The heat is on for Colton Underwood, and Lisa Rinna is stepping in to douse the flames! As the drama on The Traitors reaches a fever pitch, one of its stars is facing a wave of criticism, and her co-star is urging everyone to just chill out. It seems the intensity of this reality competition is spilling over into the real world, and not in a good way.
In a recent episode, former Bachelor Colton Underwood found himself in a heated exchange with Lisa Rinna, the beloved alum of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Underwood, admitting he wasn't familiar with Rinna's Real Housewives persona, declared his intention to target her and expose her as a traitor. This move, seemingly part of the game's strategy, unexpectedly ignited a firestorm.
Rinna, initially engaging with the online chatter in her signature Housewives style, made some playful jabs at Underwood. However, this playful banter took an unexpected turn when it brought up past allegations concerning Underwood, specifically a restraining order filed by his Bachelor co-star, Cassie Randolph. This is where things got a little messy, and the backlash against Underwood intensified.
But here's where it gets controversial... Rinna's attempt to defend Underwood, while stemming from a place of wanting to protect her game-partner, inadvertently amplified the very issues she was trying to mitigate. She later took to Instagram Stories to clarify her position, explaining that her Housewives persona had gotten the better of her and she never intended to cause problems for Colton. "I do not want this, because Colton and I are great," she stated, emphasizing their strong dynamic as adversaries in the game. "That’s what I was doing, all in the name of the game."
Rinna stressed that she and Underwood are on good terms, even exchanging texts. She expressed her dismay at the backlash, saying, "I feel horrible about because I don’t want to hurt anybody. I am here to play the game and have fun. And Colton is a great nemesis for me. We had so much fun. I’ve only always had a great time with him."
She pleaded with viewers to be more understanding: "So please, guys, be gentle. It’s a game. It’s a TV show. We’re all doing the best we can. Don’t send death threats or do anything to jeopardize somebody’s family. We had so much fun doing it. It was really hard."
Her final plea was a call for collective calm: "So everyone take a deep breath and just know that everything is great. It’s a game. It is a game. Try to watch it like a sporting event, you know, like if you’re watching football or wrestling, and just be gentle with everybody, because everyone’s doing the best they can."
And this is the part most people miss... Peacock, the network airing The Traitors, has also stepped in, issuing a statement reminding viewers of the importance of kindness and respect towards the contestants. They emphasized the distinction between discussing the show and engaging in cyberbullying or harassment, stating, "The cast of The Traitors are real people, and what happens in the game should never lead to cyberbullying or harassment. There’s a difference between discussing a show and targeting individuals." They concluded by urging viewers not to let "unwarranted negativity and personal attacks" ruin the passion for the show.
Now, over to you! Do you think it's fair for viewers to direct their anger at contestants for actions taken within the game? Or is it important to remember that these are real people with real lives outside of the show? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
