Candace Owens is accusing Erika Kirk and her mother, Lori Frantzve, of being social climbers.

Speaking on episode 2 of her docuseries, Bride of Charlie, which dropped on Thursday, February 26, Owens claimed Erika, 37, and Lori have long held ambitions of being famous.

The conservative podcast host, 36, suggested that Lori had often encouraged Erika to work the room, even before Erika married prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. (Charlie was shot dead at Utah university campus on September 10, 2025.)

“What people have said to me is she is the person who has always been the person in Erika’s ear. She’s this type A person that tells her who to go after in each and every room. She knows who those people are, who Erika should instantly transform into, what she has to say,” Owens said in the episode.

She continued, “I mean, one of [Erika’s] exes was very clear. He said to me, ‘I was warned by another person in the beauty pageant world that that girl will do anything to get to the top and her mother will do anything to help her get to the top.”

Owens went on to claim that outsiders suspected that Lori has likely been “the person in her ear” but also suggested that Erika was a willing participant in this as she had similar goals.

“She wanted Erika to be famous. But let’s not remove Erika from this. Erika desperately wanted to be famous. No one can deny that,” Owens added.

Owens also referenced Erika’s past relationships, including JT Massey. Erika and Massey, her then-boyfriend, auditioned to compete on The Amazing Race together in 2014.

“Tomorrow when we now begin in earnest to go through Erika’s life, you will see she’s never dated a normal guy. She’s never dated a guy with a nine-to-five job,” Owens continued. “You can see, like, she was going to be with somebody. She was, ‘Okay, you’re going to the NFL. You’re going to the MLB. We can be on the Amazing Race together.’”

Us Weekly has reached out to representatives for Erika Kirk and Lori Frantze for comment.

Erika took over the role as Turning Point CEO after her husband, Charlie, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at an outdoor event on the Utah Valley University campus on September 10, 2025. He was 31. (A 22-year-old male was arrested in connection with the shooting on September 11, 2025, but has yet to enter a plea.)

Owens, a former Turning Point USA communications director, has grown increasingly critical of Erika since Charlie’s death.

Related: Candace Owens Claims Erika Kirk Lied About Being Raised by a Single Mother

Candace Owens is raising questions about Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, in her new multi-part docuseries, Bride of Charlie, exploring Erika’s upbringing and background. “I will tell you my personal opinion and experience with her. What alarms me about Erika isn’t so much the fact that she lies, which we will prove to you over […]

In January, Owens leaked audio of Erika, which was reportedly recorded two weeks after Charlie was fatally shot, and suggested the widow was possibly moving on too fast from the loss.

“That’s moving pretty quickly to the acceptance phase now,” Owens told her viewers at the time. “We know everybody grieves differently. In my imagination, I just thought she would be more upset.”

For her part, Erika shared a tribute to Charlie via her Instagram to commemorate turning 37 on February 20.

“I always loved celebrating you, and maybe because it was a reflection of how beautifully you always celebrated me. I romanticized growing old with you, the love of my life,” Erika, who has a son and daughter with Charlie, shared. “I used to wonder what our faces would look like with wisdom-wrinkles. You’d always tell me how you hoped I’d keep my long hair even when we were both gray and also that l’d always wear white (because it was the color you loved me wearing the most).”

Erika added, “We’d laugh about how you’d probably still be out on college campuses in your 80s, doing ‘Prove Me Wrong’ campus events because you loved those students. And then we’d both start to tear up when talking about our babies growing older and having a family of their own. A full life.”

Folks have been refreshing their timelines, waiting on Jania Meshell to enter the chat after Nique popped out riding shotgun with NBA YoungBoy. The social media streets are calm for now, but Jania just posted a few TikTok videos, and now fans are blowing up her comment section asking “What’s Next?” 

RELATED: Internet User Accuses Nique Of Being With Her “Home Girl’s Man” Following Clip From NBA YoungBoy’s Passenger Seat — She Responds

Jania Meshell’s NEW TikTok Videos Have Fans Patiently Waiting On Her “Next Move!”

On Thursday, February 26, Jania Meshell slid onto TikTok with some new videos. Her posts dropped shortly after a clip of Nique cruising with NBA YoungBoy went viral. Even with all of the reactions and folks online dragging Nique for being with her “home girl’s man,” Jania stayed quiet. Her energy gave straight unbothered vibes as she danced and kept twerking on TikTok in a matching two-piece cheetah print set. She left her posts without captions, but her TikTok followers basically wrote one for her, dying to know whether she’s planning on playing chess or checkers with her next move! But still, Jania hasn’t said a word about whether she will or won’t get her lick back. Despite all of the chatter about Jania’s next plan, she’s previously made it clear that, when it comes to her and NBA they are nothing more than co-parents.

