Michael Foote: Age, Lawyer Career, The Traitors: New Blood Status & Episode 4 Update

Michael Foote entered The Traitors: New Blood as a 38-year-old criminal-defense lawyer and trial attorney from New York. He arrived with a professional habit that fits the castle unusually well: asking questions, testing explanations and watching how people react when their stories are challenged.

He also wanted the Traitor role before the season began. Instead, Michael became a Faithful and has spent the first four episodes applying his courtroom instincts to a game where the evidence is incomplete and innocent players can look suspicious.

Episode-by-Episode Timeline

Latest Episode Update: Michael Survives the Episode 4 Round Table

Michael entered the Episode 4 Round Table carrying one of the season's most important pieces of information: the clue he and Ben had taken from the crypt. The clue was genuine, but its meaning remained unclear to the Faithfuls.

Michael's interpretation connected the clue to Arisa and Victor. That theory contributed to a wider discussion around the pair, but the actual explanation involved the earlier Accomplice competition between Xavier Scruggs and Katie Fites.

The Round Table ultimately produced 13 votes for Arisa, six for Victor and one for Michael. Arisa was revealed as a Faithful. Michael therefore heads into Episode 5 with very little direct suspicion on him, even though his clue helped shape the mistaken theory.

Michael Foote Quick Facts

Who Is Michael Foote?

Michael Foote is a New York criminal-defense lawyer and trial attorney whose professional work centers on arguments, evidence and credibility. Before appearing on television, he spent years working in an environment where small inconsistencies in a person's story can matter.

His professional background has become a natural part of his identity inside the castle. Michael has openly talked about using courtroom skills on the show, particularly his experience questioning people and evaluating how confidently they tell a story.

He also works in legal media through Brief Recess, a podcast he co-hosts with Mélissa Malebranche through Exactly Right Media.

Michael Foote's Legal Career

Michael's background is in criminal defense and trial work. The official cast material describes him as a criminal-defense lawyer and trial attorney, and he has repeatedly explained that courtroom questioning is one of the skills he hoped to transfer into The Traitors.

A courtroom requires more than simply listening to what someone says. Lawyers also pay attention to how a person answers, where the explanation changes and which details do not fit. Michael entered the game with that same mindset, although the castle's incomplete information makes it much harder to separate a misleading answer from an innocent misunderstanding.

His legal career also explains why other contestants may treat him as a natural investigator. At the same time, his own decisions in Episodes 3 and 4 show how even structured reasoning can lead toward the wrong person when the underlying information is incomplete.

Brief Recess: Michael's Legal Podcast

Outside television, Michael co-hosts Brief Recess, a legal podcast with Mélissa Malebranche. The show focuses on high-profile legal cases, media coverage and the way courtroom stories are discussed outside the courtroom.

The podcast became part of Michael's public profile around the time his Traitors: New Blood casting was announced. Episodes around the premiere openly discussed his appearance on the show after the months-long casting process had been kept private.

That media background gives Michael another communication skill beyond his courtroom work: he is used to explaining complicated events to a general audience.

Why Michael Wanted to Be a Traitor

Michael said before the season that he wanted the Traitor role. His reasoning was closely tied to his legal career. He believed that questioning witnesses, identifying inconsistencies and managing a room would translate naturally into a game built around deception.

He also liked the idea of having more control over the direction of the game. Rather than simply waiting for the Traitors to attack the Faithfuls, he wanted the ability to influence who stayed, who left and how the castle's theories developed.

Michael's Pre-Show Strategy

Michael's preseason plan was not entirely solitary. He said he wanted to find a person he could trust and operate as a close two-person partnership. That idea reflected the value he placed on having another person who could compare observations and help test conclusions.

Once the season began, the closest practical version of that strategy became his working relationship with Ben McDonnell during the crypt challenge.

Michael and Ben McDonnell's Crypt Decision

Episode 3 gave Michael and Ben a direct choice between more money and information. They chose the information. The clue said that two players had recently battled in plain sight for the opportunity to become a Traitor.

The choice showed that the two Faithfuls were prepared to sacrifice some immediate prize money for information they believed could help solve the game. The clue itself was accurate, but its meaning was not obvious.

The actual players involved were Katie Fites and Xavier Scruggs, who had competed for the third Traitor position through the Accomplice twist.

Michael's Biggest Misread So Far

After receiving the clue, Michael and Ben connected it to the visible interaction between Arisa and Victor. Arisa had held Victor's hands and asked him whether he was a Traitor while studying his reaction.

Because the clue referred to a recruitment or competition that had happened in plain sight, the pair considered whether Arisa and Victor had somehow been involved. The theory was understandable within the information available to them, but it was incorrect.

The important distinction for Michael's profile is that the clue was real; the interpretation was wrong. That is more useful than simply labeling the episode as a mistake because it explains exactly how the Faithfuls became focused on the wrong contestants.

Michael and Victor Vollbrechthausen

Victor Vollbrechthausen became one of Michael's main subjects during the Episode 3–4 investigation. Victor's earlier connection with Madeline and the unusual Arisa truth test made him a natural target for questions.

Michael's legal background was visible here. He was willing to challenge Victor's explanation rather than simply accept it, but the theory eventually helped steer the Round Table toward another Faithful.

Victor survived with six votes while Arisa received 13.

Michael and Arisa Thomas

Arisa Thomas was not secretly recruited as a Traitor. She was a Faithful whose interaction with Victor happened to resemble the clue Michael and Ben had received.

The result was one of the season's clearest examples of how incomplete information can distort an otherwise genuine investigation. Michael was acting on a real clue, but the available context led him toward the wrong explanation.

Michael and Joe Vanella

Joe Vanella is one of the most important relationships in Michael's current game because Joe is secretly an original Traitor.

Michael does not know that Joe is working for the Traitor side. The two have nevertheless developed a level of trust that has allowed Joe to remain inside the wider Faithful social network while Michael continues searching for hidden Traitors.

That creates a particularly important storyline for future episodes: Michael is trying to identify the people secretly manipulating the game while one of the people around whom he has built trust is part of that manipulation.

Michael's Actual Strategy in the Castle

Current Role & Status

Michael Foote on Social Media

Related Traitors: New Blood Profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Michael Foote a Traitor or Faithful?

Michael Foote is a Faithful.

Is Michael still on The Traitors: New Blood?

Yes. Michael survived Episode 4 and remains an active Faithful heading into Episode 5.

How many votes did Michael receive in Episode 4?

Michael received one vote at the Episode 4 Round Table.

What clue did Michael receive in Episode 3?

Michael and Ben McDonnell chose information from the crypt and received a clue about two players who had recently battled in plain sight for the opportunity to become a Traitor.

Did Michael correctly identify the meaning of the clue?

No. The clue referred to the Katie Fites and Xavier Scruggs Accomplice competition, but Michael and Ben connected it to Arisa Thomas and Victor Vollbrechthausen.

What does Michael Foote do for work?

Michael is a criminal-defense lawyer and trial attorney. He also co-hosts the legal podcast Brief Recess.

Did Michael want to be a Traitor?

Yes. Before the season began, Michael said he wanted the Traitor role and planned to use his courtroom questioning and people-reading experience.

Who is Michael Foote closest to in the game?

His relationships have included Ben McDonnell in the crypt storyline and Joe Vanella within the broader social game. Joe is secretly a Traitor, although Michael does not know that.

Sources

TV Insider: Episode 3–4 coverage, including the crypt clue, Arisa's banishment, Victor's vote total and Michael's Episode 4 result: TV Insider.

Entertainment Weekly: Official civilian-cast coverage and Michael's preseason background: Entertainment Weekly.

Exactly Right Media: Michael Foote's legal podcast, Brief Recess: Exactly Right Media.

Brief Recess: Michael's own public podcast episodes and professional media work: Brief Recess.

AOL / Entertainment coverage: Episode 3 and Episode 4 developments surrounding the crypt clue and the Arisa-Victor theory: Episode coverage.

Michael's existing TraitorsNewBlood profile: Original profile information and public social links: TraitorsNewBlood.digital.

Full Cast & Live Statistics: Current roster, roles and elimination information: TraitorsNewBlood.digital.

