Contestants on the new season of Peacock's reality competition The Traitors have confessed to a unique fear: the potential wrath of Taylor Swift's global fanbase. Their apprehension stems from sharing the castle with fellow player Donna Kelce, the 73-year-old mother of Swift's fiancé, NFL star Travis Kelce.
"The Swifties Will Kill Them": Castmates Voice Their Fears
The surprising admission came during the three-episode premiere of season 4, which aired on Thursday. The show, hosted by Alan Cumming, pits "Faithfuls" against secret "Traitors" in a dramatic game of deception set in a Scottish Highlands castle.
Among the all-star cast, including figures like Lisa Rinna and Colton Underwood, Donna Kelce's presence introduced an unexpected dynamic. Real Housewives alum Dorinda Medley was notably vocal, stating she believed no one would dare eliminate Kelce. "No one is going to murder her. The Swifties will kill them," Medley reasoned, later adding, "The Swiftie thing scares me."
Former NFL player Colton Underwood echoed this sentiment, revealing a hierarchy of fear among the players. "Everybody is scared to say her name," he said. "I am not scared of Michael [Rapaport]... But I am scared of the Swifties."
Kelce's Brief Reign as a Secret Traitor
The season's twist began with host Alan Cumming selecting a "Secret Traitor" from among the 23 contestants. In a reveal kept from viewers initially, Donna Kelce was the one who drew the grim reaper card.
Despite her hidden role, other players grew suspicious, leading to her eventual banishment in the dramatic "Circle of Truth." Kelce acknowledged her fate gracefully, telling her castmates, "I know I'm the sacrificial lamb... but you got yourself a Traitor."
Reflecting on the experience, Kelce became emotional, calling it a "dream come true." She explained her motivation for joining the show, stating, "When you get to a certain part in your life and your kids are starting their own families, it's so important to reinvent yourself." She added that both her sons, Travis and Jason Kelce, were "huge fans" of the show and supportive of her participation.
Host Cumming Confirms the Swiftie Factor
The unique pressure surrounding Kelce was confirmed by host Alan Cumming during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday. When asked if he was intimidated by potentially banishing Swift's future mother-in-law, Cumming said he wasn't, but the contestants were.
"The players talked about it quite a lot," Cumming told Kimmel. "They'd say, 'I'm a bit worried about the Swifties. What will I do?'" He described this external fan pressure as "another added layer of menace" to the game.
Cumming also recalled a sweet moment with Kelce at the start of filming, where she admitted to feeling "a little weird" about the whole experience, which he found endearing. While The Traitors marks her reality TV debut, Kelce is no stranger to cameras, having taken on minor roles in Hallmark Channel movies in 2024.
The premiere highlights how the immense cultural influence of Taylor Swift and her devoted fans, the Swifties, can extend even into the scheming world of reality television, creating an unspoken rulebook for contestants navigating the game alongside a pop icon's family.
