Traitors’ Ron Funches Shares Autism Diagnosis After “Cruel Trauma”

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Ron Funches is sharing more about his identity.

A contestant on the reality show Traitors, known for clashing with others this season, recently shared that he was diagnosed with autism. This came after viewers online speculated he might have the condition.

I was so moved by Ron’s recent Instagram post! He shared that he’d discovered he was likely autistic through online research, and he actually agreed with the self-diagnosis. He put it perfectly when he said, ‘You win this round,’ – it felt like a really empowering moment of self-discovery and acceptance, and I was thrilled for him.

The comedian joked about their time on the show, tweeting, “Thanks to @thetraitorsus for helping me learn more about myself… through some seriously rough experiences!”

He ended his message by addressing a popular fan theory about his sexuality, jokingly stating, “I’m still not gay.”

Yesterday, I was really struck by Ron’s story. He talked about how finding out his son, Malcolm, had autism when he was just two years old, eventually led him to understand himself better. He shared that interactions with his castmates on Traitors helped him realize he might be neurodivergent, but he’s waiting for the full diagnostic process to be complete before he feels comfortable identifying as autistic. It’s a really thoughtful and honest way of approaching things, and I admire him for sharing his journey.

He shared on Threads that he recently discovered he is autistic. He had always considered himself an ally and the parent of an autistic child, but began to suspect he might be autistic himself when he noticed people didn’t seem to understand him, despite his attempts to be direct. Recognizing certain traits in himself led him to seek a formal diagnosis.

I’ve been watching The Traitors with Alan Cumming, and poor Ron has had a rough go of it! He accidentally got Porsha Williams, a Faithful, banished because she stumbled over her words – it was so stressful to watch! Then, he ended up trusting Donna Kelce, who turned out to be the Secret Traitor, and that really caused tension with the other Faithfuls. There were definitely some heated arguments after she was revealed, and it was hard to see him so misled.

Even though appearing on Peacock TV was difficult, Ron is thankful it helped him understand he is autistic, something he’s long appreciated in his son.

He posted on Instagram in April 2022, wishing everyone a Happy Autism Awareness Day. He also expressed gratitude for his son, who he says has taught him a great deal about autism and continues to do so every day.

Ron has also been vocal in his standup comedy routines about being “very proud” of Malcolm. 

He’s remarkably disciplined, which is surprising because I never really knew how to discipline anyone, he explained in an April Instagram video. He admitted that parenting a teenager with autism was particularly challenging, as he struggled to distinguish between typical teenage behavior and behaviors related to his child’s autism. He simply didn’t know how to handle either situation.

Ron shared with the audience that he couldn’t understand why someone would download sixty episodes of The Price Is Right, joking that it wasn’t typical behavior. He clarified he had nothing against the show, but pointed out it’s essentially the same every day. Apparently, his son defended the massive download by saying he was tracking the show’s statistics for the season.

He concluded, “I’m like, ‘OK, so, it’s the autism. Carry on.’”

Oh my gosh, Ron isn’t the only one who’s lived the Traitors experience! I’ve been digging and digging, and I’m about to share all the behind-the-scenes secrets I’ve uncovered – straight from people who were actually there! It’s everything a superfan like me could dream of!

Deception is a key part of the game in The Traitors, but players are randomly assigned as either Traitors or Faithful. However, beginning with season two, contestants like Phaedra Parks and Kate Chastain had the opportunity to try and convince host Alan Cumming of their innocence.

The selection process for who plays the Traitor is a major consideration, and Alan’s input is also important,” explained executive producer Mike Cotton in an interview with Variety. “It’s similar to a job interview – we carefully evaluate everyone and make a final decision right before the selection. We aim for a diverse and engaging group of players, each with their own strengths and abilities.

The players didn’t initially know how many Traitors were among them. Cirie Fields, winner of the first season of Survivor, explained to TopMob News in 2023 that they were told at the start of the game there could be three to five Traitors.

Players were also asked to take the Traitor’s oath, which involved promising to lie, deceive, and even potentially eliminate other players each night. They also had to swear to keep both their own identity and the identities of other players hidden.

To get a sense of who might be good at deceiving others, the show uses a personality test to assess the contestants. As Cotton Variety explained, this helps identify traits associated with lying and deception. However, the producers don’t actually know who the ‘Traitors’ are until Alan Carr secretly selects them during filming.

Alan Cumming was thrilled to accept his over-the-top role and even bring his dog to work. He told The Daily Beast in 2023 that when he first heard the pitch, he envisioned playing a character similar to a James Bond villain, and playfully suggested bringing his dog as a prop. The producers loved the idea, and that sealed the deal for him.

