Paramount Appears to Apply Racial Slur Policy Equally on 'The Challenge' After Past Controversy

Three contestants were removed from MTV's "The Challenge: Cutthroat" this week after a reported racial incident, a move that appears to show Paramount applying its code of conduct equally across contestants, unlike a similar situation on "Big Brother" in 2023.

Host T.J. Lavin announced the disqualifications of Leo Dionicio, Josh Goldstein, and Nelson Thomas early in Wednesday's episode, stating they had "broke the code of conduct here on 'The Challenge.'" The show did not air the incident or provide further details.

Reports from Page Six indicate that Dionicio, who is Black, used the N-word during gameplay. The report further states that Goldstein, who is White, repeated the word, and Thomas became angry and damaged the kitchen, leading to the removal of all three. Thomas later confirmed his own actions on X, writing, "I let my emotions take over, broke dishes, destroyed [the] kitchen and violated the code of conduct. That’s on me."

Dionicio discussed his removal on fellow contestant Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio's podcast, "Death, Taxes and Bananas." While Devenanzio noted they were instructed not to reveal specifics, Dionicio expressed frustration, feeling his punishment was disproportionate and that he "didn’t really do s--- wrong." However, he later acknowledged that all contestants signed the same agreement and that he is "not bigger than the program."

Devenanzio, in response, stated, "I think what’s understood is that they have to have a rule, and it has to apply to everybody equally." A source familiar with the production confirmed that Bunim/Murray Productions, which produces the show, has a clear code of conduct that all three cast members violated. Paramount declined to comment on the specific actions leading to each removal.

This incident draws a parallel to a controversy on CBS's "Big Brother" in August 2023. In that instance, White contestant Luke Valentine was removed for using the N-word, while Black contestant Kirsten Elwin, who reportedly used the same word days earlier, received no apparent punishment. At the time, critics noted that this represented a racial double standard in the enforcement of the show's code of conduct.

Both CBS and MTV are under the Paramount umbrella. While Paramount has not publicly detailed the specifics of "The Challenge" disqualifications, the reporting suggests that Dionicio and Goldstein were removed for using the same word and that the rule was applied to both. This contrasts with the "Big Brother" situation, where the policy appeared to be enforced differently based on the race of the contestants involved.

If the account of the "The Challenge" incident is accurate, Paramount appears to have learned from the previous controversy and applied its conduct policy without regard to the contestants' race. However, the company has not yet publicly confirmed this equal enforcement.