With more than three dozen seasons and more than 500 episodes to date, The Challenge is unquestionably one of MTV’s biggest hits. The show premiered on June 1, 1998, as Road Rules: All-Stars, a Road Rules spinoff starring cast members from The Real World. Since then, the series has undergone other transformations, rebranding as Real World/Road Rules Challenge and then just The Challenge and incorporating stars from other reality shows. And along the way, controversy after controversy has piled up both on screen and off, as you’ll see below. Content warning: This article covers racist comments and allegations of sexual assault. Tonya Cooley’s lawsuit In 2011, The Challenge alum Tonya Cooley sued MTV, Bunim/Murray Productions, and former costars Evan Starkman and Kenny Santucci, alleging that Starkman and Santucci sexually assaulted her when she was passed out during the taping of Season 18, a.k.a. 2009’s The Challenge: The Ruins,...
- 6/1/2023
- TV Insider
While drama is seemingly encouraged in MTV’s The Challenge, fighting and bullying aren’t. Since its inception in 1998, 20 players have gotten kicked off the long-running competition series for breaking the rules, with only one contestant removed from multiple seasons.
Ayanna Mackins
The Road Rules star debuted in season 4’s Extreme Challenge (2001). Around episode 6, she physically assaulted Christian Breivik off-camera after he made an offensive joke to castmate Laterrian Wallace. Even though he didn’t want her to leave, producers removed her from the house, making her the first contestant disqualified for breaking the rules. She returned for two more seasons and recently returned to the franchise for spinoff All Stars.
Tina Barta
The two-time finalist was quickly removed from season 13’s The Duel (2006) after punching Beth Stolarczyk in the face. She never returned to the flagship series afterward but has competed in All Stars.
Sorry, angry Tina can't come...
Ayanna Mackins
The Road Rules star debuted in season 4’s Extreme Challenge (2001). Around episode 6, she physically assaulted Christian Breivik off-camera after he made an offensive joke to castmate Laterrian Wallace. Even though he didn’t want her to leave, producers removed her from the house, making her the first contestant disqualified for breaking the rules. She returned for two more seasons and recently returned to the franchise for spinoff All Stars.
Tina Barta
The two-time finalist was quickly removed from season 13’s The Duel (2006) after punching Beth Stolarczyk in the face. She never returned to the flagship series afterward but has competed in All Stars.
Sorry, angry Tina can't come...
- 3/4/2023
- by Tamara Grant
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Challenge two-time champ Evan Starkman performed well throughout his six-season career before suddenly leaving the MTV franchise. What is Evan up to now?
What is Evan Starkman from ‘The Challenge’ doing now?
Canadian two-time champ Evan Starkman debuted in Fresh Meat (2006) and appeared in six seasons of The Challenge, making three finals and winning twice, before the MTV franchise reportedly banned him in 2011.
Following his exit, he became the host of the short-lived reality TV dating series Love Trap until it ended after three seasons in 2012.
Kenny, Mark, Evan, Derrick & Leroy! ? -? #TheChallengeInvasion https://t.co/dc9kwNwwdV
— The Challenge (@TheChallenge) February 15, 2017
Around January 2010, while still a cast member, Evan, who received his degree in International Relations from Cornell University in 2007, founded the New York-based advertising agency The Bait Shoppe.
He’s currently the company’s president, which has since expanded and opened offices in Denver, Los Angeles, and Toronto.
What is Evan Starkman from ‘The Challenge’ doing now?
Canadian two-time champ Evan Starkman debuted in Fresh Meat (2006) and appeared in six seasons of The Challenge, making three finals and winning twice, before the MTV franchise reportedly banned him in 2011.
Following his exit, he became the host of the short-lived reality TV dating series Love Trap until it ended after three seasons in 2012.
Kenny, Mark, Evan, Derrick & Leroy! ? -? #TheChallengeInvasion https://t.co/dc9kwNwwdV
— The Challenge (@TheChallenge) February 15, 2017
Around January 2010, while still a cast member, Evan, who received his degree in International Relations from Cornell University in 2007, founded the New York-based advertising agency The Bait Shoppe.
He’s currently the company’s president, which has since expanded and opened offices in Denver, Los Angeles, and Toronto.
- 2/25/2023
- by Tamara Grant
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
A former "American Idol" contestant whose career in singing didn't exactly pan out is now trying his hand at gay porn.
Nathaniel Marshall, a contestant on "American Idol" Season 8, makes his debut in the gay porn film "Men Caught on Video 2." He goes by the name Jadyn Daniels in the flick, which premiered June 2, Queerty was first to report.
The aspiring-"Idol"-turned-porn-star swore he would "spice up" the competition when he first tried out for the singing competition. Alas, he was booted off after reaching the top 36.
He went on to join "The Gay Real World," an online reality series about (you guessed it) gay men living in a house together and having their lives taped, in 2011. In his audition video, Marshall explained why his singing career didn't take off after "Idol."
"I tried my hardest to get into the industry," he said, "but it's so hard. With all...
