A storm has erupted around 'The Traitors' star, Marzook Bana, after a controversial social media post from 2021 resurfaced. The post, where Bana, known as Maz on the show, allegedly compared Israel to Nazi Germany, has sparked significant backlash. The BBC, the broadcaster of the popular series, has stated it was 'unaware' of the comments.
This news broke on January 14, 2026, with updates following shortly after. Bana, who was eliminated from the show last week, is now facing scrutiny for the remarks made on Facebook.
In the original post, Bana reportedly drew a parallel between an Israeli checkpoint in the West Bank and the actions of the Nazis. He also accused Zionists of 'forgetting the Holocaust.' Specifically, he wrote: "Nazis all over again, the oppressed have become the oppressors! The Zionists have short memories of what Hitler did."
But here's where it gets controversial... Following the initial post, Bana continued to clarify his stance, stating that criticizing Israel's behavior towards the Palestinian people is not antisemitic. He also criticized world leaders for what he perceived as subservience to Israel.
In response to the controversy, Bana issued an apology, stating, "I apologize for any offence my comments may have caused. I refute any allegations that I am antisemitic. My viewpoint has always been from a humanitarian perspective rather than a political one."
The BBC responded with a statement, expressing that they were 'completely unaware' of the comments, emphasizing that the views expressed did not align with their own. Studio Lambert, the production company behind 'The Traitors,' admitted that the comments were not discovered during their background checks, which they claim to take seriously. They explained that the comments were made on third-party accounts, which made them difficult to identify. The company also clarified that political views do not influence participation or decision-making within the game, and the content of 'The Traitors' is not political.
And this is the part most people miss... The Campaign Against Antisemitism has called on the BBC to take greater responsibility for its output, urging the broadcaster to issue an apology. The group criticized the BBC for either failing to conduct adequate due diligence or overlooking the posts. They have requested an apology during the show and for senior BBC staff to be questioned by the House of Commons culture select committee.
This situation raises important questions. Do you think it's fair to hold someone accountable for social media posts made years before appearing on a show? Should broadcasters be more vigilant in screening contestants' past online activity? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The Traitors airs on BBC One on Wednesdays at 8 pm.