Article updated: September 27, 2026

Profile status: Live season profile. Update after future episodes when Michael's role, suspicions, relationships, game strategy or survival status materially changes.

Victor Vollbrechthausen: Age, Swimming Career, The Traitors: New Blood Status & Episode 4 Update

Victor Vollbrechthausen entered The Traitors: New Blood as a 23-year-old business executive from New York who wanted the Traitor role but instead found himself at the center of several early Faithful investigations. A former collegiate swimmer and current sales professional, Victor came into the castle with a competitive background and a plan to build a small group of people he could trust.

Four episodes later, that plan has been tested repeatedly. Victor remains an active Faithful, but he has already survived two significant waves of suspicion: seven votes at the Episode 2 Round Table and another six votes at the Episode 4 Round Table.

Episode-by-Episode Timeline

Latest Episode Update: Victor Survives Another Round Table

Victor entered Episode 4 already carrying a reputation for attracting suspicion. The clue about contestants competing in plain sight for a Traitor position made the situation even more difficult because the Faithfuls did not yet know the full details of the Accomplice twist.

The resulting theory connected Victor to Arisa's earlier body-language test. That theory was wrong, but it was strong enough to put Victor on the ballot again. He received six votes at the Round Table and survived while Arisa was eliminated with 13.

Victor therefore begins the next stage of the season in an unusual position: he is still a Faithful, but he has already demonstrated that he can survive when a substantial part of the group is questioning him.

Victor Vollbrechthausen Quick Facts

Who Is Victor Vollbrechthausen?

Victor Vollbrechthausen is a New York-based business professional whose background combines sales, technology and client relationships. His public LinkedIn profile identifies him as a Sales Engineer at Fits, a company operating in the financial-services and payments infrastructure space.

Before entering television, Victor also had a substantial competitive swimming career at Tufts University. That athletic background is useful context for understanding the competitive side of his personality and why the show's early Shield challenge became such an important part of his story.

Victor's Business Career

Victor's professional work sits at the intersection of technology and commercial communication. As a Sales Engineer at Fits, he works in an environment where technical products have to be translated into solutions that make sense to clients and business partners.

That kind of role depends on understanding what other people need, explaining complicated ideas clearly and adjusting a conversation to the audience. Those are skills that also matter inside The Traitors, where contestants constantly have to explain their reasoning while deciding how much information to reveal.

Education at Tufts University

Victor attended Tufts University from 2018 to 2022. Tufts Athletics lists him on the men's swimming and diving roster and identifies The Pingry School in New Jersey as his high school.

His college career was especially strong in freestyle events. During the 2022 NESCAC Championships, Victor broke the Tufts record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:39.03 before finishing third in the final.

He later helped Tufts' 200 freestyle relay earn Honorable Mention All-America recognition at the NCAA Championships. Tufts' biography also records his involvement with organizations including Team Impact, Green Dot and Delta Tau Delta.

Why Victor Wanted to Be a Traitor

Before entering the castle, Victor said he wanted the Traitor role. He was attracted to the control that came with knowing which contestants were actually being targeted while the Faithfuls had to work from incomplete information.

His preseason plan was to create a small group of trusted people who would defend him if suspicion turned toward him. He spoke about building a "tribe" of four or five contestants who could act as his social protection inside the castle.

That plan has been tested in a very different way because Victor became a Faithful rather than a Traitor. Instead of controlling the suspicion network, he has had to survive inside it.

Victor's Actual Strategy in the Game

Victor has generally been willing to defend people he believes are being unfairly accused, even when that decision can expose him to suspicion. His defense of Madeline is the clearest early example.

He also appears comfortable participating directly in the social game rather than staying completely in the background. That visibility has helped him build relationships, but it has also made him easier for other contestants to study and question.

The contrast between his preseason idea of building a protected group and his actual experience as a repeatedly questioned Faithful is one of the defining themes of Victor's season so far.

Victor and Madeline Kostopulos

Victor and Madeline Kostopulos developed a close connection early in the game. After leaving the castle, Madeline described their chemistry as mutual and said that they became good friends.

The relationship also became strategically important. During the Episode 2 Round Table, Victor defended Madeline against the accusation that she had known more about Kim's murder than she should have. He rejected the accusation and voted against Kriste.

After Madeline's elimination, some contestants revisited Victor's relationship with her and treated it as a reason to question his motives. The public record from the episode, however, shows that Victor had openly defended Madeline rather than joining the case against her.

Victor and Arisa Thomas

Arisa Thomas became closely associated with Victor's Episode 3 and 4 storyline because she used him as the subject of a direct body-language test. She held his hands, asked if he was a Traitor and watched his reaction.

The unusual exchange was later connected to a clue saying that two people had battled in plain sight for a Traitor opportunity. The Faithfuls did not have enough information to recognize that the clue actually referred to the Katie-Xavier Accomplice competition, so the theory surrounding Victor and Arisa gained momentum instead.

Victor was therefore not recruited, did not participate in becoming a Traitor and never joined the Traitor team. He was simply the person at the center of an incorrect theory.

Why Victor Keeps Attracting Suspicion

Episode 2 Round Table: Seven Votes Against Victor

The first Round Table remains one of the clearest indicators of how dangerous Victor's position became early in the season. Madeline was ultimately banished with 13 votes, but Victor was the runner-up with seven.

That vote was driven partly by how contestants interpreted his relationship with Madeline and partly by the broader uncertainty surrounding the first murder. Victor's defense of Madeline did not persuade everyone, but he survived the vote.

Episode 4 Round Table: Six More Votes

The second major Round Table produced a similar pattern. Victor again appeared among the main names under consideration, but the votes shifted toward Arisa Thomas.

Arisa received 13 votes, Victor six and Michael Foote one. Victor therefore survived another direct test of the Faithful group's confidence while an innocent Faithful left the castle.

Current Role & Status

Victor Vollbrechthausen on Social Media

Related Traitors: New Blood Profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Victor Vollbrechthausen a Traitor or Faithful?

Victor Vollbrechthausen is a Faithful.

Is Victor still on The Traitors: New Blood?

Yes. Victor survived Episode 4 and remains an active contestant heading into Episode 5.

How many votes did Victor receive at the Episode 2 Round Table?

Victor received seven votes. Madeline Kostopulos received 13 and Kriste Lewis received one.

How many votes did Victor receive in Episode 4?

Victor received six votes. Arisa Thomas received 13 and Michael Foote received one.

Was Victor ever a Traitor?

No. Victor remained a Faithful throughout Episodes 1–4.

Why was Victor suspected in Episode 4?

The suspicion centered on his interaction with Arisa Thomas and a clue about two contestants competing in plain sight for a Traitor opportunity. The theory was incorrect; the clue related to the Katie-Xavier Accomplice storyline.

Who was Victor close to in the castle?

Victor developed a close relationship with Madeline Kostopulos early in the game. Their connection became part of the suspicion surrounding him after Madeline was banished.

What does Victor Vollbrechthausen do for work?

Victor works in sales engineering and business, with his public professional profile identifying him as a Sales Engineer at Fits.

Where did Victor go to college?

Victor attended Tufts University from 2018 to 2022 and competed on the men's swimming and diving team.

Sources

TV Insider: Episode coverage documenting Victor's Episode 4 vote total, the Arisa theory and the wider game developments: TV Insider.

A.V. Club: Episode 1–2 and Episode 3–4 recaps, including Victor's Shield, defense of Madeline and the later suspicion surrounding him: Episode 1–2 recap and Episode 3–4 recap.

Parade: Madeline Kostopulos' post-elimination interview discussing her relationship with Victor and the Episode 2 Round Table: Parade.

Tufts Athletics: Victor's college swimming biography, school record and 2022 season results: Tufts Athletics.

Tufts Athletics: 200-yard freestyle record performance at the NESCAC Championships: Tufts.

Tufts Athletics: NCAA Championships relay result and Honorable Mention All-America recognition: Tufts.

LinkedIn: Victor's public professional profile and current Sales Engineer role: LinkedIn.

Victor's existing TraitorsNewBlood profile: Original profile and season information: TraitorsNewBlood.digital.

Full Cast & Live Statistics: Current roster, roles, status and elimination information: TraitorsNewBlood.digital.

