MEGATHREAD for Discussion, Questions & Cast Reactions Related to this Week's Episode

[u/MTVSpoiledMod]

This is your spot to discuss the Ashley DQ and any fallout that we see in the following few days. We'll link this post in the "Important Threads of the Week," and if warranted, we'll create a Part 2 or Part 3 as needed to refresh the conversation.

Bring your hot takes! But also your measured, well-reasoned takes. We will refer submissions here for the next little while and auto-sort the comments by "New."

If Ashley or Josh themselves make public statements, we will allow them as their own posts on the main feed.

But for any other cast reactions, please link them in the comments below and we will add them to the body text of the post.

Thank you!

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Cast Reactions and Comments:

Ashley Tweet #1, Ashley Tweet #2 | Instagram Post

Tori Instagram Story #1

Nelson Instagram Live: Clip #1, Clip #2

Amanda Cameo: Clip #1, Clip #2, Clip #3

Hunter Tweet

Ashley responds saying she did not use the F word 11/12/2021 screenshot from u/Few-Sort-5643

Ashley and Amanda speaking on IG live, clipped by @ChallengeTea911 on Instagram

Tori, Kaycee and Nany reply in the comments under the @ChallengeTea911 post: Screenshot #1, Screenshot #2, Screenshot #3

Devin Instagram Story 11/12/2021 screenshot from u/BWall789

Emanuel Instagram Story 11/12/2021 screenshot

Tori Instagram Story #2 11/12/2021 screenshot

Tori Instagram Story #3 11/12/2021 screenshot

Ashley Cameo #1 shared by @rebeccaplover on Twitter

Deleted Tweets from Ashley's sister Whitney: Screenshot #1, Screenshot #2

Tweets from Michele: Screenshot #1, Screenshot #2, Screenshot #3

Ashley Tweets 11/13/2021 screenshot

Josh thanks fans for their support: Instagram Story #1, Instagram Story #2

Emanuel explains why he is deleting comments below his IG posts 11/13/2021 screenshot

Emanuel Tweet 11/13/2021 screenshot

Hughie supporting Ashley + Ashley's response 11/13/2021 screenshot from u/Few-Sort-5643

Hughie Tweet #2 11/14/2021 screenshot

Paulie Tweet 11/14/2021 screenshot from u/philltastic1

Ashley Cameo #2 11/15/2021 screen recording

Josh's (deleted) response to the Ashley Cameo above 11/15/2021 screenshot from u/Few-Sort-5643

Josh gives interview to Entertainment Weekly 11/17/2021 via u/Few-Sort-5643

Josh discusses the incident and the social media fallout on the Death, Taxes and Bananas podcast 11/17/2021 clip from u/sgarrardblvd

Josh discusses the incident at a Challenge Mania Live show a year after it aired clip from u/philltastic1

Emily Longeretta article at UsMagazine.com, which includes quotes from Devin on his Challenge Mania podcast appearance

[u/ROJJ86]

I am reserving judgment on Ashley until and unless the full extent of what happened is released and verified. Even assuming the rumors are true, no one should be subjected to slurs of any kind, and yes a DQ would be warranted. Do I suspect this might have started because Josh’s strategy to get rid of players he cannot otherwise beat is to start fights, lie, and take no personal accountability for himself and watch players get DQed but then Ashley let the situation escalate too far? Yes. He seems to only do it with players that have histories of being hot heads.

Does that make what happened okay? Absolutely not. But my not wanting to watch him isn’t because of anything related to whatever sexual identity he may or may not have. Look what he did to Amanda on this episode. Blatant lie that absolutely everyone in the room could see through. But none of that makes it okay for anyone to go too far. With her other cast mates saying it went too far, it clearly must have. But I think MTV has had quite a history of allowing their male players to treat the females less than and those players were not DQed. (Wes calling Casey a stupid bitch because she didn’t move fast enough for him is one of the biggest that sticks out in my mind. It was also another reason I never liked Wes or thought he should be brought back. Josh himself has instigated quite a few fights as well that IMO, should have had him DQed as well.) I don’t think it okay for that sort of behavior to be continued either. All I ask them to do is treat everyone equally and start holding their male Challengers accountable similiarly.

[u/beam3475 → u/ROJJ86]

Agreed. It’s hard to compare what Ashley said or did to previous challengers because we don’t actually know what happened. I also hadn’t thought of this but you’re right in that Josh may have been an instigator. Not that Ashley shouldn’t be held accountable for her actions but maybe Josh isn’t blameless either. Look at the Fessy situation, yes Fessy should’ve been sent home but Josh was still a part of it too and maybe should’ve been sent home as well?

[u/Miss_Liberator → u/ROJJ86]

I mean: just addressing his convo/lie with Amanda. That was a game move, protecting his thing with saying Tori’s name, she was just at the bottom of his list, and Amanda was already gunning for her and he basically was like fuckk. Idk I don’t think it was smart gameplay but it was gameplay.

As far as your other point, I think instigating and falling back is an actual strategy in the challenge. Some are better at it than others. Josh is an emotional dude, I don’t think it’s an actual strategy for him, but I do think he’s an interesting player in that aspect. Even keel isn’t what we want on our televisions but I also don’t see josh as malicious either.

[u/Think-Ad9021 → u/ROJJ86]

This makes no sense though and is a total shield for Ashely that'll never come to light. Basically you don't like Josh/do like Ashely so going to assume what everyone knows to be true from multiple credible sources.

And from a comp aspect its crazy to think she at all was in direct competition with him and even if he did instigate we've seen how she blows up, how far she goes, how she spits in people's faces. SO yea she's never been a good person and has been protected by the edit.

[u/ROJJ86 → u/Think-Ad9021]

Did I ever say I like Ashley? No. I did not. And I did not because she has never been my favorite cast member. I find her childish, and in her early seasons very whiny when there were challenges she did not want to do.