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'The Challenge': A look back into some of the biggest scandals during 26-year run of MTV franchise

There have been several significant controversies on MTV's 'The Challenge' during the show's existence
PUBLISHED AUG 14, 2024
Controversies over the years involving 'The Challenge' stars (X/@TheChallenge)
Controversies over the years involving 'The Challenge' stars (X/@TheChallenge)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Drama is inevitable with so many characters, especially behind the scenes. For 'The Challenge' on MTV, that is unquestionably the case. 

View some of the most startling controversies from 'The Challenge' by scrolling down.

Ashley Mitchell was mysteriously dropped from 'The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies'

Production of 'The Challenge' has clamped down on contestants' misbehavior in recent seasons, as seen by Ashley Mitchell's expulsion from 'The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies'. Ashley had won so many games that it was stunning that she was cut from the season, especially since TJ Lavin left out any specifics in his explanation.

After the season, Josh Martinez, a participant in 'The Challenge', spoke with Challenge Mania and provided some insight into the scenario, saying, "She attacked something that a lot of people struggle with...it was probably one of the hardest things I went through on the show."

Josh, the 'Big Brother 19' winner, chose not to publicly disclose what Ashley said to him, but allegations from other cast members and production sources suggest that Ashley made homophobic remarks and assumed Josh was gay. After a number of cast members voiced their opinions—some supporting Josh, some endorsing Ashley—the matter turned into a controversy.

Challenge veteran Jemmye Carroll blasted the production for eliminating Ashley while letting others remain in the past for worse things that happened. The 'The Challenge' community is divided on the issue of inconsistent production guidelines.

Ashley Mitchell was suddenly booted from 'The Challenge' (Facebook/ashleybrookemitchell)
Ashley Mitchell was suddenly booted from 'The Challenge' (Facebook/@ashleybrookemitchell)

'The Challenge: Final Reckoning' producers accused of rigging winners

On 'The Challenge', production has been involved in numerous controversies. Most notably, they have been accused of manipulating the results of 'The Challenge: Final Reckoning' to benefit victors Ashley and Hunter Barfield.

Ashley exacted revenge on Hunter for his maltreatment of her over the season by keeping his portion of the $1 million prize money for herself in the startling 'The Final Reckoning' finale. Second-place finishers Sylvia Elsrode and Joss Mooney, however, contend that they actually won the season and that Ashley's victory was a ruse to create the dramatic scene in which she grabbed the money from Hunter. 

Sylvia said on the podcast Challenge Mania, "I truly believe Joss and I did win that season. I think the reason why we didn't win it publicly, though, is because we weren't going to steal the money from each other...I don't think anything was changing who they wanted to win that game."

 Joss Mooney and Sylvia Elsrode claimed to be the real winners of 'The Challenge: Final Reckoning' (Facebook/jossmooneyfitness/Instagram/syl_marie_88)
Joss Mooney and Sylvia Elsrode claimed to be the real winners of 'The Challenge: Final Reckoning' (Facebook/@jossmooneyfitness/Instagram/@syl_marie_88)

Leroy Garrett accused 'The Challenge: Dirty Thirty' production of enabling Camila Nakagawa's racist remarks

Camila Nakagawa, a veteran Challenge participant and two-time champion, started a heated confrontation with challenger Leroy Garrett while intoxicated, causing a significant scandal. After a wild night, Camila was hostile during 'The Challenge: Dirty Thirty', ranting at Leroy in her fury.

With little help from production, Camila started calling Leroy names and making racial slurs, which escalated the one-sided debate into much more. Leroy thought that producers didn't take the incident seriously because they didn't even tell TJ about it or penalize Camila, which caused him to temporarily quit 'The Challenge'.

The other contestants were appalled by Camila's offensive comments and felt that her actions warranted her removal from the house. 

Leroy attacked the production in a video that was uploaded on Instagram following the season, claiming, "You basically rewarded her for being racist and being violent. I’ve seen people get sent home for less."

Camila was not only allowed to continue playing the game, but she also went on to win 'The Challenge: Dirty Thirty,' earning a $450,000 reward. Once that, Camila was asked to return for a second season of 'The Challenge: Champs vs Stars', but she was allegedly barred once the scandal's fallout reached MTV.

'The Challenge's Camila Nakagawa was embroiled in a racism scandal (Facebook/camilamtv)
'The Challenge's Camila Nakagawa was embroiled in a racism scandal (Facebook/@camilamtv)

Tonya Cooley sued 'The Challenge' costars over sexual assault charges

Former cast member of 'The Challenge', Tonya Cooley, filed a lawsuit against MTV, Bunim/Murray Productions, and former co-stars Evan Starkman and Kenny Santucci in 2011. She claimed that while she was unconscious during the filming of Season 18, also known as 2009's 'The Challenge: The Ruins', Evan and Kenny had sexually abused her.

This was reported by E! News. Tonya's claims were deemed "completely baseless" by Bunim/Murray following a "thorough investigation," the firm informed E! in response to the allegations.

According to E!, the parties are legally prohibited from talking about the claimed event because the matter was resolved out of court in 2012. Tonya, Evan, and Kenny have all been barred from the program, according to Us Weekly.

'The Challenge's Tonya Cooley sued her co-stars over sexual assault charges (MTV)
'The Challenge's Tonya Cooley sued her co-stars over sexual assault charges (@mtv)

Georgia Harrison received heat from 'The Challenge' fans over blackface makeup

Georgia Harrison, a participant in 'The Challenge', was accused of blackface in 2019 by X users, who also demanded that MTV dismiss her after a picture of her with black makeup went viral, as PEOPLE reported at the time. The reality star's representative told PEOPLE that the picture was taken at a child's birthday party, when the youngster requested that Georgia's face be painted black and silver, and that the accusations that Georgia was racist were "disgusting and really worrying."

'The Challenge's Georgia Harrison black face makeup controversy (Instagram/georgialouiseharrison)
'The Challenge's Georgia Harrison black face makeup controversy (Instagram/@georgialouiseharrison)

'The Challenge' drops Dee Nguyen over her insensitive comments on BLM

2020 saw MTV declare on X that it has severed its relationship with Dee Nguyen, a regular participant on 'The Challenge', due to her "offensive comments on the Black Lives Matter movement." According to Us Weekly, Dee downplayed George Floyd's death on Instagram by claiming that people "die every f*****g day."



 

Us subsequently revealed that Dee had apologized for her "insensitive" comments.

She went on, "Let me be clear, I am a POC that cares about BLM. I believe in this movement, and I’m stepping away from social media to focus on my well-being and mental health."

'The Challenge's Dee Nguyen grilled over her Black Lives Matter comments (Instagram/deenguyen)
'The Challenge's Dee Nguyen grilled over her Black Lives Matter comments (Instagram/@deenguyen)

'The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras' will premiere on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 8 ET/PT on MTV

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