Article updated: September 27, 2026

Profile status: Live season profile. Update after future episodes when Victor's role, suspicion level, relationships or survival status materially changes.

Katie Fites: Age, Career, The Traitors: New Blood Status, Strategy & Episode 4 Update

Katie Fites entered The Traitors: New Blood as the youngest contestant in the castle, a 23-year-old marketing professional from Jacksonville, Florida, with a simple preseason objective: she wanted to be a Traitor. Instead, she first entered the game as a Faithful and had to earn a place on the other side through the season's new Accomplice twist.

That opportunity arrived quickly. Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams selected Katie and Xavier Scruggs as their two Accomplice candidates. Both completed the challenge, but Joe and Tomica ultimately chose Katie to join them. Xavier was murdered instead, making Katie the third official Traitor.

Episode-by-Episode Timeline

Latest Episode Update: Katie Survives, But Her Name Is Now on the Table

Katie's position changed significantly during Episode 4. She was still protected by the larger Faithful group's uncertainty, but she was no longer operating completely outside the suspicion network. The episode ended with Jay Vinnedge directly naming her as a Traitor, putting the youngest member of the Traitor team under a much brighter spotlight heading into the next episode.

The development matters because Katie had survived the transition from Faithful to Traitor partly through social blending. The more frequently her name appears in public discussions, the more difficult that approach becomes. The next episodes therefore begin with Katie in an active Traitor role and with at least one Faithful already prepared to make a direct accusation.

Katie Fites Quick Facts

Who Is Katie Fites?

Katie Fites is a young marketing and media professional from Jacksonville, Florida. Her public professional background combines media communication, marketing, sales and event experience, which fits the highly social role she has taken inside the castle.

Her public LinkedIn profile identifies her with 904 Happy Hour and documents previous media experience at Florida State University. Her professional path is useful context for the way she approached The Traitors: her work already involved communication, relationship building and presenting ideas to different audiences.

Katie Fites' Marketing and Media Career

Katie's current professional history includes work with 904 Happy Hour, where her public LinkedIn profile lists her as a Marketing & Media Sales Partner. Her earlier work included a media internship connected with Florida State University's College of Communication & Information.

That combination of media and sales experience gives her a career built around communication rather than a highly technical specialization. It also explains why her preseason interviews repeatedly emphasized relationships, reading people and adapting to different personalities.

Her work is separate from her reality television appearance, but the overlap in skills is obvious: both environments require Katie to understand an audience, communicate confidently and adjust her approach depending on who is in front of her.

Education: Florida State University

Katie graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Media Communication Studies and a minor in General Business. Her public professional profile also identifies her as a Magna Cum Laude graduate.

Her FSU experience included leadership responsibilities with Alpha Delta Pi. Publicly listed roles include Vice President of Event and Risk Management and Director of New Member Experience, giving her additional experience in organizing people and managing group situations.

That background adds another layer to her Traitors profile. Long before the castle, Katie had experience in environments where social dynamics, events and group communication were central to the job.

Why Katie Wanted to Be a Traitor

Katie said before the season that she wanted to be a Traitor. In preseason cast material, she emphasized her social instincts and her confidence in reading people. The idea was to build genuine-looking connections first and then use that trust when deception became necessary.

Her approach was also highly adaptable. Rather than entering with a rigid plan for whom she would target, she wanted to meet the cast, understand personalities and let those observations shape her decisions.

That became particularly relevant when Joe and Tomica selected her as an Accomplice candidate. The role gave Katie exactly the kind of decision point she had wanted: a chance to move into the secret side of the game while still keeping her existing relationships.

Katie's Pre-Show Personality and Social Approach

Katie entered the castle with a deliberately social identity. Her official cast material leaned heavily on her ability to connect with people, and she described herself as someone who could adapt to different personalities.

She also had a playful streak before entering the show. In a preseason cast feature, Katie discussed a prank involving a fabricated backstage encounter with Harry Styles that she and her friends kept alive for a period of time. It is a light example of her sense of humor and comfort with playful storytelling, rather than evidence about her behavior outside the game.

How Katie Became the Third Traitor

The Accomplice twist gave Katie and Xavier an unusual route into the Traitor role. Unlike Joe and Tomica, they were not simply handed the position at the start.

They were given a secret death-warrant challenge. Both succeeded, forcing Joe and Tomica to choose which contestant they wanted on the Traitor team.

Xavier tried to make Katie look less attractive as a choice by putting suspicion around her. Katie, meanwhile, emphasized her existing Faithful behavior and pointed to her participation in the first Round Table as evidence that she could still blend into the larger group.

Joe and Tomica ultimately chose Katie. Xavier Scruggs was murdered, and Katie moved from Accomplice candidate to official Traitor.

Katie's Actual Traitor Strategy

The most notable feature of Katie's game through Episode 4 is how closely it resembles the strategy she described before the season. She has not abandoned her social approach after becoming a Traitor.

Instead, she continues to rely on relationships while letting Joe and Tomica help manage the larger strategic decisions. That makes her role different from simply becoming a secretive or withdrawn player. She still has to behave like the same Katie the Faithfuls thought they knew.

That is particularly important because she became a Traitor only after spending part of the season as an apparent Faithful. The longer she stays socially consistent, the more useful that earlier identity remains.

Katie and Xavier Scruggs

Katie's most important early game conflict came from Xavier Scruggs. Both were chosen as Accomplice candidates, but only one could join Joe and Tomica.

Xavier tried to reduce Katie's chances of recruitment by making her name part of the conversation. According to his post-elimination interview with Parade, he believed showing the original Traitors that he could influence the group would strengthen his own case.

Instead, Joe and Tomica apparently saw his approach as a possible liability and selected Katie. The result was a major turning point for both players: Katie entered the Traitor team while Xavier became the next murder victim.

Katie and Joe Vanella

Joe Vanella has been central to Katie's transformation from Accomplice candidate to active Traitor. He was one of the two people who selected her, and he then had to work with her after the recruitment.

Joe's own social strategy has involved building trust across the Faithful group, while Katie has provided another younger, highly social presence within the Traitor team. Their different public identities give the team multiple ways to communicate with the castle without everyone being seen moving as a single unit.

Katie and Tomica Adams

Tomica Adams also supported Katie's recruitment after the Accomplice challenge. Tomica has described Katie as socially useful because people generally like her and because her age and personality can make her appear less threatening.

The relationship became especially important when the three Traitors had to decide whether to remove Logan Smith. Katie's growing exposure meant the group needed to balance protecting her with avoiding an obviously protective murder.

Why Logan Smith Became a Target

After Xavier's death, Logan Smith continued to remember that Xavier had expressed concerns about Katie. That made Logan one of the Faithfuls whose information could eventually become dangerous to her.

After Arisa Thomas was banished in Episode 4, Katie joined Joe and Tomica in selecting their next murder victim. Logan was chosen, and his death removed one of the contestants who had started connecting Xavier's earlier suspicions to Katie.

Katie's Biggest Current Challenge

Current Role & Status

Katie Fites on Social Media

Related Traitors: New Blood Profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Katie Fites a Traitor?

Yes. Katie Fites became the third Traitor in Episode 3 after Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams selected her over Xavier Scruggs.

Was Katie originally a Faithful?

Yes. Katie entered the game as a Faithful before being selected as an Accomplice candidate and later recruited as a Traitor.

How did Katie become a Traitor?

She and Xavier Scruggs completed the Accomplice challenge. Joe and Tomica then chose Katie to join their Traitor team.

Who are Katie Fites' fellow Traitors?

After Episode 4, Katie remains on a three-person Traitor team with Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams.

Did Katie know she would become a Traitor?

She entered the season wanting the Traitor role, but the official selection was made only after she and Xavier completed the Accomplice challenge.

Who did Katie help murder?

After becoming a Traitor, Katie was involved in the decision that led to Xavier Scruggs being murdered and later participated in the selection of Logan Smith as the next murder victim.

Is Katie Fites suspected by the Faithfuls?

Yes. Suspicion has started to reach Katie. At the end of Episode 4, Jay Vinnedge directly said he believed Katie was a Traitor.

