Michael Rapaport on The Traitors US
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All the controversy facing The Traitors’ Michael Rapaport, including fake Housewives scandal

He's got a lot of heat on him already

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ByCeline Byford

9th January 2026, 11:28

The Traitors US star Michael Rapaport is facing a ton of controversy, from being charged with harassment in the 1990s to being accused of calling out Real Housewives stars over the years. He denied the photo which appeared to show him calling Kenya Moore a gorilla.

Michael claims racist Housewives scandal was ‘fake’

Michael has continuously claimed that a photo appearing to show a screenshot of his Instagram account posting a side-by-side photo of Kenya with a screaming ape. He was called a racist, but has since claimed the whole Housewives scandal was fake.

He was charged with harassment in 1997

Michael was charged with two counts of aggravated harassment towards his ex-girlfriend, Lili Taylor, in 1997. He pleaded guilty to the charges in court and New York Supreme Court Justice Arlene Goldberg issued a protection order to keep him from contacting her.

The Traitors US star feuded with NBA star

Michael once argued with Kevin Durant, the latter of who apologised and was fined. He shared screenshots of private texts showing Kevin using homophobic and misogynistic language, which showed him telling Kevin, “Go help the kids in BROWNSVILLE, BROOKLYN.”

Controversial views on the attacks on Israel

He’s called the New York mayor a ‘s*** stain’

Michael has not held back on what he thinks of New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani. He referred to Zohran as a “s*** stain at the helm.” The actor claims the city’s first Muslim mayor is unfit to serve and says he does not agree with the mayor’s stance on the Gaza war.

“We have a s*** stain at the helm right now in New York City, and it is a reality. It is a fucking reality,” he said. “I think he’s going to supersede our wildest fears and expectations. Zohran the Zero, Zohran the Ziophobe, he is going to supersede all our fears.”

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