With his rescue dog, Lala, by his side, he fully embraced his on-screen role, playfully quoting lines from the works of William Shakespeare and Plato. He described adopting a dramatic persona – “a sort of flaring-nostril thing” – and admitted to improvising a lot. In fact, he sometimes had lines fed to him through an earpiece, making the experience feel like doing stand-up comedy because he was essentially making it up as he went along.

While the actors filmed at the beautiful Ardross Castle in Scotland, they didn’t get to live there permanently – it wasn’t their personal housing.

Cumming told The Daily Beast that the cast and crew didn’t actually stay at the castle during filming. Instead, they stayed at a hotel near the Inverness airport. He personally had a room in the castle, which he used to get ready, noting it had a large bed he’d often nap on during the day, but he didn’t spend the nights there.

The show’s creator, Marc Pos, originally envisioned a much more challenging game. He told Variety he wanted to film on a ship off the coast of Australia, with losing players having to swim to an island. However, he realized this idea would be too difficult and expensive to actually film.

Contestants didn’t have access to the entire castle. According to Cotton, who spoke with Variety, they’re using only a section of it – specifically, one wing – as the area where they’ll play the game. They also have full access to the outdoor grounds and are free to move around there.

He pointed out that with room for around 30 bedrooms, complete privacy would be difficult. While people could spread out and talk individually, the space was still small enough that conversations could be overheard or someone could be seen slipping away for a private discussion.

It makes sense that Rachel Reilly, a former contestant on Big Brother, found car rides to and from challenges to be the perfect opportunity for strategizing with other players. She told Reality Blurred that “You’re separated, and nobody can hear what you’re saying,” which was much easier than having to whisper constantly inside the house.

Players weren’t allowed to discuss strategy at the hotel. According to Dan Gheesling, a contestant from season two, this was because anything said off-camera couldn’t be included in the show if it revealed important information. He told Business Insider that all game talk had to wait until the microphones and cameras were rolling.

Chrishell Stause shared that contestants on season three weren’t provided with a hair and makeup team. She told Us Weekly that while she would have loved to have professional glam services, Alan, the show’s producer, didn’t permit it.

Getting the ‘Faithful’ to their individual rooms for the nightly murders and then bringing the ‘Traitors’ back out for their meeting is like a huge military operation each night, according to Cotton in an interview with Variety.

Oh my gosh, even Larsa and Marcus weren’t allowed to share a room! I mean, the producers – Sam Rees-Jones said so himself – they wanted to, but the show wouldn’t let them! Apparently, giving them a little privacy would have been ‘unfair’ to everyone else. It’s crazy, right? They were a couple, but the show had to keep things ‘competitive’. I just want them to be happy!

Despite the rules, Reza Farahan from Shahs of Sunset tried to add some playful mischief. He told Digital Spy he attempted to slip notes under contestants’ doors while he was supposed to be confined to his room. The notes jokingly accused them of past betrayals, signed ‘The Traitors,’ just to have a little fun.

The production schedule is demanding, with the team aiming to film one episode each day. According to producer Rees-Jones, this fast pace helps the cast stay focused and maintain the immersive atmosphere of the show. While it’s a lot of pressure, they believe it’s the best way to create quality content. A typical day involves breakfast, a planning meeting, a mission, and then solving a murder, before starting the process all over again. Stause mentioned they sometimes didn’t return to their rooms until 2 a.m. due to the long hours.

According to Cotton, who spoke with Variety, the breakfasts are carefully timed with guests arriving at different times, but the meals themselves only last about an hour.

14. Perhaps that’s why producers take strides to keep contestants sharp. “You can only drink one drink a night,” Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu, a season two Faithful, told Entertainment Weekly in 2024, “it was quite restricted.”

Even though it’s often difficult to find genuine connections with other players, everyone on the show is assigned a dedicated support person. According to Mercedes Javid, a popular contestant from last season, these team members are constantly checking in on participants. She described them as positive, professional, and made her feel well-cared for throughout the experience, as she shared on the Just Sayin’ podcast.

When it comes to building relationships on the show, contestants don’t find out who their competition will be until they arrive in Scotland. Casting director Deena Katz told Time that this is intentional – they don’t want people researching each other or forming alliances beforehand. However, once the competition begins, players are given information about each other and a journal to keep notes.

Cumming jokingly refers to himself as a “Traitor,” referencing the social deduction game he enjoys. In a 2023 interview with the Daily Beast, he explained that players often accuse each other of being traitors based on flimsy evidence. He playfully suggested that he could arbitrarily label someone a traitor – even for something as innocent as a pat on the shoulder – and others would accept it as justification.

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2026-01-23 05:18