How a Fiery Feud on The Traitors Season 4 Reignited Scrutiny Surrounding a Cast Member’s Problematic Past

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“You want to see a Housewife? I’ll come out.”

After Colton Underwood correctly identified her as a Traitor on the fourth season of The Traitors, former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna received a pointed critique. Underwood explained that he suspected her because she was playing the game subtly and cautiously, a strategy he hadn’t anticipated from someone with her famously outspoken reality TV personality.

This season, Underwood has been very outspoken and actively pushed for eliminating the wrong players, which ironically helped Rinna gain some strategic advantage. During one round, comedian Ron Funches, who was also a Faithful, received the most votes for banishment, meaning the conflict between Rinna and Underwood continued.

Just before the latest episode aired on Thursday, Lisa Rinna escalated her conflict with Colton Underwood online, bringing attention back to controversial aspects of his past. On January 23rd, following the release of Episode 6 on Peacock, Rinna commented on a Threads post that complimented her directness on Housewives. She shared a picture from a memorable Real Housewives of Beverly Hills scene with the message, “THIS is who Colton thinks he’s up against? GOOD LUCK!”

“The Traitors” reunion is gonna be so good. #TheTraitorsUS

— Gibson Johns (@gibsonoma) January 23, 2026

Lisa Rinna responded to Thomas Underwood with a pointed comment, calling him a stalker – a reference to a past legal issue. In September 2020, Cassie Randolph, who dated Underwood after appearing on The Bachelor, obtained a temporary restraining order against him. Randolph had accused Underwood of stalking her, sending harassing texts, and secretly putting a tracking device on her car. The order was granted just over three months after they announced their split.

Randolph cancelled the order in November 2020 after reaching a private agreement with Underwood. Underwood stated at the time that he believed Cassie had acted appropriately and in good faith when requesting the restraining orders, and he asked for privacy regarding the situation.

I remember when Jesse Williams’ ex, Justin Underwood, publicly came out as gay on Good Morning America back in April 2021. It was a pretty raw moment, and he used the interview to directly apologize to Aryn Drake-Lee, admitting he’d really messed things up and made some poor decisions during their relationship.

He expressed deep regret, saying he was truly sorry for the pain and emotional distress he caused. He wished things had turned out differently and that he’d dealt with his own issues before hurting anyone else.

When Underwood publicly came out as gay, it happened around the same time he announced a new Netflix reality show focusing on his life. This led to accusations that he was using his personal story to improve his public image after facing previous allegations. Since then, he’s married political strategist Jordan C. Brown, had a child, started a podcast about being a father, and continued working in reality television.

The recent controversy around Colton Underwood is sparking new criticism, with some questioning why he’s still portrayed positively on TV. Demi Burnett, who appeared on both The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise and later came out as bisexual, expressed her surprise in a January 12th TikTok that Underwood continues to be cast in shows like The Traitors.

People are calling it a mistake, but it wasn’t. He carefully considered his actions and repeatedly chose to go through with them. He thought everything through, it was all premeditated, and frankly, it’s a frightening way to think. He revealed he was gay, and everyone was so surprised that they overlooked the concerning behavior I mentioned. But the most disturbing part is that was exactly what he intended. He timed the announcement deliberately, hoping people would focus on his sexual orientation and ignore the fact that he’s a stalker and a danger to women.

After some initial critical comments, Rinna posted a video on January 24th explaining her side of a disagreement with Colton Underwood. She said her previous post, made while playing into her “Housewife” persona, was causing problems for him, and she didn’t want that. Rinna clarified that she and Colton have a good relationship, even as rivals on the show, and she was simply playing her role for entertainment.

I’ve been texting with Underwood, and honestly, I feel terrible about all the negative reaction. I really don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I’m just trying to play the game and have a good time. Colton was such a fun competitor for me – we genuinely had a blast! I’ve always enjoyed our interactions. So, I’m asking everyone to please be kind. It’s just a TV show, and we’re all doing our best. There’s no need for harsh messages or threats, especially towards families. It was a really challenging experience, but we had so much fun doing it.

Peacock released a statement that day condemning online bullying and harassment of its cast, which many saw as a reaction to the issues surrounding actor Jeremy Underwood, though he wasn’t mentioned by name. The statement emphasized that while discussing the show is fine, targeting individuals with negativity and personal attacks is not, and shouldn’t detract from fans’ enjoyment of the series.

Peacock faced immediate criticism for its statement, as many social media users pointed out the irony of the streaming service condemning harassment while simultaneously casting Johnny Underwood – someone accused of harmful behavior – in a popular show. One top comment summed it up, suggesting that Peacock shouldn’t cast individuals who have caused others to feel unsafe with their words or actions.

Another viewer pointed out the contradiction of prioritizing safety while showcasing someone accused of emotional abuse on television, questioning the message that sends to the audience and urging the network to improve its choices.

Episode 7 of the show, released on Peacock January 29th at 9 p.m. ET, saw Rinna eliminated from the competition. However, Colton Underwood is still in the game, which continues to spark debate about his participation. Rinna seemed to predict how viewers might react to Underwood’s future moves, stating, “Colton thinks he’s untouchable. He’s clinging to this, and he needs to be removed.”

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2026-01-30 06:06