, he stressed he doesn’t view himself as a victim.
“I’m at a point in my life where I’m definitely not sitting in that emotion. I don’t feel like a victim at all. I know he’s probably watching it back just with a little bit of regret on how he delivered it.”
Apology Accepted-With Caveats
Rapaport eventually apologized, telling Underwood he “didn’t mean” the comment as a sexuality dig. Underwood took the apology at face value, noting Rapaport’s tendency to speak faster than he thinks.
“He was self-aware enough. He’s a fast talker, he’s a slick talker, and he said it in one of his interviews, his mouth gets him in trouble,” Underwood said.
Yet the former Bachelor isn’t staying silent when lines get crossed.
“I can only be a punching bag for so long. Even today, seeing some people’s [and] fans of the show’s comments towards me, I can only sit quiet for so long,” he added.
Key Takeaways
- Rapaport’s Round-Table remark triggered memories of Underwood’s decades in the closet
- Underwood accepted the comedian’s apology but flagged the larger issue of casual digs targeting LGBTQ+ identities
- The exchange underscores that reality-TV stakes can still feel personal when comments echo real-world prejudice
