Lisa Rinna is walking back her previous “stalker” comment about her Traitors co-star Colton Underwood after the situation escalated and reportedly led to him receiving death threats.
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star took to her Instagram Stories over the weekend to clarify her remarks and urged fans to stop targeting Underwood, stressing that her comments were made “in housewife mode” and as part of the game.
“It’s come to my attention that my post that I responded to in my ‘housewife mode’ is taking on a life of its own and it’s causing real problems for Colton,” Rinna explained.
“I do not want this because Colton and I are great. He was a great and is a great nemesis for me on the show and in the game,” she continued.
Rinna admitted that she leaned into her reality TV persona when she made the original comment, but insists there is no real-life bad blood between her and Colton.
“If you asked me to be a housewife, I’ll bring it to you, right? That’s what I was doing all in the name of the game,” she said. “But, just so you know, I am totally great with Colton.”
The Bravolebrity also revealed that she and Underwood have been in contact privately since the backlash began.
“We’ve been texting,” Rinna shared. “The fact that the backlash is happening, I feel horrible about because I don’t want to hurt anybody. I’m here to play the game and have fun.”
She doubled down on asking fans to ease up, making it clear she never intended for her words to spark real-world consequences.
“We had so much fun. I’ve only always had a great time with him,” she added. “So, please guys be gentle. It’s a game, it’s a TV show. We’re all doing the best we can. Don’t send death threats or do anything to jeopardize somebody’s family.”
Rinna closed by once again stressing that her comment was strictly part of the competition and not meant to be taken beyond the show.
Following the controversy, The Traitors also released an official statement urging fans to stop personal attacks against cast members.
“We are committed to making our cast feel safe, respected and supported — on screen and off,” the statement read. “The cast of ‘The Traitors’ are real people, and what happens in the game should never lead to cyberbullying or harassment.”
“There’s a difference between discussing a show and targeting individuals,” the statement continued. “Let’s not ruin the passion for this show with unwarranted negativity and personal attacks.”
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