Jania’s Video Sparks A Storm Of Reactions Online

As we said, Jania’s comment section was popping! Some fans told her to reach out to Nique’s ex-man, Dwayne Bacon, ASAP, while others mentioned that they were ready to ride out whenever she says go.

TikTok user @Kim🎀 wrote, “GIRL GO GET YO MAN DWAYNE.” 

TikTok user @michele21 wrote, “@Janiameshell just let me know what time we gone ride out.” 

While TikTok user @oneofonebri wrote, “Hey boo what’s the plan? Have you spoke to Wayne yet.” 

TikTok user @thereal._.rayshawn wrote, “I just wanna know yo next move.” 

Another TikTok user @Bri🩷 wrote, “Sista we gotta have a plan by now.” 

Then TikTok user @LadyyB ❤️‍🔥 wrote, “Dwayne needs get here.” 

While another TikTok user @Peso wrote, “Mhm silent but up to no good 😏” 

TikTok user @lyiahlyiah. wrote, “you need help lmk i got you, just fly me out and we gon handle that.” 

Finally, TikTok user @𝒦 ྀིྀིྀིྀིྀི wrote, “girl they tag teamin u cant go out like this get EM!” 

What’s Really Tea On Nique & NBA YoungBoy?

Right now, there’s no word on what led to Nique and YoungBoy’s random link-up. She still took a moment to clap back at trolls accusing her of backstabbing Jania by hanging out with him, though. When one Instagram user called her out in her TikTok comment section, writing, “being with ya home girl man smh… but kk,” she responded back with “My homegirl wouldn’t try to throw dirt on my name online but go off.” On top of that, she cleared the air about her status with Dwayne Bacon. When fans asked where he was, she responded with, “With his new girl in Dubai.” 

As for NBA, he hasn’t said much about the video, but fans have been suspicious about whether he’s hooked up with Nique before. The speculation started online in November 2025, after fans tried to connect his ‘Zero IQ Freestyle’ lyrics to messages from Jania and Yaya Mayweather. NBA shut it down real quick, though, making it clear they’ve never met.

“I never met Nique for me to have sex with her but tell her I’m a loaner from cross the roads 3800blk,” NBA previously wrote in a post on X.

RELATED: Whew! Yaya Mayweather & Starr Deja’nee React After Nique Shares Clip Of Herself Cruising Around With NBA YoungBoy (VIDEO)

Ray J‘s ex-girlfriend, Shila Hasanoff, has spoken out and addressed police arriving to the singer’s home for a recent domestic violence call.

RELATED: REPORT: Police Called To Ray J’s Los Angeles Home For Domestic Violence Incident Allegedly Involving Female Suspect

Ray J’s Ex Shila Hasanoff Speaks Out & Addresses Police Arriving To His Home For Recent Domestic Violence Call

During the early hours of Thursday, February 26, Shila Hasanoff took to her Instagram and TikTok to share a sit-down clip of herself. Furthermore, in the clip, Shila explained that she wanted to “clear the misinformation about the domestic violence” surrounding herself and Ray.

“I want to make something really clear: Ray has never put his hands on me. He’s been under a lot of pressure lately — especially around the Kim and Kris situation. And whether people want to agree with him or not, it affects him in ways people would never understand,” she explained.

Shila explained that on the night of the domestic violence call, she was allegedly trying to keep Ray from “jumping off the ledge,” and she “slapped the dog s**t out of him.” Furthermore, Shila explained that she “regrets it so much,” but Ray was “really frustrated that night.” From there, Shila alleged that she “got ahold” of Ray’s legal documents with the Kardashians, and she understands why he’s upset and things have put a “huge toll on him.”

“I DONT WANT HIM TO LOOK BAD BECAUSE HE IS ALREADY GOING THROUGH A LOT. HE JUST WALKED AWAY AFTER I CALLED HIM AND CALLED THE POLICE ON ME. (WHICH WAS NOT COOL). BUT ANYWAY, SUICIDE IS REAL! I JUST WANT TO SAY IM SORRY @rayj AND I WANNA MAKE SURE U DONT GET INTO ANYMORE TROUBLE BECAUSE I KNOW U ARE STILL OUT ON BAIL, ITS A HOTLINE TO CALL IF YOU FEEL SUICIDAL, I DONT KNOW THE # BUT CALL 911. HOPEFULLY THIS HELPS. WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES. IM SAYING THIS WITH LOVE ❤️‍🩹,” Shila captioned the clip.

Watch her full message below.

