The cast of The Traitors Season 4 has just been announced, and once again, it’s a star-studded lineup featuring familiar faces from some of reality TV’s most beloved franchises. As with past seasons, the new cast includes favorites from The Real Housewives, Survivor, and Big Brother.

But in true Traitors fashion, the show also likes to shake things up by casting a few notable names with no ties to reality television. These unexpected additions often catch the rest of the group off guard, since they come in as wildcards. They may be unfamiliar and unpredictable.

The Traitors Season 4 Sees Two Olympic Figure Skaters

The Traitors is known for heavily featuring popular reality TV stars, but the show isn’t afraid to throw in a curveball. Just look at Season 3, which included British royal Lord Ivar Mountbatten and Britney Spears’ ex-husband, Sam Asghari, two names no one expected to see in the castle.

For Season 4, two Olympic figure skaters are joining the cast: Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski, both of whom have enjoyed incredibly successful careers on the ice. With two contestants from the figure skating world in the mix, the question is: will Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski stick together as allies, or turn on each other in a dramatic twist?

Tara is best known for being a competitive figure skater in the 90s. She won the gold medal in women’s singles at the 1998 Winter Olympics, won gold at the 1997 World Figure Skating Championships, and won both the 1997 and 1998 Champions Series Finals. Tara retired from competitive skating in 1998 and has worked as a sports commentator, even along with Johnny.

As for Johnny, he is a two-time Olympian, having competed at both the 2008 and 2010 Winter Olympics, a bronze medalist at the 2008 World Championship, and a three-time U.S. National Champion. After skating professionally for 10 years, Johnny retired in 2023. Like Tara, he now works as a commentator for figure skating and other events.

However, Johnny isn’t new to reality TV. He traded in his skates for dancing shoes when he competed on Season 29 of Dancing With the Stars. Johnny was paired with professional dancer Britt Stewart and the couple placed 6th.

The Traitors Season 4 Welcomes Its First-Ever K-Pop Singer

This season will also welcome multi-faceted Korean-American singer Eric Nam, marking the first time the series has cast a K-Pop singer. He first gained recognition when he auditioned for the South Korean show Star Audition: Birth of a Great Star 2, where he placed within the top five contestants. He released Korean EPs like Cloud 9, Interview, Honestly, and The Other Side; followed by all-English albums Before We Begin (2019) and House on a Hill (2023).

Eric has also been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, has been featured in Time magazine, and was one of GQ Korea’s Men of the Year.

However, Eric made a bold career move by parting ways with his record label to become an independent artist, a decision that always comes with risks. In an interview with NBC News Stay Tuned, he opened up about the intense pressure of being a K-pop artist, admitting that, “internally,” he felt deeply “tired” from the constant demands of the industry.

When asked how it felt to leave a record label, Eric shared, “It was scary. It is daunting. But also, very gratifying and freeing in many ways,” he said. “I think it’s scary in a sense that you don’t have a label to fund and back and take care of everything for you and to know that it’s on you now to take care of everything.”

Eric is a standout addition to The Traitors cast thanks to his charm and relatability. His warm, likable personality could make him the perfect Traitor, as it’s unlikely his fellow contestants will suspect him. That disarming quality may allow him to fly under the radar while gaining trust with ease. Plus, his casting is unexpected, which could lead others to underestimate him, giving him even more room to manipulate or strategically align as the game unfolds.

This season’s cast is full of surprises, including comedian and actor Ron Funches. Known for making people laugh for years, Ron brings a completely different energy to The Traitors. It’ll be fascinating to see how he approaches the game: will he lean into his signature charm and humor to win people over, or use it as a distraction while plotting his next move?

Also joining the cast is comedian and actor Michael Rapaport, best known for his role as Gary on Friends. However, his casting has sparked backlash among fans due to his outspoken political views, making him one of the more controversial additions to the season.

Rounding out the Season 4 cast is one of the most surprising additions: Donna Kelce, mother of NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce. She became a fan favorite during last season’s NFL coverage thanks to her unwavering support for her sons, and her frequent appearances alongside Travis’ superstar girlfriend, Taylor Swift. Her unexpected casting adds a whole new level of intrigue to the game.

However, Donna’s daughter-in-law, Kylie Kelce, believes that her “innocence” might do her in. Speaking on her Not Gonna Lie podcast, Kylie shared, “I guess I’m gonna have to watch the next season of Traitors! That’s right, Donna Kelce, my mother-in-law, is on this coming season of Traitors. Have I watched Traitors? Not a whole season. Am I excited to watch Donna? 1000% Imma cheer her on until the end of time.”

“I’m not gonna lie, though, her innocence and honesty is working against her … or for her. Oh, if she’s a faithful, maybe it works for her. Oh! We’re all on the edge of our seat. I’m excited. Come on, Donna, win it!”