A night meant to celebrate reality TV intrigue has turned into something far darker.
Lisa Rinna says she tested positive for fentanyl after allegedly being drugged at the season four premiere party for The Traitors in Los Angeles last month — a claim that has sent shockwaves through Bravo fandom and West Hollywood nightlife alike.
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, who competed on the latest season of The Traitors on Peacock, opened up about the incident during Thursday’s episode of Good Day New York. Rinna, 62, did not mince words.
“I had fentanyl in my system — I’m not kidding,” she said. “I had fentanyl, high levels of amphetamines, and other things. But I can’t talk a lot about it, because we’re still dealing with it. It was leaked, and my team is dealing with it now.”
Rinna had attended the premiere celebration at The Abbey, the iconic West Hollywood bar long considered a centerpiece of the city’s LGBTQ nightlife scene. According to Rinna, the evening took a frightening turn when she suddenly felt unwell.
“Luckily, my husband was there and was able to get me out of there quickly,” she explained. “Because I saw other things like, ‘Oh, Lisa was just drunk.’ But no.”
Her husband, actor Harry Hamlin, reportedly helped escort her out before the situation escalated further. Rinna suggested that what happened to her was not isolated.
“This is not a first-time thing,” she said. “This is something that’s gone on for years, and I do think it needs to be a conversation. And I’m glad now that it’s out and we will deal with it. I just haven’t had my own time to do that yet.”
While Rinna declined to name anyone she believes may have been responsible, she claimed she knows “so many people” who have experienced similar incidents at the same venue.
The allegations have placed The Abbey under renewed scrutiny. In a statement to People, the venue said it was aware of Rinna’s claims and was cooperating with her team.
“When she became unwell, our security team assisted her and escorted her safely out of the venue,” the statement read. “We pulled and reviewed all available surveillance footage from the time in question and interviewed staff on duty. We found no evidence of drink tampering or suspicious behavior toward her.”
The Abbey added that it could not comment on medical findings or speculate about toxicology results, but emphasized that it takes guest safety seriously.
“Drink tampering is a crime,” the statement continued. “If any guest believes their drink has been compromised, we strongly encourage them to report it immediately, either to our management team so we can respond in real time, or directly to law enforcement if they prefer.”
The irony is not lost on fans: Rinna’s stint on The Traitors, filmed in a dramatic Scottish castle, revolved around deception, suspicion and betrayal. On screen, she was selected as one of the season’s traitors before being banished during episode seven. Off screen, she now says she was blindsided in a far more dangerous way.
Neither law enforcement nor Rinna’s representatives have publicly confirmed an active criminal investigation. Rinna indicated that her team is still handling the matter privately.
Her claims arrive amid a broader national conversation about fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid linked to thousands of overdose deaths each year. Even trace amounts can be life-threatening.