Social Media Reacts To Shila Hasanoff’s Statements

Social media users reacted to Shila Hasanoff’s statements regarding the domestic violence call involving Ray J in TSR’s comment section.

Ray J Also Speaks Out After Police Arrived At His Home For A Domestic Violence Call

As The Shade Room previously reported, on Saturday, February 21, Los Angeles police officers received a report about domestic violence battery. When they arrived at what was reported to be Ray’s residence, they learned that the suspect in the ordeal was a “30-year-old Persian female wearing yellow.” However, it was reported that the female nor Ray J wanted to talk to police, so therefore the cops could not take further action.

According to a report published by TMZ on Thursday, February 26, Ray J has now spoken out about the incident.

“”I’m feeling good right now — I’m not suicidal at this moment — I don’t need to call a hotline — I’m perfectly stable,” he stated. “On the night of the incident … She was very aggressive with all the stuff going on… she put her hands on me and I literally got up out of there… was I suicidal in that moment — I don’t know what I was feeling. She slapped me out of control — I didn’t know if it was March or April, my back tooth is loose — it was a massive blow — Hell yeah I called 911 because I left… and she followed me. Her apology was sincere and weird at the same time — but we’re on good terms.”

To note, on Tuesday, February 24, Ray then sparked continued concern when he shared a cyrptic video on social media. Amid it all, Ray J’s estranged wife, Princess Love, has also spoken out, sharing an update on their relationship.

RELATED:  Ray J Sparks Concern After Sharing Now-Deleted Messages About Allegedly Being Targeted: “Now You Trying To Kill Me” (VIDEO)

In 1997, author Lee Child published the novel Killing Floor, which introduced us to the character of Jack Reacher for the first time. The book won both the Anthony Award and Barry Award for best novel, and it kick-started the military thriller series based on the former major of the U.S. military police, who take on odd jobs of investigating and resolving situations. After first being adapted to film, Jack Reacher came to the streaming world in the Prime Video thriller simply titled Reacher, with each season based on one of Child’s novels.

The show has attracted quite a sizable fanbase, and has become quite comfortable for people who love military thrillers. So, this had us thinking, what were the other Reacher-type shows that fans of this thrilling series would enjoy? To do this, we dug into our vast treasure chest of television knowledge to research and come up with the military thrillers that fans of Reacher would be just as comfortable watching.

1

‘The Americans’ (2013–2018)

Image via FX

So, imagine you live in the suburbs, and your next-door neighbors are perfect, a little too perfect. But, as long as they keep inviting you to the backyard barbecues, you don’t mind. Then, one day, you find out why your neighbors are so perfect, as they’re actually spies for the Soviet Union. This scenario is an actual storyline in the FX series The Americans, created by Joe Weisberg, which follows two Soviet KGB officers who pose as Americans to spy on the country.

But all of that spying takes a toll on their family, which transforms The Americans from a high-stakes series to one that actually showcases the complexity of married life. But, make no mistake, The Americans has plenty of tension, thanks in large part to the performances of Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys as the KGB spies. It’s actually quite stunning that The Americans have slipped into underrated territory; but, like most of the shows on this list you’re about to read about, use this piece as an excuse to re-watch a truly fantastic series.

2

‘The Sympathizer’ (2024)

Image via HBO

Sometimes, a great thriller isn’t always about the action, but the uncomfortable tension that a storyline can bring. Enter The Sympathizer, the HBO miniseries adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen‘s Pulitzer-winning novel that was captivating from beginning to end. The series follows a North Vietnamese spy who is forced to flee to America at the end of the Vietnam War. However, he continues to spy for the government that took over Vietnam, which takes a toll on him as he struggles with the loyalties of his new life in America and his loyalties to his home country’s government.

Hoa Xuande, who portrayed the spy, was sensational in the role, bringing a charismatic performance to the role as The Captain. His performance, as well as Robert Downey Jr.‘s, brought a certain type of energy that couldn’t be replicated if any other actors were cast in their roles. While being captivating and occasionally funny, The Sympathizer brought a fresh focus to the Vietnam War storyline, telling the tale from the viewpoint of the Vietnamese rather than relying on the American perspective. If you love Reacher, this miniseries should be a must-watch.

3

‘The Last Ship’ (2014–2018)

Image via TNT

We lost a treasured actor recently in Eric Dane, and we found it fitting that we included one of the most underrated military thrillers that wouldn’t be the same without him. That show was The Last Ship, ran for five seasons on TNT and is just now being rediscovered, and rightfully so. The Last Ship was a twist on the traditional post-apocalyptic story, with Dane starring as Commander Tom Chandler, who commands the USS Nathan James just as a debilitating virus wipes out 80% of the world’s population.

