Where is Tonya Cooley now? Legal battle with MTV keeps 'The Challenge' star out of competition
Warning: The article contains description of sexual abuse that could be triggering to some readers. Discretion is advised.
VISALIA, CALIFORNIA: Tonya Cooley, a cast member of 'The Challenge', appeared in eight seasons of the MTV reality series in its initial days. However, during the 2009 production 'The Ruins', she alleged that co-stars Evan Starkman and Kenny Santucci sexually abused her. Since that season, she hasn't participated in 'The Challenge'.
You never knew which Tonya would appear in a given season. She was a hot mess in some seasons (most notoriously in her final appearance on 'The Ruins'), but she also showed glimpses of being an outstanding contender. So, where is the reality star now? Read on to find out.
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Tonya was one of the notable female players on 'The Challenge'
Tonya's strongest performance was undoubtedly her winning campaign on 'Inferno 3', as she was most focused on the competitive part of the game despite having to cope with Cara and Susie's bullying. She acquired a life shield in the Steady As You Go assignment and was able to avoid elimination throughout the season by assisting the Bad Asses in defeating the Good Guys. She also had a successful season on 'Inferno II' when she defeated Shavonda and Julie in eliminations and advanced to the final. Of course, her season suffers as a result of her and Tina's terrible performance in the final, which cost the Bad Asses.
Tonya also did well on 'Battle of the Sexes 2', finishing sixth and defeating Veronica and Rachel. But the rest of her career was pretty shabby (competitively), with her rookie season of 'Battle of the Sexes' ending about halfway through the game, going out third on 'The Gauntlet' (losing to Steve when she was severely hurt), losing to Wes/Casey with Johnnie on 'Fresh Meat,' and being voted out first on 'The Island'.
Her final season on 'The Ruins' was bleak. She did well as a competitor, defeating Diem in the Shoots and Ladders elimination, but she was a disaster in the house. Tonya was a drunken disaster throughout the season, and she was tormented by numerous cast members, including Veronica, Johnny, Evan, and Kenny. She was kicked out of the game when Veronica provoked her into a physical fight. It was a tragic conclusion to the career of one of the show's most prominent cast members. And it's a pity that she is now recognized for her involvement in one of the show's biggest controversies, rather than as the fantastic character and competitor that she was.
Controversial episode of ‘The Challenge’ during ‘Inferno 2’
Tonya featured in a controversial episode of 'The Inferno 2' season in 2005 before being engrossed in the drama of 'The Challenge: The Ruins' season. During that season's conclusion, headlined "To Hell and Back: Hot Gossip From The Inferno 2," Rachel Robinson, Tina Barta, and Veronica Portillo were seen snapping naked images of Tonya while she slept. The ladies then proceeded to share the photos with the rest of the cast members in the home. During the season's initial run, the episode aired on MTV. When Netflix released two throwback seasons of 'The Challenge,' including 'Inferno 2', they opted to remove that problematic episode.
Old episode of #TheChallenge omitted from Netflix offerings due to footage of female housemates bullying Tonya Cooley & taking nude pics of her without her consent: https://t.co/GjYmmMBaxc pic.twitter.com/vONO9RpcPc
— The Ashley (@TheAshleysRR) January 18, 2021
Tonya's legal battle with MTV
Tonya sued Evan Starkman, Kenny Santucci, Bunim/Murray Productions, and MTV two years after competing in 'The Ruins'. She accused the company of sexual assault, carelessness, intentional infliction of mental distress, wrongful termination, and sexual harassment.
According to The Daily Beast, Tonya alleged that Evan and Kenny sexually abused her during Season 18 production. In court records, she claimed that when she passed out after a night of drinking, her co-stars used "another male participant’s toothbrush and…inserted the toothbrush into the plaintiff’s vagina."
Tonya accused Bunim/Murry of giving the contestants a large amount of alcohol and very little food in order to "encourage the participants to engage in scandalous behavior that would increase viewer ratings" in her complaint. She further alleged that the production firm and network pushed male participants to "mistreat females, usually in a sexually offensive manner."
The lawsuit was never tried since it was resolved out of court privately in 2012. No one engaged in the litigation is permitted to speak publicly about it. Tonya did, however, admit to making some "unhealthy choices" while on MTV.
"I was drinking too much and it … stopped being a game of sport for me and I [made] some unhealthy choices," she explained to Buzzfeed.
Tonya was eventually removed from 'The Ruins' after slapping another competitor in the face during a violent confrontation. That's when she understood she needed to dig deeper and "get a little straight," she added.
Several of her co-stars, including 'The Challenge' GOAT Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio, have spoken out against the alleged event. He claimed that what occurred that night differs from what Tonya detailed in her complaint. He claimed that Tonya passed out on the bed after drinking and that a toothbrush was brought out and photographs were taken. Evan and Kenny, on the other hand, are "guilty of hijinks and playing pranks, but nothing even close to what they were accused of," he added.
Bananas appears to have maintained contact with Kenny and Evan, even uploading a photo with them in April 2021.
Tonya Cooley no longer allowed to take part in 'The Challenge'
Others agreed with Bananas, pointing out that if an attack had occurred, the cameras would have captured it. Former competitor Susie Meister claimed that her husband was on the crew that night and that nothing occurred. "The truth of the matter is, Tonya got wasted, passed out on her bed with her bikini bottoms falling off, and the guys did hold up this toothbrush as a joke to take a picture — which is totally inappropriate and disgusting. But there wasn’t an assault that happened," Susie pointed out.
Tonya was barred from competing in 'The Challenge' after the alleged event and her complaint. Evan and Kenny are in the same boat.
Where is Tonya Cooley now?
Tonya claimed that she has gotten sober and is now the owner of a salon since she left MTV. She also confessed that her participation in 'The Challenge' contributed to her becoming an alcoholic. "I was a great competitor, but I was just lost personally. Mentally, I wasn’t mature enough to handle some of the situations I was in and, in turn, I drank a lot," Tonya explained. “If [people] could see where I am versus five years ago, I think they would be shocked. I am a genuinely happy person now. I still have a bit of the wild and crazy Tonya in me, but I’ve learned to balance her out. It would have been nice to have people see that I actually made it.”
'The Challenge' is available on Paramount+. 'The Challenge: Ride or Die' premieres on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at 8 pm ET on MTV.