What does Katie Fites do for work?

Katie works in marketing and media. Her public professional profile lists her as a Marketing & Media Sales Partner at 904 Happy Hour.

Where did Katie Fites go to college?

She attended Florida State University, where she studied Media Communication Studies and completed a minor in General Business.

Sources

NBCUniversal: Official cast announcement and contestant information for The Traitors: New Blood: NBCUniversal.

TV Insider: Episode coverage documenting the Accomplice challenge, Katie's recruitment and Episode 4 suspicion: TV Insider.

TVLine: Episode 3 and 4 coverage of the Katie-Xavier decision, Katie's recruitment and Logan's murder: TVLine.

Parade: Xavier Scruggs' post-elimination interview explaining why he tried to weaken Katie's chances and how the recruitment decision unfolded: Parade.

Marie Claire: Preseason contestant interviews and Katie's stated approach to the Traitor role: Marie Claire.

Florida State University: University information and Katie's academic background: Florida State University.

LinkedIn: Katie's public professional profile, education and marketing/media career history: LinkedIn.

904 Happy Hour: Katie's current professional media and marketing affiliation: 904 Happy Hour.

Katie's existing TraitorsNewBlood profile: Original profile and season background: TraitorsNewBlood.digital.

Article updated: September 26, 2026

Profile status: Live season profile. Update after future episodes when Katie's role, suspicion level, relationships, murder decisions or survival status materially changes.

Joe Vanella: Age, Funeral Director Career, The Traitors: New Blood Status & Game Update

Joe Vanella entered The Traitors: New Blood with a background that is unusually well suited to a game built around trust, deception and reading people. The 44-year-old funeral director from Long Island is a fourth-generation member of his family business, and he arrived at the castle wanting to use his experience dealing with people in emotional situations to become the person everyone trusted.

That plan became especially valuable because Alan Cumming chose Joe as one of the original Traitors. Through Episode 4, Joe has helped control the murders, recruited Katie Fites as the third Traitor and worked to keep suspicion away from the Traitor team.

Latest Episode Update: Joe Helps Remove Logan

After Arisa Thomas was banished as a Faithful at the Episode 4 Round Table, Joe joined Tomica and Katie in the turret to decide their next murder. Logan Smith was eventually selected as the target.

The choice mattered because Logan had begun paying attention to the Xavier-Katie connection. After Xavier Scruggs was murdered and Katie became the third Traitor, Logan continued to mention Xavier's earlier concerns about Katie. The Traitor team therefore removed a Faithful who was starting to keep the new Traitor under observation.

Logan's murder was discovered at breakfast, leaving Joe, Tomica and Katie as the active Traitor team heading into Episode 5.

Joe Vanella Quick Facts

Who Is Joe Vanella?

Joe Vanella is a fourth-generation funeral director from Long Island, New York. His family's connection to the funeral business stretches back several generations, and his professional experience has centered on helping families through difficult and highly emotional moments.

That background became one of the most interesting parts of his casting. Joe entered a reality game where contestants constantly study tone, body language, relationships and emotional reactions. He had already spent years interacting with people in situations where calm communication and careful observation matter.

Joe Vanella's Funeral Director Career

Joe's family has operated funeral businesses on Long Island for generations. According to his public interviews, his great-grandfather immigrated to the United States from Italy during Prohibition and established a funeral parlor in Manhattan. Joe's father later operated funeral homes in Manhattan and Oceanside, and Joe continued the family profession.

Joe has described funeral directing as work that requires much more than handling arrangements. He deals directly with families during periods of grief, which has given him experience listening carefully, maintaining composure and communicating with people under emotional pressure.

He has said that his professional life helped him understand how people react and that he planned to use that experience inside the castle.

Why Joe Wanted to Be a Traitor

Joe openly preferred the Traitor role before entering the game. His strategy was not to become the loudest contestant in the room. Instead, he wanted to become someone everybody liked and trusted.

In preseason interviews, Joe described himself as someone who would make friends across the castle while quietly evaluating how people behaved. His goal was to remain socially visible without becoming suspicious and then use the relationships he had built when the Traitor side needed them.

That plan became reality when Alan Cumming selected Joe and Tomica Adams as the two original Traitors.

Joe's Actual Traitor Strategy

Joe's game through Episode 4 has closely followed the social strategy he described before the season. He has spent time building genuine relationships while keeping his Traitor decisions separate from the public conversations around him.

One of his most important relationships has been with Michael Foote. The two developed a close bond during the early episodes, and their friendship became especially visible after the Episode 4 Round Table. For Joe, that relationship has given him a trusted connection inside the Faithful group while Michael remains unaware that Joe is working against him.

At the same time, Joe has been involved in the central strategic decisions made by the Traitors: the first murder, the Accomplice selection and the later decision to remove Logan.

Episode 1: Joe Becomes an Original Traitor

Alan Cumming selected Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams as the original Traitors. Their first task was to begin shaping the game before the rest of the cast fully understood how the new format worked.

The pair also had to identify two contestants who could compete for the third Traitor position. They selected Katie Fites and Xavier Scruggs as the Accomplice candidates.

Joe and Tomica then selected Kim Daily as their first murder victim. Kim's professional and interpersonal background had made her a contestant they did not want to leave in the game for long.

Episode 2: The Accomplice Competition Continues

While the Faithfuls dealt with Kim's murder and Madeline Kostopulos' banishment, Joe and Tomica continued watching the Accomplice candidates.

Joe's position was already different from that of the other contestants. He could participate in the public discussion while knowing that the actual danger came from decisions being made privately by the Traitor team.

At this stage, Joe also benefited from the trust he had built with other contestants. Kim later said she had started to wonder about Joe before her murder, but there was not enough support around that suspicion to turn it into a public case.

Episode 3: Joe Chooses Katie Over Xavier

Episode 3 delivered the biggest strategic decision of Joe's game to that point. Katie Fites and Xavier Scruggs both completed the Accomplice challenge, meaning Joe and Tomica had to choose which one would join them as the third Traitor.

Xavier tried to improve his own chances by putting Katie's name into conversations. Instead, Joe and Tomica came to see that approach as a possible liability. They wanted someone they believed could operate more quietly within the wider group.

They selected Katie Fites.

Xavier was murdered and Katie officially joined Joe and Tomica, creating the three-person Traitor team that remains active after Episode 4.

Joe's Relationship With Katie

Katie's recruitment changed the balance of the game. Joe went from working with one Traitor partner to managing a three-person team where each player had a different public identity.

One of Joe's jobs became protecting Katie from the Faithfuls' early suspicions. When questions began to form around her, Joe was able to support her publicly without making the defense look like an obvious Traitor intervention.

That relationship became more important after Xavier's murder because Xavier had already left behind suspicions that could eventually point toward Katie.

Episode 4: Arisa Is Banished

Episode 4 brought a new wave of uncertainty after Michael Foote and Ben McDonnell received a clue connected to the Accomplice twist. The clue suggested that contestants had recently competed in plain sight for a Traitor opportunity, but the Faithfuls did not have enough information to identify exactly what had happened.

The resulting theories centered partly on Arisa Thomas and Victor Vollbrechthausen. Joe was able to remain outside the main accusation while quietly watching the Faithful group turn on another Faithful.

Arisa received 13 votes and was revealed as a Faithful.

Episode 4: Joe and the Logan Murder

After Arisa's banishment, Joe, Tomica and Katie returned to the turret to decide who should be murdered next.

Logan Smith became the eventual target. Logan had been keeping Katie on his radar after remembering Xavier's earlier suspicions. From the Traitors' perspective, leaving that line of thinking alive carried a risk.

Logan was murdered, and the Faithfuls discovered his absence at breakfast. Joe therefore entered the period after Episode 4 with his Traitor identity still hidden and the three-person Traitor team intact.

Joe and Michael Foote

Joe's relationship with Michael Foote is one of the most important pieces of his current game. The two have developed enough trust that Michael has treated Joe as one of his closest connections.

The relationship gives Joe something strategically valuable: a trusted voice inside the Faithful group who is not currently treating him as a threat.

It also creates a future point of tension. Joe must continue to protect the friendship while participating in decisions that could eventually place Michael in danger.