Now, it’s up to the crew and a paleomicrobiologist (Rhona Mitra) to make sure the virus doesn’t kill anyone else. The Last Ship was full of high-octane energy, bringing high-production value that certainly glossed over some of its formulaic storylines. When you watch this series, you feel like you’re watching a movie, not a TV show, and the creators certainly had a knack for detail when it comes to how a military ship operated.

4

‘SEAL Team’ (2017–2024)

Image via Paramount+

While there have been many military shows that have been produced over the years, few have had the raw authenticity as CBS’s SEAL Team. The series, created by Benjamin Cavell, follows the Bravo Team, the most elite group of Navy SEALs, as they go about the globe taking on dangerous missions with little notice. While the central premise of a badass Navy SEAL team kicking butt all over the world, this military series took a different path in its overall plot.

It may seem cool to head out on dangerous missions, but the soldiers in SEAL Team have families, and the series takes a close look at the toll that constantly going out on dangerous missions have on their loved ones. This makes SEAL Team one of the most realistic military shows on television, daring to dive deep into the psychological effect of service rather than its bravado nature. So, if you’re a Reacher fan, SEAL Team will definitely be your cup-of-tea.

5

‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan’ (2018–2023)

Image via Prime Video

Before Jack Reacher came to television, we had Jack Ryan, the creation of another famed author, Tom Clancy. Premiering on Prime Video in 2018, Jack Ryan stars John Krasinski as the titular character, a CIA analyst who finds himself in the field trying to bring down some of the world’s worst bad guys.

I’ll admit, when I first heard that Krasinski would play the lead role in Jack Ryan, I had my doubts, as we always saw him as the funny straight guy in the famous sitcom The Office. But he proved me and everyone wrong with his stellar performance as Ryan; and while some may have felt like he brought some of his Office persona to the role, it was just what this show needed to become a hit. While Reacher has definitely outlasted Jack Ryan, this is a series that feels like a spiritual cousin of the former, and that should bring a certain amount of comfort for Reacher fans when they stream this series.

6

‘Generation Kill’ (2008)

Image via HBO

While Band of Brothers is, arguably, HBO’s most well-known series on the military, Generation Kills is, perhaps, one of the network’s most underrated miniseries. Adapted from Evan Wright‘s 2004 book of the same name, Generation Kills looks at the horrors of the Iraq War through the lens of a reporter that’s embedded with the US Marine Corps’ 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Created by David Simon, Ed Burns, and Wright, you can feel the grittiness, the horror, and the toll that the war took on the soldiers.

While many critics and viewers praised Band of Brothers for its realistic appeal, Generation Kills was basically bathed in realism. In fact, TV critics often regard this show as being hyper-authentic, showing Marine culture in an unfiltered, not-for-everyone way. The cursing, the jargon, the monotony of combat, the atmosphere, everything looks and feels real. It’s almost like Generation Kills could also have been a documentary, but while it feels that way, you will come away feeling like you watched what a military show should be; thrilling, dramatic, and, most of all, authentic.

7

‘The Unit’ (2006–2009)

Image via CBS

Raise your hand if you have heard of the CBS military thriller The Unit? We don’t expect a lot of readers to raise their hands. Heck, even old TV heads like me forgot about this show until I started doing research for this article, which is shocking given that, in the mid-2000s, this show was the network’s most-watched series, with high ratings and being nominated for a Primetme Emmy Award.

Created by David Mamet, The Unit is adapted from Eric L. Haney‘s (who also served as a producer) book Inside Delta Force: The Story of America’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit, the show follows the top-secret Delta Force and how their personal lives are often impacted by dangerous missions. When you see a title like The Unit, you’d think that this show was all high-action; but while it does have its share of thrilling moments, it also functions as a domestic soap opera, especially when it comes when these soldiers are with their families. If you’ve forgotten about this show, now is the time to rediscover one of the best military shows ever.

8

‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)

I certainly hope that no one who reads this piece thought that we wouldn’t recommend Band of Brothers to fans of Reacher. In fact, we’ll go as far as to say that this stellar miniseries is a must-watch. Created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, this military war series is often regarded as one of the best shows of all-time, an honor that we certainly won’t disagree with.

As with most of the shows on this list, Band of Brothers was adapted from a novel, this time by Stephen E. Ambrose, who wrote the novel of the same name in 1992. Band of Brothers follows “Easy” Company Parachute Infantry and the role they played in the Western Front of the D-Day invasion in World War II. What many fans of Reacher will absolutely love about Band of Brothers is its unrelenting realism. The way the show is filmed, in a desaturated visual that makes you feel like you’re right there in the middle of all the action, like it should be.

