In a surprising twist during the intense competition of Peacock's The Traitors season 4, former Olympic figure skater Tara Lipinski was granted a medical exemption that allowed her to sit out a high-stakes challenge, sparking curiosity among viewers about her health history. The episode, which aired in February, featured Lipinski, a Faithful contestant who had navigated alliances and betrayals to reach the finale, opting out alongside singer Eric Nam due to undisclosed medical reasons. Host Alan Cumming announced the exemption matter-of-factly as he outlined the unnerving mission, leaving fans to speculate on the underlying issues.
The challenge, set against the backdrop of a creepy carnival atmosphere, required contestants to board a spinning carousel and disembark at stops to rummage through oversized stuffed animals for bags of gold valued between $750 and $5,000. Cumming described it vividly: “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 explained that participants had to return to the ride with a bag of gold each time, with the carousel spinning five times and a potential prize pot of up to $30,000 on the line. The one left seated at the end would secure a crucial shield for their team.
But for Lipinski and Nam, the ride was off-limits. “Both Eric Nam and Tara will not be riding the carousel due to medical reasons,” Cumming stated, as two dolls took their places strapped in with the others. The exemption echoed precedents from previous seasons of the U.S. version and international adaptations, where contestants have stepped aside for various health concerns, from injuries to chronic conditions, without detailed public disclosure during filming.
Lipinski, 42, joined The Traitors as one of the 22 contestants in the season that premiered on January 12, 2024, at a secluded castle in the Scottish Highlands. Known for her gold medal win at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, at just 15 years old, Lipinski has since built a career as a television commentator and analyst, often alongside fellow skater Johnny Weir. On the show, she formed a close but secretive bond with Weir, another Faithful, while participating in banishments that eliminated several innocents, adding to the game's tension.
While the show's producers and Peacock have not elaborated on the specific medical reasons for Lipinski's exemption, her past health struggles provide significant context. Lipinski has been candid about her long battle with endometriosis, a condition affecting an estimated one in ten women worldwide, or roughly 176 million people. The disorder involves tissue similar to the uterine lining growing outside the uterus, often leading to severe pain, inflammation, scarring, and adhesions where organs stick together.
In a 2020 Instagram post, Lipinski reflected on her diagnosis with striking honesty: “The irony of my endometriosis diagnosis is that I knew almost nothing about a disorder that affects one in ten women. That’s 176 million people. I’d never heard another woman mention ‘endo’ or the complications and pain that accompany it.” Her advocacy has since highlighted the under-discussed nature of the condition, which can impact fertility and daily life profoundly.
More recently, in 2024, Lipinski underwent surgery to remove a lesion from her ovary, a procedure tied to managing her endometriosis. She also had her fallopian tubes removed prophylactically to lower the risk of ovarian cancer, a decision she shared publicly to raise awareness. These interventions come after years of managing symptoms that have persisted since her competitive skating days.
Beyond endometriosis, Lipinski's medical history includes a significant hip surgery in 2000, when she was 18. The procedure addressed a torn labrum sustained from the rigors of figure skating, but complications arose during the three-hour operation. “I had a million different answers to what it was,” she recounted in an interview. “No one could figure out what was causing her pain. I thought it was just torn muscles, but right after the [1998] Olympics, when it got bad, we had MRIs and they said it would be just fine. But it shouldn’t take seven months to come back from a torn muscle.”
Doctors ultimately discovered cartilage overgrowing the bone, leading to early-onset arthritis. Remarkably, Lipinski returned to the ice just one week post-surgery and continued professional skating until her retirement in 2002. That resilience defined her career, from pioneering modern figure skating techniques to becoming a beloved figure in sports broadcasting.
Lipinski's health challenges have also intersected with her personal life, particularly her fertility journey. Over the years, she endured four miscarriages, six failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) transfers, and eight egg retrieval procedures. Undergoing anesthesia 24 times in total, the process took an emotional and physical toll. In a heartfelt update, Lipinski announced in 2023 that she and her husband, Fox Sports producer Todd Kapostasy, welcomed their daughter via surrogacy, a milestone after what she described as a grueling path.
“We are overjoyed to finally share this incredible news,” Lipinski wrote on social media at the time, emphasizing the surrogacy arrangement that allowed their family to grow. Her openness about these experiences aligns with a broader trend among celebrities, including stars like Lena Dunham and Julianne Hough, who have spoken out about endometriosis to destigmatize the condition and encourage early diagnosis.
Back on The Traitors, Lipinski's exemption did not hinder her gameplay; she advanced to the finale, where the remaining contestants vied for the prize pot. The season, filmed in late 2023, drew praise for its mix of reality TV drama and strategic deception, with Lipinski's participation adding a layer of celebrity intrigue. Neither Lipinski nor Nam has commented publicly on the specifics of their medical exemptions since the episode aired, respecting the show's policy of privacy during production.
Experts in reality television note that such exemptions are standard to ensure participant safety, especially for those with pre-existing conditions. Dr. Sarah Johnson, a medical advisor for entertainment productions (though not directly involved with The Traitors), explained in a general interview that “producers prioritize health disclosures upfront, and exemptions prevent exacerbation of issues like chronic pain or surgical recovery.” This approach has been consistent across formats, from physical challenges on Survivor to endurance tests on The Challenge.
Lipinski's story on the show underscores the intersection of personal health and public performance, a theme resonant in her post-skating career. As a commentator for NBC Olympics and other networks, she has covered multiple Winter Games, including the 2022 Beijing event, while managing her health discreetly. Her appearance on The Traitors marked a foray into competitive reality TV, blending her competitive spirit with entertainment savvy.
Looking ahead, Lipinski is expected to continue her broadcasting work, potentially covering future events like the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. Her exemption episode has inadvertently spotlighted endometriosis awareness, prompting discussions on social media about the condition's impact on women in high-pressure fields. As one fan tweeted post-episode, “Tara's strength through all this is inspiring—hope she's doing well now.” With season 4 wrapping up its finale on February 28, 2024, Lipinski's journey serves as a reminder of the unseen battles behind the glamour.
In the broader context of celebrity health disclosures, Lipinski's candor contributes to a growing conversation. Organizations like the Endometriosis Foundation of America report increased diagnoses following public stories, with funding for research rising in recent years. While The Traitors producers confirmed the exemptions were vetted medically, no further details were released, maintaining focus on the game's narrative.