This season of The Traitors has sparked significant debate among viewers, marking what many consider one of the most contentious chapters in the show’s history. Unusually, contestants are being eliminated not based on strategy or performance, but due to personal conflicts and social dynamics, a shift that has caught many off guard.

Actor Michael Rapaport found himself ousted for such reasons, and it seems comedian Ron Funches faced a similar fate. Funches, whose integrity was questioned early in the season, struggled to regain his footing in the competition. Recently, he revealed a personal diagnosis that has given new context to his journey on the show.

On January 22nd, Ron Funches shared a poignant update with his followers through social media. In the aftermath of his elimination from The Traitors, he disclosed that he had been diagnosed with autism. He communicated this news via a heartfelt message on his Instagram stories, offering his fans insight into his experience both on and off the screen.

Ron Revealed His Autism Diagnosis

Ron took to social media on Thursday, January 22nd to share an update with his fans—that, in the wake of his banishment from The Traitors, he’d learned that he had autism. He wrote a message on his Instagram stories to update his followers:

“Still not gay. Yet,” he added jokingly. “Thanks @thetraitorsus for helping me find out more about me through some type of cruel trauma.”

Those who have kept up with the season will know that Ron struggled with the social aspect of the game. He confessed to the cameras that he was an introvert who wasn’t able to be “on” all the time, and that, because of it, the other players grew suspicious of him.

In the end, Ron wasn’t able to shake some of the others’ skepticism of him, and, in a narrow vote, he was finally banished from the castle. Things got so emotional that Ron seemed to know he was headed home, and he used his remaining time at the round table to go around and share what he liked about each person.

Ron Says His Diagnosis Affects His Family As Well

Ron’s new diagnosis certainly goes beyond the reality show, too. He also explained that, while he previously thought he was just the “parent of an autistic child,” now he understood it was much more than that:

Via Instar

“If the end result from me being isolated and feeling misunderstood on The Traitors is that I understand myself and my son more, I consider that a victory worth sharing,” he added. Staying true to his comedy roots, Ron also urged his followers to “be kind to others, even if you’re on a murder-based game show.”

“It’s a game and you never know what people are dealing with—or what they don’t even know they are dealing with,” he pointed out. New episodes of The Traitors air every Thursday on Peacock.

Release Date

January 12, 2023

Network

Peacock

Showrunner

Stephen Lambert