Johnny Bananas Slams ‘The Challenge’ Final Twist as ‘Complete Bulls—‘

Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, a seven-time champion of MTV‘s The Challenge, has criticized the show’s controversial final twist in its 40th season, Battle of the Eras. In the Jan. 8 finale, eliminated players’ “Karma Votes” significantly impacted the final standings, a decision Devenanzio called “complete bulls—” in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“I do think it’s stupid that they put so much power in the final outcome into the hands of people who lost,” Devenanzio said. “You basically let losers determine the fate of the winners, and I just think that’s a very strange thing to do.” The twist allowed eliminated contestants to assign scores to finalists, which were then factored into the final results.

Devenanzio, who finished in third place, revealed that even his longtime friend Leroy Garrett gave him a low score of one. “My own best friend gave me a one, that should tell you everything about why this vote was complete bulls—,” he said. Despite the setback, Devenanzio expressed pride in his performance, stating, “At this stage in my career, just making it to a final for me is a huge win.”

The finale saw Jordan Wiseley claim first place for the men, earning $200,000, while Derek Chavez took second place with $75,000. Devenanzio walked away with $25,000. On the women’s side, Rachel Robinson and Jenny West were crowned co-champions, splitting $475,000 after the Karma Vote adjusted their standings.

Devenanzio also addressed his strained relationships with fellow contestants, including Michele Fitzgerald and Devin Walker. He defended his decision to intervene in their budding relationship during the season, stating, “I was stepping in as a friend, and there’s nothing I would’ve done differently in hindsight.” However, he acknowledged that his relationship with Walker remains tense, while he maintains a more amicable connection with Fitzgerald.

The season’s finale and its twist have sparked widespread discussion among fans, with many debating the fairness of allowing eliminated players to influence the outcome. Devenanzio’s candid critique adds fuel to the ongoing conversation about the show’s evolving format and its impact on competition integrity.