Nathaniel Marshall, a contestant on "American Idol" Season 8, makes his debut in the gay porn film "Men Caught on Video 2." He goes by the name Jadyn Daniels in the flick, which premiered June 2, Queerty was first to report.
The aspiring-"Idol"-turned-porn-star swore he would "spice up" the competition when he first tried out for the singing competition. Alas, he was booted off after reaching the top 36.
He went on to join "The Gay Real World," an online reality series about (you guessed it) gay men living in a house together and having their lives taped, in 2011. In his audition video, Marshall explained why his singing career didn't take off after "Idol."
"I tried my hardest to get into the industry," he said, "but it's so hard. With all...
- 6/4/2013
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Looks like everybody got real when it came time to settle Real World alum Tonya Cooley's sexual harassment claims against the show's producers. But maybe the warring parties also remained a little bit nice. Viacom-owned MTV Networks and Bunim/Murray Productions have settled the suit filed by Cooley last year, in which she claimed she was kicked off of The Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins after complaining to producers that she was sexually assaulted during filming by roomies Evan Starkman and Kenny Santucci while she was passed out. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, according to The Hollywood Reporter, but the two parties have informed the judge that they've reached...
- 10/25/2012
- E! Online
Former "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins" contestant Tonya Cooley and MTV have reached a settlement in the "toothbrush rape" lawsuit the reality star filed against the network last year, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Cooley sued "Real World" production company Bunim/Murray Productions and MTV's parent company Viacom in October of 2011, alleging that the she had been sexually assaulted with a toothbrush by male "Challenge" participants Kenneth Santucci and Evan Starkman, and that the show's producers neglected to stop the assault. Cooley was sent home from the 2009 competition in Phuket, Thailand the next day after slapping a female contestant, a move which she alleged was retaliation for reporting the incident.
In an initial court filing, MTV countered Cooley's claims by pointing to her own raucous behavior on the show. "Plaintiff failed to avoid the injuries of which she complains. For example, while she was a contestant on 'The Ruins,...
Cooley sued "Real World" production company Bunim/Murray Productions and MTV's parent company Viacom in October of 2011, alleging that the she had been sexually assaulted with a toothbrush by male "Challenge" participants Kenneth Santucci and Evan Starkman, and that the show's producers neglected to stop the assault. Cooley was sent home from the 2009 competition in Phuket, Thailand the next day after slapping a female contestant, a move which she alleged was retaliation for reporting the incident.
In an initial court filing, MTV countered Cooley's claims by pointing to her own raucous behavior on the show. "Plaintiff failed to avoid the injuries of which she complains. For example, while she was a contestant on 'The Ruins,...
- 10/24/2012
- by Alex Moaba
- Huffington Post
Tonya Cooley's lawsuit against MTV, Bunim-Murray Productions, and fellow cast members Kenny Santucci and Evan Starkman, who she says raped her with a toothbrush, reveals that Tonya filed a formal complaint a year and a half ago, and may have attempted to resolve her complaint without suing. That provides evidence that counters some of the arguments being made by those who want to immediately dismiss Tonya because of her past behavior or because they automatically...
- 10/31/2011
- by Andy Dehnart
- Reality Blurred
Tonya Cooley, a cast member of "Real World: Chicago" and many "Real World/Road Rules" challenges, is suing reality stars Evan Starkman and Kenneth Santucci for sexually assaulting her. MTV is also named in the suit. According to TMZ, Cooley's lawsuit claims Starkman and Santucci "took another male participant's toothbrush and rubbed the toothbrush around the plaintiff's genitals, including rubbing her labia and inserting the toothbrush into plaintiff's vagina." Cooley claims that producers knew about the rape and replaced the toothbrush in order to hide the incident from her. The suit also alleges that female cast members were often stripped out of their bathing suits and producers encouraged the male cast members to "inappropriately touch female cast members' bodies, including in intimate areas." The reality star said she and other cast members reported the sexual abuse, but the network ignored it. Cooley is suing for unspecified damages.
- 10/29/2011
- WorstPreviews.com
According to court papers obtained by EW, Real World Chicago castmember Tonya Cooley has filed suit against MTV, Bunim-Murray Productions, and reality stars Kenneth Santucci and Evan Starkman, claiming that she was sexually assaulted by Santucci and Starkman while filming The Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins, and that the producers of the program did nothing to stop it.
Cooley, a native of Washington state, claims that eight days into filming Ruins, which took place in Phuket, Thailand in May, 2009, she and other cast members became “very intoxicated” around the pool by drinking red wine and hard liquor — and...
Cooley, a native of Washington state, claims that eight days into filming Ruins, which took place in Phuket, Thailand in May, 2009, she and other cast members became “very intoxicated” around the pool by drinking red wine and hard liquor — and...
- 10/28/2011
- by Grady Smith
- EW - Inside TV
The original purveyors of youthful voyeurism are getting a hard dose of reality—in court. MTV and the creators of the Real World are on the receiving end of a lawsuit filed by former castmember Tonya Cooley who claims she was sexually assaulted during her stint on the long-running reality series. Who woulda thunk it? Per the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday and obtained by E! News, Cooley claims that when she was on the Real World: Ruins in 2009 contestants were provided with unlimited amounts of alcohol and that male contestants during the show were encouraged to mistreat the females. Real World: Ruins, part of the cable net's Real World/Road Rules spinoff The...
