Alan Cumming Admits He “Was A Bit Judgy” Of Reality TV Shows Prior To Hosting ‘The Traitors’: “Encourage Bad Behavior And Lack Of Kindness”

By Alex Vena

Alan Cumming whitethorn technically beryllium a reality prima now, but he has not ever been a instrumentality of nan TV genre.

Speaking pinch The New Yorker unit writer Emily Nussbaum astatine nan 25th Annual New Yorker Festival connected Friday nighttime (Oct. 25), The Traitors big admitted he had “zero” position connected reality TV up of landing his esteemed hosting gig, moreover admitting that he “was a spot judgy” of nan genre.

“The point I don’t for illustration astir a batch of those shows is that they laud, and past truthful encourage, bad behaviour and deficiency of kindness,” he explained.

Cumming, who co-owns nan New York City nightclub Club Cumming, likened nan behaviour of reality contestants to that of resistance queens.

“I mean, I deliberation each these group connected these shows are fundamentally for illustration resistance queens and I don’t for illustration a mean resistance queen,” he added. “I deliberation you don’t person to beryllium a mean resistance queen. You tin beryllium commanding and you tin beryllium a prima and you tin beryllium fascinating without having to beryllium mean.”

Nonetheless, he noted that “the awesome thing” astir nan Emmy award-winning reality bid is that “it doesn’t do that.”

“It makes group person to activity together,” he continued. “Of course, they’re do[ing] unspeakable things to each different and they’re treacherous, but it’s not — it’s astir nan crippled facet alternatively than conscionable being, you know, a meanie and conscionable flinging vino astatine each different and worldly for illustration that.”

Photo: Euan Cherry/Peacock

Set astatine a castle successful Scotland — which Cumming assured show goers connected Friday nighttime is “not” really his — The Traitors puts reality TV stars up against each different successful a execution enigma game. Cumming, who described hosting nan show arsenic “a complete near field, hilarious move successful [his] life and career,” said that he “love[s] it.”

“It’s specified fun,” he shared. “And also, it has brought maine galore awesome things. You know, different things person happened because of nan occurrence of this.”

Season 2 of The Traitors concluded successful March, and boasted a cast featuring Tamra Judge (The Real Housewives of Orange County), Peter Weber (The Bachelor), Phaedra Parks (Married to Medicine) and Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio (The Challenge). The show was renewed for a 3rd play backmost successful February, pinch Cumming group to return arsenic host. In June, Peacock announced that Selling Sunset‘s Chrishell Stause, The Real Housewives of Dubai prima Chanel Ayan, Bachelor successful Paradise bartender Wells Adams, and Vanderpump Rules‘ very ain Tom Sandoval will beryllium among those competing adjacent season.

While Cumming noted that he’s go “quite chummy” pinch immoderate of nan contestants, he confessed that he does not watch their shows.

“I don’t person time. I don’t know,” he added. “I don’t — it conscionable doesn’t liking maine to — oh, truthful I cognize I’m going to get a immense dose of it erstwhile I spell to Scotland each year.”

Seasons 1 and 2 of The Traitors are now streaming connected Peacock. A Season 3 premiere day has not yet been announced.