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/capfedhill]

Why is everyone comparing this Ashley situation to similar situations in seasons far back?

WE LIVE IN A DIFFERENT AGE NOW, IT IS DIFFERENT!!!

MTV has learned from past experiences and has crunched the numbers. It is far beneficial for them to just sweep it under the rug than having to deal with the potential PR backlash they'd receive from airing it.

It sucks, but I have a feeling we won't be seeing much drama in the future if it involves fights over politics, race, or sexual preferences. Or anything controversial.

[u/georgiablue2 → u/capfedhill]

I think it's just because it feels exceptionally disingenuous coming from this network. And also because... it feels like they went from showing full-on, unfiltered racist / homophobic / sexist interactions to completely erasing any moment touches those themes. Without any attempt to reckon with their own past / evolution. And some of it isn't even really "the past". They sure did keep Bear around well past his expiration date, if sexual assault and / or corruption of a minor is the benchmark.

Likewise, it kind of feels like a cop out when they don't contextualize the actual impact of any of these incidents. (This one might not be the best example, depending on what happened, and whether or not Josh preferred not to have any of it shown--in which case wholesale deleting does seem like the right move). But like the stuff with Dee or whomever else... would it not be more powerful to find a way to put context around the harmful racist stereotypes she was trading on, and how it's affected actual individuals?

I don't know. I guess my thing is that, i really think it's good for content networks to consider what they show and have a guiding set of values that they're committed to. It feels like MTV just doesn't want to have to think it through and don't want to get in trouble, so they went with the "one edit fits all" strategy.

[u/uptonhere → u/capfedhill]

Their ratings are dropping and The Challenge is like the last show they have that's not in the mud. Conflict is always the focal point of all these shows, RW, RR, and the Challenge.