9

‘Lioness’ (2023–Present)

Image via Paramount+

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We love everything Taylor Sheridan creates, as he brings that Wild West grit that is simply intoxicating, a sentiment that’s shared with many viewers of his shows. Lioness, however, is a bit polarizing for the Sheridan fanbase. They love the high-action that the series brings, but many thought the show is a bit formulaic with its overall storyline. And, here’s the thing, we really can’t argue with that.

Having said that, formulaic storytelling can often be forgiving if the product on the screen is entertaining, and Lioness is definitely that and then some. Starring Zoe Saldaña as the leader of an elite CIA team that enlists female operatives, Lioness packs a huge punch when it comes to intense, military action. Saldaña is terrific and a bit terrifying as Joe McNamara, the senior case officer who leads the Lioness program. Her presence is imposing and tense, and she gives a very strong performance that easily makes you forgive some of the show’s weaknesses. Lioness is the perfect comfort food show, especially for Reacher fans.

10

‘The Pacific’ (2010)

Image via HBO

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While we can’t heap enough praise on Band of Brothers, The Pacific is equally amazing. The second of a three-part miniseries that follows the U.S. Military during World War II, Bruce McKenna created The Pacific to focus on the Marine Corps’ role in the war’s Pacific Theater, which was much more devastating and traumatic for Americans as the European Theater was.

The show follows the experience of Marines from three different divisions. Each of the Marines has a different experience than the other, but all the stories are interconnected and all of them showcase the horrors the Pacific Theater unleashed. Much like Band of Brothers, The Pacific is drenched in hyperrealism, but this series is definitely darker and more harrowing than its predecessor; and the visuals are simply top-notch. Gone are the desaturated visuals, and in are haunting tropical hues in which you can feel the punishing heat of the Pacific right through the screen. If you’re a fan of Reacher and you loved Band of Brothers, this series is a much-watch.

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The Pacific

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Release Date

2010 – 2010-00-00

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HBO Max

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‘1000-lb Sisters’ Amy
Goes Under Knife To Correct Lazy Eye

Published
February 27, 2026
3:00 AM PST

Lisa Rinna Has Closed The Chapter On Being A Housewife

The Mother-Of-Two Expected More From The Network About Her Decision To Leave

Lisa Rinna Referenced The Drama At 2022 BravoCon As Her Tipping Point

The 62-Year-Old Got Candid About How Filming ‘The Traitors’ Challenged Her

What Lisa Rinna Revealed About Her Husband’s Sexuality

Are you a Faithful or a Traitor — or just obsessed with Peacock’s latest reality TV megahit? Here at Us Weekly, we’re 100 percent faithful to the only game show that pits Housewives against “gamers” and actual Olympians, with hosting duties carried out by the ever-glamorous Alan Cumming (who’s won four Emmys for his trouble).

Season 4 of The Traitors upped the ante with new twists and turns, leading to perhaps the most savage finale in Ardross Castle history. To recap: After banishing figure skater Johnny Weir, the final four — Love Island’s Maura Higgins, Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski, K-pop star Eric Nam and Love Island USA’s Rob Rausch — convened for their last vote. Rob, a Traitor from the beginning, had recruited Eric to his side late in the game after the banishments of original Traitors Donna Kelce, Lisa Rinna and Candiace Dillard Bassett, while Maura and Tara were the last two Faithfuls standing.

After the group unceremoniously banished Tara, Rob mercilessly played his last two costars against each other, convincing them both that he planned to go all the way with them and split the cash prize. Unbeknownst to Maura, this wasn’t possible, as he was a Traitor all along, while Eric was collateral damage in Rob’s scorched-earth plan to convince Maura she could trust him. The season ended with Rob coming out on top, winning $220,800 after throwing all of his allies under the bus.

Shortly after the cast taped this year’s reunion, Us Weekly sat down with Rob, Maura, Eric, Tara and late lamented gamer Natalie Anderson to unpack season’s 4 cold-blooded betrayals — and got the bottom of whether the smoked salmon was really that good.

A Snake in the Grass

Rob is the first Traitor and first solo player to win the show since Survivor legend Cirie Fields, also a Traitor, in season 1. Viewers — and some costars — initially underestimated the Alabaman snake wrangler as a smooth-brained himbo, but it soon became clear that his gameplay was some of the best Ardross Castle has ever seen.