What Makes Joe's Game Different

Joe Vanella: Episode-by-Episode Timeline

Joe Vanella on Social Media

Related Traitors: New Blood Profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Joe Vanella a Traitor?

Yes. Joe was selected as one of the two original Traitors by Alan Cumming and remains an active Traitor after Episode 4.

Who are the current Traitors?

The active Traitors after Episode 4 are Joe Vanella, Tomica Adams and Katie Fites.

How did Joe become a Traitor?

Alan Cumming selected Joe as an original Traitor alongside Tomica Adams at the beginning of the season.

Who did Joe and Tomica choose as Accomplice candidates?

They selected Katie Fites and Xavier Scruggs. Both completed the challenge, and Joe and Tomica ultimately recruited Katie.

Who was Joe's first murder victim?

Joe and Tomica selected Kim Daily as their first murder victim.

Who did Joe help eliminate after Episode 4?

Joe worked with Tomica and Katie to select Logan Smith as the next murder victim after Arisa Thomas was banished.

What does Joe Vanella do for a living?

Joe is a fourth-generation funeral director from Long Island, New York.

Why did Joe want to be a Traitor?

Joe wanted the role because he believed his ability to build trust, read people and stay calm around emotional situations would translate well to the Traitor game.

Sources

Newsday: Joe Vanella's Long Island background, family history, funeral-director career and preseason comments: Newsday.

Entertainment Weekly: Official cast announcement and Joe's introduction as part of the civilian season: Entertainment Weekly.

TV Insider: Episode recaps covering Kim's murder, the first Round Table, the Accomplice storyline and Episode 4 developments: TV Insider.

TVLine: Coverage of the Katie-Xavier decision, Katie's recruitment and Logan's murder: TVLine.

Parade: Kim Daily's post-elimination comments about Joe and the early game: Parade.

Joe Vanella's existing profile: Current public profile and social links: TraitorsNewBlood.digital.

Article updated: September 26, 2026

Profile status: Live season profile. This page should be updated after future episodes when Joe's role, strategy, alliances, murders or survival status materially changes.

Logan Smith: Age, Realtor Career, The Traitors: New Blood Status & Elimination

Logan Smith entered The Traitors: New Blood as a 26-year-old realtor from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with a very deliberate plan for the castle. He wanted to look like a straightforward Southern guy while quietly using negotiation, observation and persuasion to influence the people around him.

His strategy lasted longer than some of the show's earliest players, but Logan never received the Traitor role he wanted. He remained a Faithful and became the fifth contestant eliminated from the game when the Traitors selected him for murder after Episode 4's Round Table.

Latest Episode Update: Logan Is Murdered After Pointing Toward Katie

Logan's exit came after he quietly began connecting Xavier Scruggs' earlier suspicions to Katie Fites. When Xavier was murdered after Katie was selected as the third Traitor, Logan remembered that Xavier had already raised concerns about Katie and began mentioning her name himself.

That made Logan a more important threat to the new Traitor team. Parade described his approach as staying visible without dominating conversations, while using information from Xavier to gently keep Katie under scrutiny.

After Arisa Thomas was banished in Episode 4, the Traitors selected Logan as their next murder target. His death was discovered at breakfast, with multiple recap sources confirming that he was the fifth eliminated contestant and the third Faithful murdered.

Logan Smith Quick Facts

Who Is Logan Smith?

Logan Smith is a realtor from the Gatlinburg and Sevierville area of East Tennessee. His public real-estate profiles identify him with MG Rise Real Estate Group and describe work across both commercial and residential property, including buyer and seller representation. Realtor.com lists him as a licensed realtor with experience serving East Tennessee markets such as Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.

His professional background became a natural extension of the way he approached The Traitors. Logan told Realtor.com that commercial real estate gave him a particular "tool kit" and that he was accustomed to getting people comfortable moving forward with an outcome that benefited him.

Logan Smith's Real Estate Career

Logan's current professional profile lists MG Rise Real Estate Group and describes him as working in commercial and residential real estate. Realtor.com says he represents both buyers and sellers, while his LinkedIn profile highlights relocation, property management, real-estate marketing and commercial real estate among his services.

His commercial work includes multifamily and leasing assignments. Crexi lists him as a realtor with MG Rise Real Estate Group in Sevierville and identifies multifamily, leasing and portfolio development among his areas of experience.

That background also appears in current property listings. Realtor.com has credited Logan as the listing agent on East Tennessee properties marketed through MG Rise Real Estate Group.

Why Logan Wanted to Be a Traitor

Before the season began, Logan said he wanted to be a Traitor because he believed that role would give him more control over the game. He described himself as someone who could use a unique perspective to influence other players and turn situations in his favor.

His planned persona was deliberately modest on the surface. Logan said he wanted to present himself as a simple, honest Southern guy while playing much more strategically underneath. His official cast material described him as perceptive, analytical and persuasive, with a particular ability to understand what people want.

Logan Kept His Real-Estate Job Quiet

One of the more interesting parts of Logan's pre-game approach was his decision not to immediately tell everyone he worked in real estate. In a Realtor.com interview, he explained that contestants were not necessarily honest about their occupations, so he planned to ask specific questions before revealing much about his own work.

That was consistent with the broader strategy he described before the season: create an identity first, reveal information selectively, and use negotiation skills without advertising where those skills came from.

Logan's Goal for the Prize Money

Logan also entered the competition with a personal financial goal. His fiancée, Mackenzie Marshall, encouraged him to apply for the show and helped him record his audition tape. Logan told WSMV and PEOPLE that he wanted to use the $250,000 prize toward their wedding. PEOPLE reported that he was selected from around 60,000 applicants.

The wedding goal gave Logan a clear reason for wanting to stay in the game, but his public comments also emphasized how much he valued the experience itself. He told Realtor.com that Ardross Castle's potential as a wedding venue was another reason he could imagine returning there someday.

Logan's Actual Strategy in the Castle

Once the game started, Logan leaned into the quieter version of his plan. Rather than trying to dominate every conversation, he watched what other contestants said and kept track of information that might become useful later.

That became especially important after Xavier Scruggs' elimination. Xavier had already planted suspicion around Katie before Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams selected Katie as the third Traitor. After Xavier disappeared, Logan remembered that earlier warning and began gently putting Katie's name into conversations.

His strategy was therefore less about making one dramatic accusation and more about placing a suspicion into the group and seeing whether other people picked it up. In a game built on incomplete information, that allowed Logan to remain involved without making himself the center of attention.

Why the Traitors Targeted Logan

Logan's own approach helps explain why he became a murder target. He had started connecting Xavier's suspicions to Katie at exactly the point when the new Traitor team needed to protect her.

Parade characterized Logan's game as being seen but not heard, with careful observation giving him information about Xavier's concerns. Other recaps similarly note that he was keeping an eye on Katie after Xavier's murder.

The Traitors later shortlisted Logan along with Abby Lee and Mark Zgoda before choosing Logan. His murder was discovered at breakfast after the group's second Round Table.

Logan and Katie Fites

Katie became Logan's most significant late-game suspicion. The connection began with Xavier. Once Xavier was gone, Logan was one of the contestants who remembered that Xavier had specifically raised Katie's name.

Logan did not have enough information to prove that Katie was a Traitor, but he continued watching her. His suspicion was particularly important because Katie had just been recruited as the third Traitor. His elimination therefore removed one of the Faithfuls who was already looking in her direction.

Logan's Relationships in the Castle

Logan's approach was built around listening before speaking. He was not portrayed as someone who immediately formed a large public alliance. Instead, he gathered information from different people and used small conversations to test where they stood.

His relationship with Xavier became especially important after Xavier's death because Logan remembered details from their earlier conversations. That helped him continue a line of suspicion that might otherwise have disappeared with Xavier.

Episode-by-Episode Timeline

Logan Smith on Social Media

Related Traitors: New Blood Profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Logan Smith a Traitor or Faithful?

Logan Smith was a Faithful.

How was Logan Smith eliminated?

Logan was murdered by the Traitors after the Episode 4 Round Table.

What episode did Logan Smith leave The Traitors: New Blood?

Logan's murder followed the events of Episode 4, “The Death Parade,” which aired September 24, 2026.

