Traitors fans threaten to BOYCOTT show over casting of controversial Zionist star
Some fans of Peacock's incredibly popular competition series The Traitors are threatening to boycott the new season over one of the celebrity casting choices.
The hit show, which will return for its fourth season early next year, announced the star-studded cast last week.
Among the names is outspoken actor and comedian Michael Rapaport, best known for playing Gary on Friends.
The New York-born comedian, who is Jewish and identifies as a staunch Zionist, has emerged as one of Hollywood's most passionate defenders of Israel since the October 7 terror attacks.
He's also become a fierce critic of Palestine, stating that 'Palestine will never be free' and repeatedly mocking Palestinians.
One of Rapaport's most controversial videos saw him celebrating and laughing hysterically over Israel's attack on Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon via explosive pagers.
While most of the casualties were Hezbollah members, a number of civilians were killed, including children.
Israel then followed up with a similar attack using explosives in walkie-talkies.
After the attacks, Rapaport posted a video of himself laughing hysterically while mimicking the sound of the explosive pagers by saying, 'beep, beep!' repeatedly.
'Who the f**k has a beeper in 2024?' he said. 'Dirty, d**k, nasty a** terrorists! Good if they blew up. F**k them where they f***ing breathe,' he continued.
In another video shared in late 2023, Rapaport filmed himself celebrating Christmas in Israel, before mocking Gaza for not being able to celebrate Christmas that year.
'Ho-ho-ho, there ain't gonna be no Christmas in the Gaza strip,' he said, before calling Gaza a 's**t hole'.
Pro-Palestine supporters were furious over the 55-year-old's casting, with many threatening to tune out of the season altogether
Rapaport has also floated support for Donald Trump taking over Gaza, sharing memes of Gaza as 'Mar-a-Gaza' - a reference to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.
Pro-Palestine supporters were furious over the 55-year-old's casting, with many threatening to tune out of the season altogether.
'Peacock wants to be boycotted so bad by casting Rappaport,' wrote one, while another posted, 'Michael Rapaport is a raging zionist. Not watching this trash.'
'Michael Rapaport is one of the most disgusting reality TV casting choices imaginable,' wrote a third.
'Michael Rapaport? I might have to skip this season,' commented a fourth, while another wrote, 'Michael Genocidal Rapaport is guaranteed boycott for me.'
'As much as some of my favorite reality figures are in here, the inclusion of Michael Rapaport makes it an easy skip. Not entertained by the reputational laundering of rabid racists and genocide supporters,' wrote another.
One fan commented, 'I'm honestly so pissed. I loved The Traitors, watched all US and UK seasons. Putting Rapaport on this show is such an intentionally hostile decision to the fans and the rest of this cast. There are other TV shows to watch, which is what I'll be doing from here on out.'
DailyMail.com has contacted Rapaport's management for comment.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the Palestinian death toll from the 20-month Israel-Hamas war has climbed past 55,000, with more than half being women and children.
Other celebrities set for the next season of The Traitors include Bachelor star Colton Underwood, Survivor's Rob Cesternino, K-pop star Eric Nam, and Real Housewives stars Lisa Rinna, Dorinda Medley, and Porsha Williams.
The Traitors has become one of the biggest shows in reality television, drawing in millions of views in both UK and the US.
The season three premiere of The Traitors became Peacock's most-watched premiere ever.
It was won by four Faithfuls; Gabby Windey, Dolores Catania, Dylan Efron, and Lord Ivar Mountbatten.
Big Brother star Britney Haynes, who was a Traitor, was the runner-up.
The Traitors season four cast
Natalie Anderson (The Amazing Race)
Yamil 'Yam Yam' Arocho (Survivor)
Mark Ballas (Dancing With the Stars)
Rob Cesternino (Survivor)
Stephen Colletti (Laguna Beach, One Tree Hill)
Candiace Dillard Bassett (The Real Housewives of Potomac)
Ron Funches (Actor/Comedian)
Maura Higgins (Love Island UK)
Donna Kelce (Travis and Jason Kelce's mother)
Kristen Kish (Top Chef)
Tara Lipinski (Olympic figure skater)
Dorinda Medley (The Traitors, The Real Housewives of New York City)
Tiffany Mitchell (Big Brother)
Monét X Change (RuPaul's Drag Race)
Eric Nam (Singer)
Michael Rapaport (Actor/Comedian)
Rob Rausch (Love Island USA)
Lisa Rinna (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills)
Caroline Stanbury (The Real Housewives of Dubai)
Ian Terry (Big Brother)
Colton Underwood (The Bachelor, The Bachelorette)
Johnny Weir (Olympic figure skater)
Porsha Williams (The Real Housewives of Atlanta)
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