Rob Rausch: I wanted to be a Traitor when they explained the rules to me. I clearly realized that the Traitors have every single piece of information that you need to win the game. It just comes down to your skill set. Like, there’s no excuse to lose the game if you’re a Traitor.
Maura Higgins: [When you see me find out Rob is a Traitor], you can clearly see I am in total disbelief. I’m in shock. I don’t think I’ve ever felt like that ever in my life. I genuinely always have something to say, and I just froze. I couldn’t even speak. I kept thinking, “I’m waiting for him to say, ‘Joking!’” I genuinely thought, “OK, this has gone on too long. Just tell me you’re joking now.” And he just didn’t say it. And then it finally sunk in, and I was just genuinely in shock. I just believed he was a Faithful the whole time.
Eric Nam: I was so sad and angry [when Rob admitted it]. More than anything, I was just really disappointed, because Rob and I had built a rapport in our relationship — not just when I became a Traitor, but from the beginning. Once I became a Traitor, that only became stronger, and it was kind of like we were able to communicate without even using words. And I was like, “You know what? We’re good. I think we’re gonna be fine.” And then when he turned, I felt so dumb and stupid and honestly disappointed, but at the same time, I’m like, “You know what? Great gameplay, great game.” He was a snake. I always like to give people the benefit of the doubt. When you’re in this game and you’re immersed for so long, sometimes you forget that people are still here to play the game. And I think perhaps I trusted him a little too much.
Rob: [Before the final vote], Maura came to me and made me promise to her that I was going to vote Eric out because she thought he was a Traitor. And that’s when I was like, “OK, I have to do this.” Because yes, given the opportunity, I’m going to take the money for myself. I love Eric. He’s a great guy. But at the end of the day, he’s a stranger. I knew him for three weeks. Like, what are we talking about? … It just wasn’t a risk I was willing to take — I had the game locked up. Why would I not just finish out strong?
Maura: In my head, I kept thinking like, “Oh, my God, imagine if it was Rob. But then what if he is a Faithful and then I turn on him, and then I have the biggest regret and I’ve trusted him the whole way through the show? Am I really gonna turn on him now and not believe him?” I just genuinely believed he was a Faithful. I think he played a fantastic game, and he is an incredible liar.

Related: ‘The Traitors’ Season 4 Finale Recap: Who Won — And How Much Money?

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Reality TV stars and celebrities join Peacock’s The Traitors to see which Faithfuls can expose all the Traitors — but who ended up banished and murdered in season 4 as a result? Inspired by Dutch series De Verraders (which previously led to a popular UK version), The Traitors brings together a group of celebs, especially […]

It Was All a Game

Rob betrayed all of his allies on his path to victory, while Tara and Natalie let their sniping with each other get in the way of an organized strike. So how is everyone feeling now?

Tara Lipinski: I love Natalie! And now we have kept in touch and formed a really nice relationship.
Natalie Anderson: I feel like [Tara and I] could have done something and we could have won. But it doesn’t make it super personal.
Rob: Me and Eric are cool. Eric understands it’s a game. He said it took him a few days, but he got over it, and we’re cool. [With Maura], she took it like a champ, and she said she would have done the same thing, but it was hard because she really trusted me.
Eric: We’re good. It took a day or two for me to be like, “Wow, that was a crazy experience. And I can’t believe that I once again trusted somebody and I got completely stabbed in the back.” But Rob sent me a message after filming, and I think it just said, like, “My fault, G,” and I was like, “That’s just him.” At the end of the day, it’s a game, and I can’t be mad at him for playing a really good game. We’re friends, we’ve remained friends, we will stay friends. And I’m really happy for him.
Maura: Me and Tara are absolutely fine. We talk all the time. [With Rob], I’m not taking it to heart. It’s not real life to me — he was chosen as a Traitor. He’s not allowed to tell anyone, and he played an incredible game, so I can’t be mad at that. I can only be mad at myself for trusting the wrong person. He told me he’s going to get me a gift, which is going to be a Birkin handbag. So when he gets that, then he’s fully forgiven.
Rob: That is in the works. I’m in cahoots with Lisa. She said she could probably get my foot in the door so I can buy one. It’s proving way more difficult than I thought it would be.

Know Your Enemy — Or Don’t

Traitors contestants prepare for the game in various ways — watching old episodes, or in Dorinda Medley’s case, reading The Art of War — but season 4’s finalists took a somewhat more laid-back approach to the process.

