Traitors’ Colton Underwood hits back after Michael Rapaport’s ‘homophobic’ dig

Former NFL player Colton Underwood has spoke out after Michael Rapaport made a “homophobic” dig at him while on the Traitors. 

Underwood and Rapaport, who made a guest appearance as Gary, one of Phoebe’s ex-boyfriends, in Friends, are both starring in The Traitors US.  

During episode five, which aired on 15 January, Rapaport stirred up controversy at the Roundtable by suggesting that Underwood was a good liar because he didn’t come out until 2021. The comment prompted fellow competitors, as well as viewers, to jump to Underwood’s defence. 

Underwood came out publicly as gay during an appearance on Good Morning America, two years after appearing on (the heterosexual) US dating showThe Batchelor in 2019. He has since married his husband, Jordan C. Brown, and together they share their son, Bishop. 

Rapaport’s dig came after Underwood accused the actor, whose comments led him to be banished from the castle, of being a Traitor. Rapaport hit back: “Nobody in this room would be better at holding a secret than you.”

“There it is,” Underwood responded, adding: “You think it was fun for 29 years of my life?”

“Oh no, no, no, no, no — that has nothing to do with it. I think you came into this game loving the idea of being a Traitor,” he told Underwood, failing to acknowledge the accusation made. 

‘I’m not holding a grudge against him’

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Underwood spoke out about the incident, explaining that the “coming-out process takes a long time”, and there are things that continue to “re-trigger old emotions”. 

Underwood added that he believes Rapaport was aware of what he was insinuating, but he emphasised he does not “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.” 

Underwood said he felt his comment was made as a “personal dig at my past”, but shared that Rapaport did apologise to him, telling him that he “didn’t mean it”. 

“I’m not holding a grudge against him, but I do think it’s important for me in my life at this point to start standing up for myself. 

“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.”

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