Why did the Traitors target Logan?

Logan had started discussing Katie Fites after remembering Xavier Scruggs' earlier suspicion of her. That put him in a position to potentially connect Xavier's warning with the newly recruited Traitor.

What does Logan Smith do for a living?

Logan Smith is a realtor working with MG Rise Real Estate Group in East Tennessee. His public professional profiles cover commercial and residential real estate, buyer and seller representation, and related property services.

Why did Logan want to win The Traitors?

Logan said he wanted to use the prize money toward his wedding with his fiancée, Mackenzie Marshall. She encouraged him to apply and helped create his audition tape.

What was Logan's strategy on The Traitors?

His plan was to appear like a simple, honest Southern guy while quietly using observation, negotiation and persuasion. In the castle, he increasingly focused on Katie after Xavier's elimination.

Sources

NBCUniversal: Official The Traitors: New Blood cast announcement identifying Logan Smith as a realtor from the 22-person civilian cast: NBCUniversal.

TV Insider: Cast information and Logan's preseason strategy, including his realtor background and self-declared superlative: TV Insider.

Realtor.com: Logan's pre-season interview, commercial real-estate background, decision to keep his occupation quiet and his comments about the game: Realtor.com.

PEOPLE: Logan's $250,000 wedding goal, relationship with fiancée Mackenzie Marshall and casting story: PEOPLE.

Realtor.com professional profile: Logan's MG Rise Real Estate Group affiliation, buyer/seller representation and East Tennessee markets: Realtor.com.

LinkedIn: Logan Smith's public professional profile and MG Rise Real Estate Group experience: LinkedIn.

Parade: Episode 4 elimination coverage describing Logan's quiet observational strategy and growing focus on Katie: Parade.

TV Insider: Episode 3 and Episode 4 recap confirming Logan's murder and the surrounding game developments: TV Insider.

Reality On Air: Elimination tracker confirming five eliminated players after Episode 4 and Logan's Faithful status: Reality On Air.

Article updated: September 26, 2026

Profile status: Finalized after elimination. Future changes should generally be limited to factual corrections, meaningful post-show information or sitewide structural updates.

Arisa Thomas: Age, Dog Groomer Career, The Traitors: New Blood Status & Elimination

Arisa Thomas entered The Traitors: New Blood with one of the cast's most recognizable personalities and a very specific social strategy. The 36-year-old Los Angeles dog groomer believed her friendly image could make people trust her, while her ability to read body language might help her notice when someone was hiding something.

She did not get the Traitor role she said she wanted before entering the castle. Instead, Arisa was a Faithful and became the second player banished at a Round Table. Her elimination came in Episode 4 after a conversation with Victor Vollbrechthausen became connected to the season's Accomplice twist and a clue about a Traitor recruitment happening in plain sight.

Latest Episode Update: Arisa Is Banished as a Faithful

Arisa's elimination was driven by a misunderstanding that began with a playful attempt to read another contestant's behavior. During the game, Arisa held Victor Vollbrechthausen's hands and asked him whether he was a Traitor while watching his reaction. Niyyah Hayes found the exchange suspicious and suggested that Arisa might have been involved in a possible recruitment of Victor.

The suspicion became stronger after Michael Foote and Ben McDonnell obtained a clue suggesting that two players had recently battled in plain sight for the opportunity to become a Traitor. The clue actually pointed toward the Accomplice twist involving Xavier Scruggs and Katie Fites, but the Faithfuls did not have that information at the time.

At the Episode 4 Round Table, Arisa received 13 votes. Victor received six and Michael one. Arisa then confirmed what she had maintained throughout the vote: she was a Faithful.

Arisa Thomas Quick Facts

Who Is Arisa Thomas?

Arisa Thomas is a Los Angeles-based professional dog groomer and online creator. Her work is closely associated with Blue Pooch, a family-owned grooming business founded by her mother, Yuri Thomas, in 2013. Blue Pooch says Arisa works alongside her mother while her sister Aya manages the store.

Arisa had already built a public identity around dog grooming before appearing on television. Her professional pages describe her as an Asian-fusion grooming specialist, and she has used social media to share grooming techniques, dog transformations and educational content.

Arisa Thomas' Dog Grooming Career

Arisa began her grooming career in 2010, following in her mother's footsteps. Groom Haüs describes her as a Los Angeles-based groomer and social media influencer known for stylized trims that turn dogs into teddy-bear-like looks.

Blue Pooch specializes in Japanese-style and Asian-fusion dog grooming. Its official site says the family business has locations in West Los Angeles and at Centinela, with Arisa working alongside her mother and sister.

Her grooming work also expanded into education. Public professional pages list courses and seminars featuring Arisa, including training covering Bichon, Poodle, Schnauzer and Doodle grooming.

Education

Arisa's public LinkedIn profile lists Georgia State University Perimeter College as her college education, with attendance from 2010 to 2013. Her profile also identifies her as a professional dog stylist and content creator and lists her experience with Blue Pooch Inc.

Arisa's Pre-Show Traitors Strategy

Before the season began, Arisa said she would rather be a Traitor. Her reasoning was tied to how she believed people perceived her: friendly, bubbly and easy to trust. The official cast material described her plan as using that friendly image as cover while she secretly played a more deceptive game.

Arisa also described herself as having “golden retriever energy,” contrasting that with the idea of being a mischievous Chihuahua. The point was not to look like an obvious strategist. She wanted the rest of the cast to underestimate her.

That pre-show preference is important to keep separate from her actual role. Arisa was a Faithful on the show and never received the opportunity to play as a Traitor.

Arisa's Actual Strategy in the Castle

As a Faithful, Arisa leaned into one of the skills she identified before entering the game: reading behavior. She was attentive to body language and tried to test contestants directly rather than simply accepting verbal answers.

The problem was that the same behavior she believed could help identify a Traitor became evidence against her. Her hand-holding truth test with Victor looked significant to other Faithfuls, especially after Michael and Ben received the recruitment clue.

There was no actual Traitor recruitment involving Arisa and Victor. The earlier Accomplice competition had involved Xavier Scruggs and Katie Fites, with Katie ultimately selected as the third Traitor. Xavier was murdered instead. The Episode 4 Faithfuls did not have the full picture when they were evaluating Arisa.

Why Arisa Was Banished

The main case against Arisa developed from her interaction with Victor and the belief that she might have known something about recruitment in plain sight. Niyyah Hayes was one of the contestants who found the interaction unusual. Michael Foote then connected it to the clue he and Ben had received during the mission.

That interpretation was incorrect. Arisa and Victor were not secretly being recruited as Traitors. Nevertheless, the theory gathered enough support at the Round Table to produce a 13-vote majority against Arisa. Victor received six votes and Michael received one.

Arisa and Victor Vollbrechthausen

Victor became central to Arisa's elimination because of their interaction during the body-language test. Arisa's intention was to look for a reaction that could help her judge whether he was telling the truth. Instead, the visible test gave other Faithfuls a reason to connect the two players.

The later vote demonstrated how quickly an innocent interaction could be interpreted as evidence in a game where nobody knew which relationships were genuine and which might conceal the Traitor team.

Arisa's Social and Professional Identity

Outside the show, Arisa's public presence revolves heavily around dogs. Her Instagram account, professional Linktree and Blue Pooch work all use the same recognizable identity, @arisathegroomer. Her Linktree also connects visitors with TikTok, YouTube, grooming courses and other professional projects.

TV Insider described Arisa as a Los Angeles dog groomer at her family-owned salon before the season. Her public relationship status was listed as unclear, so there is no need to speculate about her personal life beyond what she has publicly shared.

Arisa's Game Profile

Episode-by-Episode Timeline

Arisa Thomas on Social Media

Related Traitors: New Blood Profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Arisa Thomas a Traitor or Faithful?

Arisa Thomas was a Faithful.

When was Arisa Thomas eliminated?

Arisa was banished at the second Round Table in Episode 4.

How many votes did Arisa receive?

Arisa received 13 votes. Victor Vollbrechthausen received six and Michael Foote received one.

Why was Arisa banished?

The main suspicion centered on her interaction with Victor, when she tested his response while asking whether he was a Traitor. A clue about a recruitment in plain sight then made the interaction look more significant to several Faithfuls.

