{"id":223968,"date":"2026-02-20T02:59:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T02:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/20\/why-did-traitors-tara-lipinski-eric-nam-skip-a-mission-medical-excuse-explained\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T02:59:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T02:59:23","slug":"why-did-traitors-tara-lipinski-eric-nam-skip-a-mission-medical-excuse-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/20\/why-did-traitors-tara-lipinski-eric-nam-skip-a-mission-medical-excuse-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Did Traitors’ Tara Lipinski, Eric Nam Skip a Mission? Medical Excuse Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"


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With only one episode left before The Traitors<\/em><\/a> finale, it came as a surprise to see several contestants not participating in the newest challenge.<\/p>\n

During the Thursday, February 19, episode of the hit Peacock series, host Alan Cumming<\/strong> introduced a fearful new way<\/a> for the Faithfuls \u2014 and secret Traitors \u2014 to earn more ahead of the season 4 finale.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis 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,\u201d he teased. \u201cYour mission today is as simple as it is unnerving. Strap yourselves in and hold on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alan continued: \u201cWhen 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Which Players Were Banished or Murdered During Season 4 of ‘The Traitors’?<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tReality TV stars and celebrities join Peacock\u2019s The Traitors to see which Faithfuls can expose all the Traitors \u2014 but who ended up banished and murdered in season 4 as a result? Inspired by Dutch series De Verraders (which previously led to a popular UK version), The Traitors brings together a group of celebs, especially [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

While explaining the mission, Alan noted that people \u201cwill not be allowed back on the ride without a bag of gold,\u201d adding, \u201cMy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alan clarified that both Eric and Tara would \u201cnot be riding\u201d the carousel due to undisclosed \u201cmedical reasons.\u201d Instead, two dolls served as their understudies, who were strapped onto the ride with the rest of the remaining contestants.<\/a><\/p>\n

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There was no more clarification about why Eric and Tara were able to opt out of a challenge. Based on prior seasons \u2014 and other iterations of the show \u2014 a variety of medical reasons have led to contestants leaving or being unable to compete when it came to certain missions.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t address the obvious absence \u2014 including when Donna Kelce appeared to be blatantly missing from a chariot race challenge.<\/p>\n

Executive producer Sam Rees-Jones<\/strong> avoided an explanation when asked<\/a> about the theory during an interview with Variety<\/em> earlier this month, saying, \u201cDonna showed up, and she was great. I love watching Donna. It was like watching America\u2019s mom in the castle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rees-Jones continued: \u201cAnd that\u2019s what I love about the show \u2014 the fact that Donna\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fellow EP Rosie Franks<\/strong> also weighed in, saying, \u201cWe were so excited that she was a fan of the show, that she wanted to play the game. She really did want to play \u2014 she came with so much strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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