Entertainmentabout 1 month ago7 min read

Why Rob Rausch “Said No Twice” to Being Cast on The Traitors

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Why Rob Rausch “Said No Twice” to Being Cast on The Traitors
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Why it matters

Love Island USA star Rob Rausch, in partnership with Sonic’s All-American Smasher meal, exclusively told E!

Key takeaways

  • And my brother used to work at Sonic, so it was a very easy yes when I came across my desk.” Plus, the $6 All-American Smasher meal is the perfect combo for Rob.
  • News why he ultimately decided to join The Traitors for season four after hesitating.
  • Recounting the initial pitch to Daily Beast in 2023, "I said, 'It’s sort of like you want me to be like a Bond villain.

“I mean, it can be tough to get me out of this state, not gonna lie,” Rob explained. “Other than for snakes, of course. I enjoy going to other countries for snakes, but I don't know. We'll see.”

While the snake wrangler’s reality TV future after The Traitors is still up in the air, he’s certainly confident about his partnership with Sonic—a restaurant he has “a lot of history” with—for their “Break Up with Your Burger” campaign. 

“I used to play baseball in high school, and we used to always go and get the slushes with the nerds in them,” Rob shared. “And my brother used to work at Sonic, so it was a very easy yes when I came across my desk.”

Plus, the $6 All-American Smasher meal is the perfect combo for Rob. 

“Getting fries or tots with a drink and a smash burger? It's delicious,” he added. “I can't really think of a bad time for a smash burger. It's very appetizing. It's easy to get and delicious.”

Though Rob is adamant about his love for Sonic, he kept coy on his reaction to the punishment he received for voting against fellow Traitor Lisa Rinna during episode six. (Candiace was tapped as the third Traitor while Donna was a Secret Traitor before her episode three banishment.)

“She did spank me after the last roundtable,” he said of the behind-the-scenes moment. “Whether I liked it or not, I think I’m just gonna plead the fifth.”

Of course, many other details of the treacherous Traitors have come to light over the course of four seasons. Read on to learn other secrets about the show. 

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Curated by Zara Khan

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Published: Jan 29, 2026

Read time: 7 min

Category: Entertainment