Peppermint has shared a statement reacting to the lack of transgender contestants in The Traitors season 4 cast, making this the second consecutive season that the U.S. series — hosted by Alan Cumming and streaming on Peacock — doesn't include any trans cast member.
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While fans are excited about the queer-inclusive cast of The Traitors season 4 that features contestants like Kristen Kish, Colton Underwood, Monét X Change, Johnny Weir, and Yamil Arocho a.k.a. Yam Yam, the show's fabulous and treacherous castle is once again not occupied by a single trans person.
On March 12, Peppermint cowrote an open letter alongside Frankie Grande calling for a "reality check" of LGBTQ+ representation on mainstream reality shows. That letter, published by GLAAD, highlighted the urgent need to show "the world that trans people are more than just one-dimensional characters" — with Peppermint not only recalling her experiences on The Traitors season 2, but also the lack of any trans contestant in season 3 of the U.S. series.
On Saturday, June 14, Peppermint shared a new statement with Out reacting to the season 4 cast announcement of The Traitors, which once again doesn't include any trans contestant. The statement reads:
"The Traitors is one of my favorite television shows. Some of my favorites are on this season…I'm so glad they cast Monét, she's going to be fantastic!
I was hopeful to see more inclusion with the new cast, but after the current administration's threats to punish those who include trans people in their respective industries — everything from healthcare and beyond — I knew many would fall in line.
I've called upon producers and casting directors to be more inclusive, hoping someone would be brave. I know Alan Cumming understands the importance of trans inclusion especially in this time and I'm hopeful more people in the industry will take the next opportunity."
Alan Cumming, who won a 2024 Emmy Award for hosting The Traitors and wore a transgender flag pin during his acceptance speech, has been advocating for trans inclusion in mainstream more than ever in recent years.
As Out's January/February 2025 cover star, for instance, Cumming commented on the importance of pushing back against anti-trans rhetoric from conservative pundits and politicians.
The Traitors host told Out in his cover story, "It's not about toilets. It's never about the things they say it's about. It's about using a group in society that is vulnerable and easily hated to be the scapegoat in order to take attention away from the other terrible things that are happening."
"It's a really terrifying time…So anything I can do to just show trans power and trans beauty and trans happiness, I do," Cumming said, warning that trans people are "being erased in front of us."
The Traitors season 4 is coming soon to Peacock. The first three seasons of the U.S. series are available for streaming.
Additional reporting by Daniel Reynolds.