Did Arisa want to be a Traitor?

Yes. Before entering the castle, Arisa said she would prefer the Traitor role because she believed her friendly and bubbly personality could help her stay underestimated.

What does Arisa Thomas do outside The Traitors?

She is a professional dog groomer and digital creator based in Los Angeles. She works with the family-owned Blue Pooch grooming business.

What is Arisa Thomas known for?

She is known professionally as a dog groomer and social media creator, with a focus on stylized Asian-fusion grooming and dog-care content.

Sources

TV Insider: Cast information, Arisa's dog-grooming background and pre-show game details: TV Insider cast guide.

TV Insider: Episode 3 and Episode 4 recap documenting the recruitment clue, Arisa's suspicion and the 13-vote banishment: TV Insider recap.

Entertainment Weekly: Official civilian cast announcement and contestant introductions: Entertainment Weekly.

TheWrap: Arisa's hometown, profession and official cast superlative: TheWrap.

Blue Pooch: Family business history, locations and Arisa's role alongside her mother and sister: Blue Pooch.

Arisa The Groomer: Public professional links, grooming courses, media features and social accounts: Linktree.

LinkedIn: Arisa's public professional profile, Blue Pooch experience and Georgia State University Perimeter College education: LinkedIn.

Groom Haüs: Professional biography and grooming education featuring Arisa Thomas: Groom Haüs.

Article updated: September 26, 2026

Profile status: Finalized after elimination. Future changes should generally be limited to factual corrections, meaningful post-show information or sitewide structural updates.

Xavier Scruggs: Age, MLB Career, Analyst Career, The Traitors: New Blood Status & Elimination

Xavier Scruggs entered The Traitors: New Blood with a professional athlete's competitive instincts and years of experience studying baseball from both sides of the field. The former Major League first baseman later built a second career in sports broadcasting, working with ESPN and MLB Network.

His experience made the game's new Accomplice twist particularly interesting. Xavier was selected alongside Katie Fites to compete for a place among the Traitors. He immediately chose an aggressive route, putting Katie's name into circulation in an attempt to make himself the more attractive recruit.

That plan ultimately worked against him. Xavier and Katie both completed the secret death-warrant task, so Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams had to choose one of them. They recruited Katie and Xavier was murdered, making him the second player murdered during the season and the first contestant eliminated by the new Accomplice recruitment twist.

Latest Episode Update: Xavier Is Murdered After Katie Is Chosen

Xavier's elimination was tied directly to the season's Accomplice twist. Tomica and Joe had selected Xavier and Katie as the two contestants who would compete for the third Traitor position. Both successfully completed the death-warrant task, which meant the original Traitors could choose which player to recruit and which one to remove.

They selected Katie. Xavier was then murdered face-to-face by the Traitors, ending his run without ever becoming a Traitor himself. The elimination was shown in Episode 3, while the fallout from his strategy continued into Episode 4 as other contestants tried to interpret the names and suspicions he had left behind.

Xavier Scruggs Quick Facts

Who Is Xavier Scruggs?

Xavier Scruggs is a former Major League Baseball player who transitioned from professional baseball into sports media and baseball operations. MLB identifies him as an analyst appearing across MLB Network programming, while ESPN lists him as a baseball analyst contributing to Baseball Tonight, College World Series coverage, Little League coverage and MLB telecasts.

He was born in California and represented Wesley Chapel, Florida on The Traitors: New Blood. His combination of playing experience, broadcasting work and baseball analysis gave him a distinctive background among the 22-person civilian cast. NBCUniversal officially listed him as an MLB analyst in the show's cast announcement.

Xavier Scruggs' Baseball Career

Scruggs attended Poway High School in California before playing college baseball at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The Seattle Mariners selected him in the 50th round of the 2005 amateur draft, but he chose college instead. The St. Louis Cardinals later selected him in the 19th round of the 2008 MLB Draft.

He reached the Major Leagues with St. Louis in 2014. MLB records credit him with 50 MLB games, 27 hits, one home run and 14 RBIs across three seasons, including time with the Miami Marlins.

His Career After Major League Baseball

Scruggs continued playing professional baseball after leaving MLB, including two seasons with the NC Dinos in South Korea's KBO League. ESPN's biography credits him with 61 home runs and 208 RBIs during his KBO career. He also played professionally in Mexico.

His transition away from playing eventually led into broadcasting and baseball analysis. MLB Network identifies him as an analyst, while ESPN lists a broad range of baseball assignments. In 2021, he also joined the St. Louis Cardinals' baseball operations department as a Diversity & Inclusion consultant.

Xavier Scruggs' Work in Sports Media

Scruggs has built a second career by turning his playing experience into analysis and storytelling. His ESPN work has included major college and youth baseball coverage, while his MLB Network work includes the program Off Base. He also contributed to SiriusXM baseball coverage and created baseball-focused projects outside traditional television.

MLB Network and ESPN both describe him as a working baseball analyst, making his presence on The Traitors: New Blood an extension of a career that already requires close attention to player tendencies, communication and decision-making.

Education and College Baseball

Xavier chose the University of Nevada, Las Vegas after being drafted out of high school. His junior season became a major turning point. UNLV records say he was named the 2008 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, UNLV Sportsman of the Year and a Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American after winning the Mountain West Triple Crown.

That 2008 season included a .379 batting average, 20 home runs and 65 RBIs, numbers that helped push him toward the Cardinals' draft selection.

Why Xavier Wanted to Be a Traitor

Xavier said before entering the castle that he wanted to be a Traitor. He explained after the show that the role appealed to him because it would give him more control over the game than the Faithful position. When Alan Cumming revealed that he had been chosen as an Accomplice candidate, Xavier said he was excited and immediately switched into competition mode for the final Traitor spot.

His pre-show mindset therefore matched what viewers eventually saw: he was not content to quietly wait for the Traitors to choose him. He tried to influence the decision himself.

The Strategy That Sent Xavier Home

Once Xavier learned that he and Katie were competing for the third Traitor position, he began placing Katie's name into conversations. In his exit interview, he explained that he wanted the Traitors to see him actively competing for the position and thought making Katie less appealing would improve his own chances.

Joe and Tomica interpreted the tactic differently. Xavier's early attempt to put Katie under suspicion made them question whether he would be difficult to control as a Traitor. That helped push the decision toward Katie, even though Xavier believed he had a strong relationship with both original Traitors.

Why Joe and Tomica Chose Katie

The final decision was not based solely on who completed the task. Both Katie and Xavier succeeded, so Joe and Tomica evaluated which contestant they wanted beside them in the turret. Their choice was Katie, whose social connections and quieter approach made her the person they selected to join the Traitor team. Xavier was eliminated instead.

Looking back, Xavier said he was surprised by the decision. He believed the three of them could have worked together and said he felt more connected to Joe than Tomica, although he also thought Tomica had a natural connection with him.

Who Xavier Suspected

By the time he left the game, Xavier said Joe was one of the players he had in the back of his mind as a possible Traitor because of how prominently Joe presented himself early in the season. Victor Vollbrechthausen was another name he considered.

Xavier also explained why he did not vote for Victor at the first Round Table. He said that as an Accomplice candidate, he did not want to be seen voting against a possible Traitor because he thought that could create problems for his own chances. He did not have Tomica identified as a Traitor at the time.

Xavier's Closest Connections in the Castle

In his post-elimination interview, Xavier said he felt connected to several players, including Katie, Mark Zgoda, Arisa Thomas, Madeline Kostopulos and Logan Smith. He also said he had connected with Logan early despite Logan spending much of his time more independently.

That network mattered to the way Xavier approached the game. He was trying to create relationships across different groups rather than rely exclusively on the younger contestants or on his own reputation as a former professional athlete.

Who Xavier Would Have Targeted as a Traitor

Xavier said that, had he been recruited, Victor would have been an obvious target because there was already heat around him. He also considered Michael Foote, describing him as a strong Faithful whose communication skills and legal background could make him difficult for the Traitors to leave unchecked. These were his own hypothetical plans, not actions he was able to carry out in the game.

