Michael Rapaport Dragged For The 'Disgusting' Way He Eats His Food

Michael Rapaport is catching heat from "The Traitors" viewers for two very different reasons, and both moments played out during the same episode. Fans of the Peacock reality competition have been talking after the comedian was caught eating on camera during the show’s fourth episode, which aired Thursday, January 15. In the clip making the rounds online, the camera briefly flashes to Rapaport as he digs into a meal, but instead of using a knife and fork normally, he appears to bring his mouth down to the dish, using only a fork to shovel food from the plate. The quick moment was enough to spark a wave of reactions from fans, with many saying they were taken aback by Michael Rapaport's unusual habit and questioning why the show even included the shot in the final cut.

‘The Traitors’ Viewers Drag Michael Rapaport’s Table Manners After Awkward Meal Clip

It didn’t take long for "The Traitors" viewers to zero in on Rapaport’s quick on-camera meal, and the reactions were brutal. One commenter joked, “Can someone check on the plate?” while another wrote, “My children have better table manners, and THAT'S saying a lot.”

Others said they’d never seen anyone eat like that before, with one person posting, “I've never seen anyone do that in my life!!! But sure … it WOULD be HIM!!!!!”

Rapaport Gets Roasted For On-Camera Moment As Colton Underwood Clash Escalates

 

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The clip also seemed to pour gasoline on already simmering frustration, with fans using the moment as another reason to drag him online. One viewer called him “Everything I aspire NOT to be in life,” while another went even harder, writing, “He's disgusting and a disgusting human being.”

As The Blast reported, during the same episode, Rapaport faced backlash after a tense roundtable exchange with Colton Underwood. As the group debated who could be a Traitor, Rapaport took aim at Underwood and argued he should be suspected, seemingly dragging Underwood’s real-life history into the game. Rapaport claimed Underwood, who came out as gay in April 2021, had an advantage when it comes to deception because “nobody in this room would be better at holding a secret than you.”

Underwood immediately pushed back. “There it is. You think it was fun for 29 years of my life?” he snapped back, as Rapaport quickly tried to backpedal and insisted his comment had “nothing to do with it.”

Michael Rapaport Says He And Colton Underwood Had A ‘Man-To-Man’ Talk After Filming

Outside the show, Rapaport told TMZ, “I did speak to [Underwood] right after filming. We had a great man-to-man conversation, and everything was very cool and respectful. I like him and wish him and his family the best.”

Underwood has also addressed the controversy and acknowledged the comment brought up real emotions tied to his past. In a post-episode interview, Underwood said he isn’t “holding a grudge,” but admitted the remark was triggering and reinforced why he felt it was important to stand up for himself in the moment.

Rapaport’s Polarizing Moment On ‘The Traitors’ Follows Last Year’s AI Image Controversy

Rapaport hasn’t exactly been a stranger to controversy, and "The Traitors" backlash is just the latest chapter in a pattern that’s been building for a while. Just last year, Rapaport sparked backlash after sharing what appeared to be an AI-generated image depicting a Holocaust victim.

While the post quickly gained traction, pulling in nearly 10,000 likes and more than 1,200 shares within hours, experts weren’t buying it. The Auschwitz Memorial and Museum publicly pushed back, warning against spreading fake, AI-generated imagery connected to Auschwitz and calling it a dangerous distortion that disrespects victims and their memory.

Michael Rapaport’s Feud With Barstool Turned Legal With $375,000 Lawsuit

That's not all, because in 2018, the actor sued Barstool Sports for $375,000 after what was described as a volatile fallout. Rapaport had been working with the company for a short time before he was fired in February of 2018, following a very public Twitter feud that reportedly escalated from sparring with Barstool employees to attacking Barstool fans. Barstool founder Dave Portnoy ultimately stepped in and fired him.

After his termination, Rapaport reportedly sent Barstool a cease and desist over the company continuing to sell merchandise featuring his face, claiming he was still owed a percentage of sales tied to his image.

He sued for breach of contract and defamation.