“It’s Nice to Be Nice”: Joanna urges people to be kind, after Traitors Ireland fallout

The drama of The Traitors Ireland has spilled beyond the castle walls, with fan reactions online taking an ugly turn in recent days. But one of the show’s stars, Joanna, has spoken out to call for compassion reminding viewers that while The Traitors is a game of strategy, it involves real people with real feelings.

In a video shared on Instagram, Joanna reassured supporters that she was “all good and well” but admitted it took her several attempts to record her message as she processed the backlash that some of her fellow contestants are experiencing.

“I just want to remind everybody that the TV show that we were in was just a game,” she said. “It is a TV show, but with real people in it, and with real emotions and feelings. So I really don’t want to see all the nasty and horrible messages that some of the girls are receiving. I absolutely feel for them, and my heart goes out to them.”

Her comments come after intense social media commentary around the latest eliminations, with some female contestants facing online abuse. Joanna highlighted that many of the women remaining on the show are still very young, “on the path of self-discovery and finding their life,” and that such abuse can be particularly damaging.

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She urged fans to pause before typing. “Please think twice. Is this something you’d like to hear, or is it something that you’d like your daughter to receive as a message? It could be so hurtful, it could be so unfair. And remember, it’s nice to be nice. And if you have nothing nice to say, just don’t say it at all.”

Despite the storm, Joanna has kept her outlook positive. She thanked supporters for their kindness and stressed that she holds no ill will towards her fellow players. “I have absolutely no hard feelings towards anybody. I don’t hold grudges, and I actually can’t wait to see all the girls,” she said, signing off with a call for mindfulness and respect.

The final episode of The Traitors Ireland airs tonight at 9:30 on RTE 1.