What Traitors Fans Should Know About Rob, His Overalls, and Time on Love Island
The 27-year-old snake wrangler from Alabama is quickly amassing fans on The Traitors Season 4.
Heartthrob Rob Rausch is making waves on The Traitors.
His strategic chess-playing, flirtation with Maura Higgins, friendship with fellow introvert Ron Funches, his overalls, and "commiserating" expertise have made him a Season 4 standout. It's difficult to imagine the show without the Love Island USA alum — which makes it even more surprising that he nearly didn't appear at all.
“I said no twice,” Rob told E! News about being cast. “I didn't really want to be on TV again, but I love games and I love competing. I have never watched any reality [TV] other than Survivor, and I thought this was kind of a similar vibe,” he continued. “I was like, ‘You know what? This could be really fun.’”
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Alabama born and raised, Rob is one of four siblings. He's still based in his home state, where he has a two-bedroom trailer that has no television or internet. While his father, Robert Rausch, is a luxury designer and photographer, young Rob grew up in the wilds of Alabama wrangling snakes and other wildlife.
Today, Rob professionally wrangles reptiles around the world and shares his adventures on his active TikTok under the account @robert_Kelley. Find out more about Rob, below.
All about Rob's time on Love Island USA
Rob didn't pivot to reality television until 2023 when he was cast as a Casa Amor bombshell in Love Island USA Season 5. His time in the Villa was a quick five days, as he didn't manage to make a strong enough connection to be brought back to the main Villa.
The 27-year-old was given a second chance at love when he was brought back as an OG Islander for Season 6 in 2024. Pulled in by his elusiveness and Southern charm, Rob was a hot commodity throughout his time on the show. He formed a quick bond with Leah Kateb, but their time together was turbulent.
He was stolen from her by Australian Bombshell Liv Walker, but he and Leah were able to get back together and recouple. However, when bombshell Andrea Carmona entered the Villa, he felt they had a stronger connection and blindsided Leah, choosing to leave her to re-couple with Andrea instead. What followed is an infamously dramatic (and viral) argument between the two which resulted in Rob crying and then jumping into the Villa pool fully clothed. (Season 6, Episode 8 if you want to see for yourself!)
Days later, the girls decided to send Andrea home, a moment that is now known as one of the most dramatic moments in Love Island history. In tears yet again, Rob threatened to leave the show, but ended up staying until he was dumped on Day 30. He coupled up with three more girls during his time on the show. Rob also became close friends with fellow Islander and Love Island: Beyond the Villa star Aaron Evans, who won The Traitors UK Season 1.
The lore behind Rob's overalls
Love Island USA audiences watched The Traitors Season 4 competitor Rob Rausch walk into breakfast wearing denim overalls that have lived to see another reality show.
Those unfamiliar with Rob's game may have just done a double take over his questionable breakfast fashion choice. But to Love Island USA viewers, that specific shirtless overalls combo elicited a full on case of déjà vu.
As it turns out, The Traitors is not the first time Rob wore his unique look on national television. He frequently wore his denim overalls (shirtless, of course) during his summertime finding love in Fiji, and they quickly became his signature look.
"It's a lot," host Ariana Madix told People Magazine at the time. "Listen, maybe once is fine, but I feel like this man just will not stop wearing the overalls. I am like, 'Stop trying to make overalls a thing. It's not a thing, it's not going to be,""
RELATED: Let's Talks About Rob, Michael Rappaport, and "Commiserating" on The Traitors
Though they drew mixed reactions from both Ariana and fans, Rob has obviously ignored the notes because his shirtless denim overalls appear all over his social media, allowing him to show off his pecs while having and unimpeded range of motion as he's chasing lizards, spiders, and critters all over the country.
News episodes of The Traitors Season 4 air Thursdays exclusively on Peacock.
