Stephen Colletti Faced Backlash Over His 'Traitors' Description

The 'Laguna Beach' star was surprised by fan reaction to his show choice.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Stephen Colletti, known for his role on the MTV reality show 'Laguna Beach', appeared on the latest season of 'The Traitors'. When asked to provide a show description, Colletti chose to use his later role on 'One Tree Hill' instead of 'Laguna Beach'. This decision led to some backlash from fans who felt he was downplaying his 'Laguna Beach' fame. Colletti explained that the producers made him choose between the two shows, and he went with 'One Tree Hill' because it had more episodes and was more recent. However, many fans still associated Colletti more with 'Laguna Beach' than 'One Tree Hill'.

Why it matters

Stephen Colletti's decision to use his 'One Tree Hill' description on 'The Traitors' highlights the enduring popularity and fan attachment to his breakout role on 'Laguna Beach'. Even years later, viewers still strongly identify Colletti with that show, and some felt he was dismissing its importance in his career. This reaction underscores the lasting impact of reality TV stardom, even for actors who go on to other projects.

The details

When asked to provide a show description for his appearance on 'The Traitors', Colletti said the producers told him to choose between 'Laguna Beach' and 'One Tree Hill'. He opted for 'One Tree Hill' because he had appeared in more episodes of that show over a longer period of time, from 2007 to 2012. However, many fans felt this was the wrong choice, accusing Colletti of 'hating Laguna' for not selecting the show that first made him famous. Colletti said he would have preferred to just be billed as an 'Actor', but the producers required him to specify a single show.

  • Stephen Colletti appeared on 'Laguna Beach' from 2004 to 2005.
  • Colletti joined the cast of 'One Tree Hill' in 2007 and appeared in 57 episodes through 2012.

The players

Stephen Colletti

An actor best known for his roles on the MTV reality shows 'Laguna Beach' and the CW drama 'One Tree Hill'.

Kristin Cavallari

Colletti's co-star and love interest on 'Laguna Beach'.

Lauren Conrad

Another co-star and love interest of Colletti's on 'Laguna Beach'.

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What they’re saying

“They're like, 'Pick between One Tree Hill and Laguna Beach.' I worked on One Tree Hill for a longer time, more episodes, and it was more recent. Figured it cast a wider net, so I went with that one. Did not expect to get the blowback. I mean, people were accusing me of hating Laguna because I didn't choose that one. That's not the case at all.”

— Stephen Colletti, Actor (EW)

The takeaway

Stephen Colletti's decision to use his 'One Tree Hill' description on 'The Traitors' rather than his breakout role on 'Laguna Beach' highlights the enduring popularity and fan attachment to reality TV stars, even years after their initial fame. This reaction underscores how strongly viewers can identify actors with their earliest high-profile roles.