Episode-by-Episode Timeline

Xavier Scruggs on Social Media

Related Traitors: New Blood Profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Xavier Scruggs a Traitor or a Faithful?

Xavier entered the game as a Faithful. He was later selected as one of the two Accomplices competing for a Traitor position, but the original Traitors chose Katie Fites instead. Xavier never became an official Traitor.

How was Xavier Scruggs eliminated?

After Xavier and Katie both completed the Accomplice challenge, Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams recruited Katie as the third Traitor. Xavier was then murdered face-to-face.

What episode did Xavier Scruggs leave The Traitors: New Blood?

Xavier was eliminated in Episode 3, which aired September 24, 2026.

Why did Xavier Scruggs target Katie Fites?

He wanted to make Katie less attractive to Joe and Tomica as a recruitment choice. Xavier explained after the show that he was trying to demonstrate that he would fight for the final Traitor spot.

What was Xavier Scruggs' MLB career?

He played Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. MLB records credit him with 50 MLB games, 27 hits, one home run and 14 RBIs.

What does Xavier Scruggs do now?

He works in baseball media as an analyst, with ESPN and MLB Network among the organizations that have featured his work.

Sources

NBCUniversal: Official The Traitors: New Blood cast announcement identifying Xavier Scruggs as an MLB analyst: NBCUniversal.

Parade: Xavier's post-elimination interview covering the Accomplice strategy, recruitment decision, suspicions and hypothetical Traitor targets: Parade.

MLB.com: Xavier Scruggs' official MLB biography and career record: MLB Network Personalities and MLB Player Profile.

ESPN Press Room: Current baseball analyst biography and broadcasting career: ESPN.

UNLV Athletics: College career, 2008 Mountain West Player of the Year and Triple Crown season: UNLV Rebels.

TV Insider: Episode 3 and 4 recap and game developments: TV Insider.

MLB.com: Scruggs' post-playing baseball operations role: MLB.com.

Official social links: Xavier Scruggs' public Linktree lists his Instagram, X, LinkedIn and other professional accounts: Linktree.

Article updated: September 26, 2026

Profile status: Finalized after elimination. Future changes should generally be limited to factual corrections, meaningful post-show information, or sitewide structural updates.

Madeline Kostopulos: Age, Career, The Traitors: New Blood Status & Elimination

Madeline Kostopulos entered The Traitors: New Blood as a 26-year-old construction manager from San Diego, California. She brought a business and operations background into the castle, along with a social approach built around humor, authenticity and the idea of playing as a Faithful.

Her time in the game was brief. Madeline became the first player banished at a Round Table, leaving in Episode 2 after a misunderstanding over comments about the murder of Kim Daily and additional suspicion surrounding her Shield. She was a Faithful and received 13 votes. TV Insider records Victor with seven votes and Kriste with one.

Latest Episode Update: Madeline Is the First Player Banished

Madeline's elimination came immediately after the first murder of the season. She had been close with Kim Daily and, during a conversation with Kriste Lewis and Victor Vollbrechthausen, said she would feel bad about picking Kim. Kriste interpreted the wording differently and brought it to the Round Table as evidence that Madeline might have known more about the murder than she should have.

Madeline later told Parade that Kriste had misunderstood what she said. She explained that she meant she would feel terrible about losing Kim, not that she had personally selected Kim for a murder. She also said she had no warning that the accusation was coming before the Round Table. Parade's exit interview provides her account.

The Shield became a second source of suspicion. Madeline said she took it late in the opening mission because it was still available with roughly eight minutes left. She felt the criticism surrounding that decision added pressure to the case against her.

Madeline Kostopulos Quick Facts

Who Is Madeline Kostopulos?

Madeline Kostopulos is a San Diego-based construction professional whose background combines business analysis, operations and construction-related management. Her LinkedIn profile identifies her with PBH Builders in San Diego and lists the University of South Carolina among her education. Public professional information also shows earlier work in business analysis, scheduling, business operations and internships.

Madeline's Construction and Business Career

Madeline's professional profile shows a progression through several business and operations roles before her current construction work. LinkedIn lists PBH Builders in San Diego, while public professional listings identify earlier positions with Govfuse, Central SC Alliance, the Wireless Infrastructure Association and TPG Hotels and Resorts.

That career path gives context to the official description of her as a construction manager. She arrived with experience around projects, schedules, operations and people, but her game quickly became more social than professional.

Education

Madeline attended the University of South Carolina from 2018 to 2022, according to her public LinkedIn profile. The older version of this profile described a degree in Insurance and Risk Management; because secondary listings differ on the exact credential title, this update keeps the verified university and attendance period without overstating the degree.

Why Madeline Wanted to Be a Faithful

Madeline entered the game wanting the Faithful role. TV Insider's preseason cast guide listed her as someone who wanted to sniff out the Traitors and described herself as a team player interested in the social game. She also said she planned to bring sage, a journal and an evil eye for comfort in the castle.

Her pre-game approach was deliberately social. A cast guide quoted her plan as keeping people distracted by her outfit rather than focused on where she had just been. Her official self-declared superlative was Most Likely to Make Too Many Jokes.

Madeline's Actual Strategy in the Game

Once the season began, Madeline's game quickly became centered on relationships. She developed a close connection with Victor Vollbrechthausen, and both later described the attraction as mutual. TheWrap also noted the pair's early showmance before Madeline's elimination.

After her exit, Madeline said she had already been watching Tomica Adams closely. She told Parade that Tomica's upbeat behavior after the Round Table made her suspicious, and she said both she and Victor had Tomica on their radar.

The Shield Decision That Added to the Suspicion

In the opening mission, Madeline was one of the three players who obtained a Shield, along with Victor and Abby Lee. The Shield provided safety going into the first murder.

In her post-elimination interview, Madeline said she took the Shield late because it was still available with about eight minutes remaining. She believed waiting until that point made the choice reasonable, but said the group later used the decision as another reason to question her.

Why Madeline Was Banished

The central accusation came from a conversation about Kim Daily's murder. The episode recap says Madeline was blamed for saying, “I feel bad for picking Kim,” while her close relationship with Victor also drew attention. At the Round Table, those details became central to the case against her.

Madeline disputed the interpretation after leaving the game. She said her comment meant she felt terrible about losing Kim and that Kriste had misunderstood her wording. She said she initially tried to explain that Kriste probably misheard her before eventually refusing to admit to something she said she did not say.

Madeline Kostopulos and Victor Vollbrechthausen

Madeline and Victor formed one of the clearest early social connections of the season. Both were shown spending substantial time together, and Victor described his attraction to Madeline in his confessionals.

Madeline later confirmed that the chemistry was mutual. She described them as good friends and chose not to give a detailed account of their relationship after the show.

Madeline Kostopulos' Game Profile

Episode-by-Episode Timeline

Madeline Kostopulos on Instagram

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Frequently Asked Questions

Was Madeline Kostopulos a Traitor or Faithful?

Madeline Kostopulos was a Faithful.

When was Madeline Kostopulos eliminated?

She was banished at the first Round Table in Episode 2.

How many votes did Madeline receive?

Madeline received 13 votes. Victor received seven and Kriste received one.

Why was Madeline banished?

The main accusation centered on how her comment about Kim Daily's murder was interpreted. The Shield she took in the opening mission and her relationship with Victor also became part of the discussion.

Who was Madeline close to in the castle?

Madeline formed a close connection with Victor Vollbrechthausen, and both later described their attraction as mutual.

What did Madeline do for work before The Traitors?

She worked in construction management and had previous business analysis, operations and scheduling experience.

Sources

NBCUniversal: Official cast information and the civilian format: NBCUniversal.

TV Insider: Episode recap with the Shield results, Episode 2 banishment and vote totals: TV Insider.

Parade: Madeline's post-elimination interview about the accusation, Shield decision, Victor connection and Tomica suspicion: Parade.

Entertainment Weekly: Premiere reporting on the new accomplice twist and Madeline's first Round Table banishment: Entertainment Weekly.

LinkedIn: Madeline Kostopulos' public professional profile: LinkedIn.

Article updated: September 26, 2026

Profile status: Finalized after elimination. Future changes should generally be limited to factual corrections, meaningful post-show updates, or sitewide information changes.