- 10/28/2011
- E! Online
This is beyond gross and crazy, more so than Tonya Cooley herself. According to TMZ, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge cast member is now suing numerous people from the MTV network for being raped with a toothbrush while on The Ruins season.
Cooley is claiming that male cast members tended to act like animals and one day "took another male participant's toothbrush and rubbed the toothbrush around the plaintiff's genitals, including rubbing her labia and inserting the toothbrush into plaintiff's vagina." The two men involved were Kenneth Santucci and Evan Starkman.
Producers knew of the incident and instead kept quiet and just replaced the toothbrush.
Tonya is also stating that there were numerous times where the women would report about sexual abuse but nothing was resolved. When male cast members stripped the women's bathing suits they would even be told by producers to "inappropriately touch" them. For fans that have seen the show,...
Cooley is claiming that male cast members tended to act like animals and one day "took another male participant's toothbrush and rubbed the toothbrush around the plaintiff's genitals, including rubbing her labia and inserting the toothbrush into plaintiff's vagina." The two men involved were Kenneth Santucci and Evan Starkman.
Producers knew of the incident and instead kept quiet and just replaced the toothbrush.
Tonya is also stating that there were numerous times where the women would report about sexual abuse but nothing was resolved. When male cast members stripped the women's bathing suits they would even be told by producers to "inappropriately touch" them. For fans that have seen the show,...
- 10/28/2011
- by Stephanie Webber
- Celebsology
Tonya Cooley has sued Kenny Santucci, Evan Starkman, MTV, and show producers Bunim-Murray, claiming the two men sexually assaulted her with a toothbrush while she was unconscious and cameras were filming The Challenge: The Ruins. TMZ reports on the lawsuit, which it says that Kenny and Evan "took another male participant's toothbrush and rubbed the toothbrush around plaintiff's genitals, including rubbing her labia and inserting the toothbrush into plaintiff's vagina." TMZ's summary says that the...
- 10/28/2011
- by Andy Dehnart
- Reality Blurred
Filed under: TV News, Celebrities and Gossip
Tonya Cooley, a cast member of 'Real World: Chicago' and many 'Real World/Road Rules' challenges, is suing MTV, Bunim/Murray Productions and reality stars Evan Starkman and Kenneth Santucci, saying the male cast members named in the suit sexually assaulted her.
According to TMZ, Cooley's lawsuit claims Starkman and Santucci sexually abused her with a toothbrush while she was passed out. Warning -- the details are a bit graphic.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments...
Tonya Cooley, a cast member of 'Real World: Chicago' and many 'Real World/Road Rules' challenges, is suing MTV, Bunim/Murray Productions and reality stars Evan Starkman and Kenneth Santucci, saying the male cast members named in the suit sexually assaulted her.
According to TMZ, Cooley's lawsuit claims Starkman and Santucci sexually abused her with a toothbrush while she was passed out. Warning -- the details are a bit graphic.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments...
- 10/28/2011
- by Chris Harnick
- Aol TV.
"The Real World: Chicago" and frequent "Challenge" participant Tonya Cooley has filed a lawsuit accusing her former "Challenge: The Ruins" castmates Kenneth Santucci and Evan Starkman of violating her genitals with a toothbrush while MTV turned a blind eye to the sexual abuse.
According to TMZ, Cooley's lawsuit claims that while she was passed out -- and MTV was filming -- Santucci and Starkman "took another male participant's toothbrush and rubbed the toothbrush around plaintiff's genitals, including rubbing her labia and inserting the toothbrush into plaintiff's vagina."
Cooley then alleges producers replaced the toothbrush and didn't tell her what happened. She also says producers encouraged male cast members to "inappropriately touch female cast members' bodies, including in intimate areas," while stripped of their bathing suits. Apparently she and other female "Challenge" participants reported the incidents, but MTV didn't do anything about it.
Neither MTV nor Bunim/Murray, the company that...
According to TMZ, Cooley's lawsuit claims that while she was passed out -- and MTV was filming -- Santucci and Starkman "took another male participant's toothbrush and rubbed the toothbrush around plaintiff's genitals, including rubbing her labia and inserting the toothbrush into plaintiff's vagina."
Cooley then alleges producers replaced the toothbrush and didn't tell her what happened. She also says producers encouraged male cast members to "inappropriately touch female cast members' bodies, including in intimate areas," while stripped of their bathing suits. Apparently she and other female "Challenge" participants reported the incidents, but MTV didn't do anything about it.
Neither MTV nor Bunim/Murray, the company that...
- 10/28/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
A cast member on MTV's " The Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins " claims male members acted like animals during production, in one case raping her with a toothbrush ... this according to a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ. Tonya Cooley filed the suit against MTV, Bunim/Murray Productions, Kenneth Santucci , Evan Starkman and others ... claiming the two guys "took another male participant's toothbrush and rubbed the toothbrush around plaintiff's genitals, including rubbing her labia and...
- 10/27/2011
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
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