The Traitors Issues Statement on “Cyberbullying” of Cast

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The Traitors has an important message for its faithful audience.

As the current season progresses, the competition series on Peacock has responded to negative comments online about the show, which is hosted by Alan Cumming.

The show posted on X (formerly Twitter) on January 24th that they are dedicated to ensuring the safety, respect, and support of everyone involved, both during and outside of filming. They emphasized that while discussion about The Traitors is fine, the cast members are real people and should not be subjected to online bullying or harassment. The show made a clear distinction between talking about the game and personally attacking individuals.

Viewers were also given a reminder to be mindful of keeping their words rooted in positivity.

The statement went on to say that they didn’t want to discourage enthusiasm for the show with unnecessary criticism or personal insults, and they thanked everyone for their support.

Just two days ago, Ron Funches, who was on season four of the show, shared that conversations among fans about his appearances helped him realize he is autistic.

On January 22nd, he shared on Instagram that he self-diagnosed as autistic based on information he found online, and felt it was accurate. He jokingly conceded, “You win this round.”

Ron expressed gratitude to @thetraitorsus, jokingly stating they helped him learn more about himself, even if it involved some difficult experiences.

The 42-year-old man, whose 21-year-old son Malcolm also has a developmental condition, recently explained what prompted him to get a formal diagnosis.

He recently shared on Threads that he didn’t realize he was autistic himself, initially believing he was simply a supportive parent to his autistic child. However, feeling consistently misunderstood despite his direct communication, and recognizing familiar traits within himself, led him to seek a formal diagnosis.

After revealing he’s neurodivergent, Ron shared on Instagram how grateful he was for the experience of being on the show, saying it helped him understand himself and connect with others. He ended with a message of kindness: “Be kind to each other.”

For behind-the-scenes secrets on the making of The Traitors, keep reading.

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

The choice of who plays the Traitor is a significant one, and we carefully consider everyone’s potential, including input from Alan,” said executive producer Mike Cotton in an interview with Variety. “It’s like a thorough audition process. We evaluate everything right before making the final decision, aiming for a diverse group of players who each bring something different to the game.

The players didn’t initially know how many Traitors were among them. Cirie Fields, a winner on 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 and deceive others throughout the game, being willing to eliminate fellow players each night, and keeping both their own and other players’ identities hidden.

To get a sense of who might be good at deceiving others, the show uses a personality test for the contestants. As Cotton Variety explains, this helps identify traits that could make someone a convincing liar. However, the producers don’t actually know who the ‘Traitors’ are until the moment Alan Carr secretly selects them.

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 suggested including his dog as a playful addition. The producers loved the idea, and that convinced him to take the part.

With his rescue dog, Lala, by his side, he fully embraced his on-camera role, playfully quoting the works of William Shakespeare and Plato. He described his approach as having a very expressive, almost theatrical style. He admitted to improvising a lot, sometimes even receiving lines directly in his ear, which he compared to performing stand-up comedy – essentially making it up as he went along.

While the actors are filming at the beautiful Ardross Castle in Scotland, they aren’t staying in their own private wings of the castle.

Let me tell you a little secret about filming in Scotland! Everyone assumes we all stayed in this amazing castle, but that wasn’t quite the case. Honestly, most of us ended up at the airport hotel in Inverness – much more practical! I did have a room in the castle, though. It wasn’t for sleeping, mind you! It was my getting-ready space – hair, makeup, the works. And it had this enormous bed, so I’d often take a nap there during breaks, but I never spent the night. It was the perfect daytime retreat!

The show nearly involved a much more dangerous challenge. Creator Marc Pos told Variety his initial plan was to film on a ship off the coast of Australia, where eliminated contestants would have to swim to an island. However, he decided it would be too complicated and expensive to actually film.

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

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

As a huge fan of Big Brother, I always found it fascinating to hear how players formed their strategies. Rachel Reilly really hit the nail on the head when she told Reality Blurred that car rides to and from competitions were the perfect time to plot! She explained that being separated from everyone else meant you could actually talk freely, unlike inside the house where you had to whisper and risk being overheard. It makes so much sense – a little privacy goes a long way when you’re trying to win!

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 used in the show if it contained important information. He told Business Insider that the rule prevented valuable strategic discussions from being excluded.

Chrishell Stause, from season three of the show, shared that the cast wasn’t provided with a hair and makeup team. She told Us Weekly that she would have loved to have glam services available at the castle, but Alan, the 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.

Even though Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan were a couple during season two of the show, they weren’t permitted to share a hotel room. According to executive producer Sam Rees-Jones, producers felt it would have given them an unfair advantage over the other contestants.

Reza Farahan from Shahs of Sunset tried to add some excitement during filming, even when he wasn’t supposed to. He told Digital Spy he’d sneak out of his room to leave notes under other contestants’ doors, playfully hinting at their past actions. The notes were signed, ‘The Traitors,’ as a fun way to stir things up.

The show moves at a fast pace, with the team typically filming one episode each day. According to producer Rees-Jones, this intense schedule helps the cast stay focused and maintain the immersive atmosphere of the series. While demanding, they believe it’s the best way to create the show. A typical day involves breakfast, a planning meeting, a mission, and a murder investigation, then they start the process all over again. Stause mentioned that filming sometimes went late into the night, with the cast not returning to their rooms until 2 a.m.

According to Cotton, who spoke with Variety, breakfast on set is carefully scheduled with actors arriving at different times. However, the meals themselves are kept brief, lasting no more than an hour from beginning to end.

Producers of reality shows like Love Island limit alcohol consumption to keep contestants alert. Ekin-Su Culculoglu, winner of Love Island and a participant on another reality series, explained to Entertainment Weekly in 2024 that contestants were only allowed one drink per night, creating a fairly strict environment.

Even though it’s often difficult to find genuine support from other players, everyone competing receives a dedicated welfare team member. According to Mercedes Javid, a popular contestant from season two, these team members are constantly checking in on the players. She described them as both cheerful and professional, adding that she always felt well-cared for thanks to their support, as she shared on the Just Sayin’ podcast.

When it comes to building relationships on camera, 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 want to prevent players from researching each other or forming alliances beforehand. However, once the game begins, players are given information about each other and a journal to keep notes.

Cumming jokingly identifies as a “Traitor,” referencing the social deduction game he enjoys. In a 2023 interview with the Daily Beast, he explained the game often involves players falsely accusing each other, saying someone might be labeled a “Traitor” for arbitrary reasons – like a simple pat on the shoulder. He finds the illogical accusations humorous.

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2026-01-25 00:48