'The Challenge': MTV shortens episode after firing Dee Nguyen, fans are convinced they cut her screentime
MTV's 'The Challenge: Total Madness' contestant, Dee Nguyen, has been fired from the show for her offensive, now-deleted #BlackLivesMatter comments on social media. Recently, the showrunners released an official statement that even though Dee will appear in the remaining season, she won't be a part of the reunion special episode, which is to be filmed at a later date.
"MTV and Bunim/Murray Productions strongly condemn systemic racism and stand with those raising their voices against injustice," the jointly-made statement added.
'The Challenge' usually airs 1.5 hour-long episodes each week, but this time a good 30 minutes was cut short. This has left fans livid. Although the reason is unclear but the guesses are that it was done to reduce Dee's screentime after her social media fiasco.
If that was the case, the makers are probably on the right path but viewers are passionately hating on the reduced length of the episode.
"How dare you spoil me all season long with 90 minutes and have the nerve to go back to 60!! #TheChallenge35," a fan commented, another shared: "@ChallengeMTV leave the episodes the way they were. WTF was this tonight!? #TheChallenge35."
"Wow so MTV cut the episode 30 minutes short just to give Dee as little camera time as possible. they did this within a very short timespan #TheChallenge35," a user tweeted. "@ChallengeMTV tell the editors that we love the intention of cutting Dee out after the news but..the show has a bunch of holes and is rushed. just keep it as it is, we won’t see her next season anyway #TheChallenge35," another expressed.
What caused the furore?
On one of the many George Floyd posts, Dee wrote: "People die every f–king day." However, after the fierce reactions started to pour in, Dee issued a public apology and that hardly saved her. In her note, she sought forgiveness and shared how apologetic she was for her "insensitive remarks." "Let me be clear I am a POC that cares about BLM," the contestant expressed and added that she is taking a sabbatical from social media to focus on her mental health and well-being.
Catch all the new episodes of 'The Challenge: Total Madness' on MTV every Wednesday.