Traitors’ Rob Rausch Gifts Maura Higgins $16k Birkin Bag After Finale

by

Rob Rausch is finally a man of his word.

The winner of Traitors kept his promise to fellow finalist Maura Higgins, gifting her a Birkin bag with his prize money after betraying her in the show’s finale. He presented the bag to her during their appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on March 4th.

Andy started things off by asking the audience if receiving a Birkin bag would be enough to be forgiven—and a whopping 90 percent said yes! That’s when Rob stepped forward, put on gloves, and brought out the iconic orange Hermès box from behind the bar on set.

“See this is my win,” Maura exclaimed. “I knew I’d have my moment.”

When Andy worried about whether Maura would like the bag Rob had picked out, the former Love Island: UK contestant assured him, “He knows exactly what I want.”

Rob surprised Maura with a luxurious Hermès Birkin 30 bag in burgundy, complete with gold hardware. The bag is estimated to be worth around $16,000.

Rob, wearing white gloves, gave Maura the gift and explained that she was the first to hold the bag, adding with a smile, “Only the owner should touch it first.”

Oh my gosh, when she finally got her hands on it, Maura just beamed with the bag! Then, she literally leaped into Rob’s arms and yelled, ‘You’re forgiven!’ It was the sweetest, most perfect moment – I swear I almost cried! She’d been waiting so long, and seeing her that happy…it made everything worth it.

Rob also acknowledged Lisa Rinna’s help in getting the item – a bag he bought from Madison Avenue Couture in New York City. “Thank you so much, Lisa,” Maura said.

Offering one more take about her bag a Maura said, “I love her. She’s beautiful.”

As for believing that Rob is a man of his word after his shady game play? Maura had the last laugh.

“Everyone laughed at me for that,” she said. “And I was like ‘We’re not in a game anymore.”

Just a week after Rob publicly announced he’d buy Maura a Birkin bag using some of his $220,800 winnings, she received the gift.

During the season reunion, Rob jokingly mentioned he’d likely keep his prize money for later, but then added he planned to buy Maura a Birkin bag with it.

When Rob was ready to buy the expensive bag, he asked his friend Jake Shane for help.

On March 4th, Rob and the host of the Therapuss podcast received a box containing a bag. Rob humbly thanked the sales associate who assisted them.

“I’m very, very grateful,” he said. “And I hope she loves it, I think she will.”

Confirming that Rob was correct, Maura wrote in the comments, “All is forgiven. I think I won.”

As for how the Traitors brings all its back-stabbing glory to life? Keep reading…

Deception is a key part of the game in The Traitors, but players are randomly assigned as either Traitors or Faithful. 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 selection process is crucial, and Alan’s input is also very important,” explained executive producer Mike Cotton in an interview with Variety. “Choosing a ‘Traitor’ is almost like a job interview – we carefully consider everything 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, a winner from 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.

Oh my gosh, the Traitors had to swear this intense oath! It was all, ‘Do you promise to lie and betray everyone the whole game?’ And then, get this, ‘Are you actually willing to eliminate your friends every night?!’ Seriously chilling! And the biggest part? They had to vow to never reveal who they are, or who their fellow Traitors are. It’s just… perfection! I’m obsessed with how dramatic it all is!

To gauge which contestants might be skilled at deception and betrayal, the show uses a personality test. As Cotton Variety explains, this helps identify traits associated with lying and being deceptive. However, the producers don’t actually know who the Traitors are until Alan Carr secretly selects them during filming.

Oh my gosh, Alan Cumming was SO thrilled to be part of this! He told The Daily Beast that when they first pitched him the role, he immediately thought of a Bond villain – a campy Bond villain, naturally! And the best part? He actually suggested bringing his little dog along and, like, petting her during filming! He said they loved the idea, and that’s when he knew he had to do it. It’s just… perfect. He’s brilliant!

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 performance as intense, explaining, “I was really getting into character.” He also admitted to improvising a lot, often receiving lines directly in his ear, making the experience similar to stand-up comedy – completely spontaneous and unrehearsed.

I’ve learned that while the cast films at the stunning Ardross Castle in Scotland, it’s not quite the same as them living like royalty! They enjoy the beautiful location, but they don’t get to stay in their own private wings or anything like that.

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 for getting ready and changing, though he didn’t sleep there overnight. He mentioned the room had a large bed and he’d often nap there during the day.

The show almost 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 realized it would be too complicated and expensive to actually film.

Contestants weren’t allowed access to the entire castle. According to Cotton, who spoke with Variety, they’re using just one section. “We’ve designated a wing of the castle as their playing area, and they also have access to all the outdoor spaces,” Cotton explained. “They’re free to move around within those areas.”

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 strategized. Rachel Reilly really hit the nail on the head when she talked about the car rides to and from challenges – she said those were the perfect times to plot with others! She explained to Reality Blurred that because you’re separated from everyone else in the car, nobody can overhear your conversations. Inside the house, she said, you’re constantly having to whisper to avoid being caught, but in the car, you could speak freely.

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 explained this to Business Insider, stating that discussions were only permitted when microphones and cameras were rolling.

Chrishell Stause, from season three of the show, also shared that they weren’t allowed to have a hair and makeup team. She told Us Weekly that she “would’ve died to have glam in the castle,” but Alan didn’t permit it.

Getting everyone settled for the nightly murders is a huge undertaking, like a military operation,” Cotton explained to Variety. “They have to get the ‘Faithful’ into separate rooms each night, and then let the ‘Traitors’ out for their meetings.”

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.

As a bit of a playful rebel, I have to admit I tried to add some fun to the serious atmosphere on The Traitors. When we were supposed to be locked down, I snuck around trying to leave little notes under everyone’s doors! I’d write things like, ‘I know what you did last summer, signed The Traitors’ – just a silly way to lighten the mood and stir things up, you know?

The filming schedule is demanding, with the team aiming to complete an episode each day. According to director Rhys-Jones, this fast pace is intentional – it helps the cast stay focused and maintain the show’s immersive atmosphere. They begin each day with breakfast and a planning session, then move directly into filming a mission and a murder mystery before starting the process all over again. The schedule is tight – one night they didn’t return to their rooms until 2 a.m. – but the team believes it’s the best way to create compelling content.

As a huge fan, I’ve been following all the behind-the-scenes details, and it’s fascinating! Apparently, breakfast isn’t just a casual meal – it’s carefully planned, with people brought in at different times. But according to Cotton in Variety, even with all the strategy, breakfast itself only lasts about an hour, start to finish.

As someone who’s observed reality TV for years, it’s no surprise producers work hard to keep everyone on their game. I recently spoke with Love Island’s Ekin-Su Culculoglu, and she shared with Entertainment Weekly that they had pretty strict rules – like only being allowed one alcoholic drink per night. It really shows how much they manage the environment to keep things interesting!

Even though it’s tough to find close friends while filming, every contestant is paired with a dedicated member of the show’s support team. As Mercedes Javid shared on the Just Sayin’ podcast, these team members are constantly checking in on the players. She described them as upbeat and professional, making her feel well-cared for throughout the season.

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 the goal is to prevent players from researching each other or forming alliances beforehand. However, once the competition begins, players are given information about each other and a journal to record their observations.

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 the “Traitor” based on flimsy evidence. He gave the example of someone being labeled a “Traitor” simply because he touched their shoulder, highlighting how easily accusations can be made in the game.

Read More

2026-03-05 17:19