Rob: I attempted to watch an episode with my best friend, and I just couldn’t get into it. I’ve been on Love Island, so I realized what you see is only a fraction of the whole story anyway, so I knew it wouldn’t really help me in the long run. This is a game that is completely based on the people you’re with and the connections you make and understanding those people, so there’s really no point in making a strategy until you’re in the game.
Tara: I watched season 3, but no other preparation! I never thought it would be as hard as it was. I made friends with everyone, and it was very hard for me to switch to harsh gameplay and not just follow my heart.
Natalie: I obviously studied the game.
Eric: When you get to the castle, you realize that unless you’re a Traitor, you really can’t have much strategy. The Faithful are so blind we have no idea what’s going on, and production does such a good job of keeping us completely confused the entire time that it’s really, really hard to have a strategy.
Rob: [Early in the game], we were going after people who were intellectually threatening, pretty much the people that I thought were the smartest and that could put two and two together — people that didn’t trust me. Like Mark [Ballas], Natalie — we left a lot of people in the game that I thought were very smart and strategic, but I think that they were blinded by our relationship to a degree that it wasn’t a risk to keep them in the game. Kristen [Kish] as well. There were quite a few people that were very smart that trusted me.
Maura: I had no strategy. I’m not gonna lie about it — I had zero strategy. I was learning every single day I was in there, and I was just like, “You know what? I’m gonna go in, serve some looks, hopefully stay in maybe for a week, make some friends and that’s it.”
Eric: [Maura] literally did nothing. Maura Higgins is that bitch, because she can literally do whatever she wants, and she’s fine — she was always protected. She literally would just be carried everywhere. We would just look at each other like, “We’re so f***ing good at this game.” And I was like, “Maura, you might be the best player, because you haven’t done a single thing, you haven’t lifted a finger, and somehow you’re in the final.”

100 Percent Salmon

Viewers usually don’t see much of what the contestants are eating, but this season, the smoked salmon served at breakfast became such a hot topic that it became a plot point on the show. So we had to ask: Was it really that good?

Eric: I don’t think there’s anything great about the smoked salmon. The issue is that we start shooting very early, and all the foods are cold, right? That breakfast is cold, the croissants are stale, the eggs are cold, everything is cold. And the only thing that’s acceptable to eat cold really, to me, is smoked salmon, and it’s the only form of protein outside of just a bowl of watery, hard-boiled eggs. There’s no seasoning or flavoring in Scottish food. So to have a kick of omega-3 and some salt via smoked salmon I think is what really got people so excited.
Natalie: The salmon was just something that was the best probably at the breakfast table. It was good, but not compared to good salmon, like if you go to New York City and you go to a good deli and you get a nice lox and cream cheese bagel.
Maura: I don’t think it was that good. Because the breakfast was so bad, that was the only kind of good thing we had, and because we didn’t have a lot of it, it was the one thing that we all wanted. The boiled eggs were cold, the toast was hard and cold. I can’t believe it became such a thing as well. Especially me, in every single episode, all I’m doing is eating. There’s companies DMing me offering to send me smoked salmon.

Castle Hindsight Is 20/20

It’s easy to play armchair Faithful from the comfort of your couch, but it’s a lot harder when you’re actually in the castle. Does anyone have regrets?

Tara: It would have been nice if Johnny and I had another Faithful to join our little alliance earlier, but we understand it was hard for anyone to trust anyone in the castle, so that was probably an unlikely hope to begin with! But no regrets — I tried my absolute best throughout the game.
Maura: I genuinely don’t take it that seriously, and I’m not a serious person. I’ve seen a few comments like, “Maura is the dumbest person in there,” but it’s so easy for them to say they know who the Traitors are. Like, it’s not that easy when you’re in there! It’s actually really, really difficult. But yeah, I wasn’t upset [about the ending] at all. I was actually very proud of myself for getting as far as I did. My advice for anyone that’s going to do The Traitors is don’t watch the show. Just go in and don’t have a strategy and just wing it, because it worked for me. I know that I trusted the wrong person, but at least I got to the final and I wasn’t murdered. Brilliant.
Natalie: My biggest regret is not playing a harder game. I could have put some of the worries about being targeted away, even though it was scary because they were killing us left and right as gamers, so it made it harder for me to be myself. But I should have just embraced that and just been like, “Listen, if you’re going to get murdered or banished, it’s better to just try.” … I should have just depended on myself, basically.
Rob: Murdering Mark was a tough one, because I really got close to Mark, and having to see his face right after was a tough one. And I think he knew [I was a Traitor]. I think he had figured it out, and so that’s how I know it was the right choice to make.
Eric: I would have been a little more wary of like, “OK, maybe Rob will stab you in the back.” It would have been a very complex thing to try to pull one over on him, because he had so much trust in the castle … but maybe I would have played it differently.

Related: Lisa Rinna Breaks Down Why ‘Nobody Suspects’ Rob R. as a Traitor

The Traitors season 4 star Lisa Rinna is sharing her hot takes on what went down in the castle as the competition reaches a boiling point. “I’m gonna start with this, Rob R. He’s super smart,” the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alums, 62, said in a TikTok video shared ahead of the Thursday, January […]

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Making Lala Proud

Even if they didn’t come out on top, the cast can still hang their capes on their proudest moments in the castle.

