Why Did Traitors’ Tara Lipinski, Eric Nam Not Participate in Pre-Finale Mission? Medical Exemption Explained

With only one episode left before The Traitors finale, it came as a surprise to see several contestants not participating in the newest challenge.

During the Thursday, February 19, episode of the hit Peacock series, host Alan Cumming introduced a fearful new way for the Faithfuls — and secret Traitors — to earn more ahead of the season 4 finale.

“This mission is going to be all the fun of the fair. For me, at least. For you, I imagine it is going to be terrible,” he teased. “Your mission today is as simple as it is unnerving. Strap yourselves in and hold on.”

Alan continued: “When the lights stop, you must disembark and fight for bags of gold worth between $750 and $5,000 stuck inside some of the cuddly fair grand prizes. Once you found a bag of gold, you must run back to the ride, bank the money and seal yourselves for another spin.”

While explaining the mission, Alan noted that people “will not be allowed back on the ride without a bag of gold,” adding, “My carousel will spin five times. Whoever is sitting on the carousel at the end, will secure the shield. There is a maximum of $30,000 on the line today.”

Alan clarified that both Eric and Tara would “not be riding” the carousel due to undisclosed “medical reasons.” Instead, two dolls served as their understudies, who were strapped onto the ride with the rest of the remaining contestants.

There was no more clarification about why Eric and Tara were able to opt out of a challenge. Based on prior seasons — and other iterations of the show — a variety of medical reasons have led to contestants leaving or being unable to compete when it came to certain missions.

Pre-existing conditions, physical limitations and even changes due to injuries sustained during filming have allowed the contestants to sit certain situations out. Production, however, often doesn’t address the obvious absence — including when Donna Kelce appeared to be blatantly missing from a chariot race challenge.

Executive producer Sam Rees-Jones avoided an explanation when asked about the theory during an interview with Variety earlier this month, saying, “Donna showed up, and she was great. I love watching Donna. It was like watching America’s mom in the castle.”

Rees-Jones continued: “And that’s what I love about the show — the fact that Donna’s chatting to a comedian or someone that you never expected to be associated with is what I just love about The Traitors. We loved watching Donna there in her sunglasses, sort of sitting back or getting involved in missions. It was a delight to watch her.”

Fellow EP Rosie Franks also weighed in, saying, “We were so excited that she was a fan of the show, that she wanted to play the game. She really did want to play — she came with so much strategy.”

The Traitors, which premiered in the U.S. in 2023, brings together reality TV stars and other notable personalities to compete in a mafia-style game for up to $250,000. Earlier this season, Ian Terry, Yamil “Yam Yam” Arocho, Kristen Kish, Rob Cesternino, Caroline Stanbury, Dorinda Medley and Monét X Change were murdered by the Traitors. Meanwhile, Porsha Williams, Donna Kelce, Tiffany Mitchell, Stephen Colletti, Michael Rapaport and Natalie Anderson were banished by the Faithfuls.

The rest of the cast includes Mark Ballas, Maura Higgins, Tara, Eric and Johnny Weir. Rob Rausch, Lisa Rinna and Candiace Dillard Bassett were the original Traitors but only Rob — and now Eric — remain in the turret.

The Traitors is streaming now on Peacock with new episodes dropping Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.