Rob: I’m only thinking about the game and how it’s going to work out for me to win. I was there to win a game. I was not there for screen time or anything like that. I wanted to play and win.
Tara: It’s not the best gameplay strategy, but I’m proud that I played the game with my heart and stayed true to myself. I am not a reality star, and it was important to me that I stayed authentic to myself and played with integrity. I made a lot of friends in the castle, and I loved building those relationships.
Eric: My goal was just to have fun. This is the most random side quest I could have ever taken on. And more than anything, I just really wanted to leave an interesting impression on America. I’m American, I was born and raised here, but I had to go to Korea to build a career, because there’s just not a lot of people that look like me doing these things. And so I was like, “OK, I want to do this in a way that’s impactful, and then hopefully we can introduce the music and the multiple films and all the other things that I have going on in an interesting way.” And so from that perspective, I think it’s been fun and successful. And then the other part was like, I really just wanted to make good TV.
Natalie: I’m proud of being an asset. One of the best moments for me was when we were dividing up into teams for the statue challenge. Yam Yam [Arocho] goes, “Alright, so let’s make the strongest people captains,” and they picked me, Colton [Underwood], Rob and Stephen [Colletti]. It’s a different feeling for me — having people just be like, “Natalie’s one of the strongest, stronger than some of the guys. And we’re not going to argue with that.” That, for me, is amazing.
Maura: I’m just proud that I made it as far as I did. To be the last woman standing, I never would have thought that in a million years. I never watched the show. I got to wear all my outfits, and I’m probably getting a Birkin handbag. So, win-win.

The Traitors is now streaming on Peacock.

Grey’s Anatomy‘s newest episode paid tribute to Eric Dane after his death at 53.

The hit ABC series returned on Thursday, February 26, and featured a montage at the end of the episode that highlighted Dane’s best moments as Mark Sloan (a.k.a. McSteamy) through the years. Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” played in the background with a message that read, “In loving memory.”

News broke on February 19 that Dane died after a battle with ALS, which is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and has no cure. The day of Dane’s death also marked 20 years since he made his debut on Grey’s.

After the medical drama premiered in 2005, Dane joined in season 2 in an episode titled “Yesterday,” which followed Dr. Sloan’s arrival at Seattle Grace that forced Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Addison (Kate Walsh) to confront their past. Despite only being in one episode that season, Dane’s screen time was increased, and he remained on the show until 2012.

Dane later reflected on how his struggles off screen contributed to his character being killed off.

“I think I was let go,” Dane said on an episode of the “Armchair Expert” podcast in 2024 about how he was dealing with addiction issues at the time. Dane clarified that the show’s producers “didn’t” let him go specifically because of that.

“Although it definitely didn’t help. I was starting to become — as most of these actors who have spent significant time on a show, you start to become very expensive for the network,” he explained about his experience before entering a treatment center in 2011. “And the network knows that the show is going to do what it’s going to do irrespective of who they keep on it. As long as they have their Grey, they’re fine.”

Dane added: “I wasn’t the same guy they had hired. So I understood when I was let go. And [executive producer] Shonda [Rhimes] was really great. She protected us fiercely. She protected us publicly. She protected us privately. … But I was probably fired. It wasn’t ceremoniously like, ‘You’re fired,’ it was just like, ‘You’re not coming back.’”

Related: ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Cast Reacts to Eric Dane’s Death at Age 53

The Grey’s Anatomy cast and crew are mourning the loss of their costar Eric Dane following his death at age 53. The actor’s family confirmed on Thursday, February 19, that Dane died following a battle with ALS. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife and his two beautiful daughters, Billie […]

Dane announced in April 2025 that he was diagnosed with ALS. Following his death, Rhimes, 56, released a statement reflecting on Dane’s legacy.

“Eric Dane was a beloved member of the Shondaland and Grey’s Anatomy families,” Rhimes said in a statement on February 19. “He was truly a gifted actor whose portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan left an indelible mark on the series and on audiences around the world.”

She continued: “We are grateful for the artistry, spirit, friendship and humanity he shared with us for so many years. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, and all who were touched by his work.”

Grey’s Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Hulu.

NeNe Leakes Surprises Fans By Soft-Launching New Boyfriend

Leakes Recently Sent ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Fans Into A Frenzy When It Was Announced She Was Returning To Bravo

NeNe Leakes Was Welcomed Back With Open Arms By Fellow ‘Housewives’ And Bravolebrities

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