Recently, Brad went on Instagram and shared a story that was slightly unsettling and a little confusing. He started by saying “question every word I have ever said to you…” and claimed he would need a name change on his jersey and a “good tattoo artist.”
After the story raised some concerns, Brad addressed the comment on his IG feed. He explained he paddled out into a lake, in the darkness, to do some self-reflection. During this self-healing process he made a decision to break his silence on an event that happened before the Real World: San Diego.
This leave some room for ambiguity, but until I hear differently, I would assume this is a personal issue and not one that occurred while filming the Real World. However, it’s not clear if Brad is talking about an issue that happened before Real World: San Diego started to film in 2003, or an issue that he was silent about prior to the season’s airing in 2004.
Anyone who was following news about the Real World in 2004 may know that the San Diego season faced an incident where a woman claimed she was drugged and raped in the house’s bathroom. To be clear, the incident did not involve cast members: neither the accuser nor accused were part of the cast. But, the incident did take place in the Real World house, and police confiscated months worth of footage. Apparently, Charlie and Frankie spent equal amounts of time on the season, but much of Charlie’s footage was taken by the police, explaining why he appeared in so few episodes.
If you’re familiar with this case, and you hear Brad discussing an incident from this time of his life, it’s natural to wonder if he’s alluding to the Real World incident. However, he insisted that the issues involves “immediate family,” and he opted to remain silent because wanted to protect his family. It’s doubtful that speaking about the Real World allegations would have any impact on his immediate family.
Regarding the “tattoo” artist comment, it likely has to do with his back tattoo. Brad’s last name is prominently tatted across the top of his back, so if he’s disassociating himself with his prior name, it would (literally) be a big task to remove or disguise that tattoo.
Brad has also stated you can still call him Brad, so it’s unclear why he is choosing to go by a different name (which has not yet been revealed). He’s also discussed that his decision to speak publicly and change his name is a result of talking with a therapist. So, it’s good to hear that Brad has positive resources to help him, and he is working to improve his mental health.
It seems Brad is in a place where he’s addressing past traumas and unresolved issues, and he’s finding healthy ways to recover. But, based on the Battle For A New Champion cast, it’s clear he hasn’t turned his back on The Challenge, because he will make an appearance on the upcoming season.
Stop Being Polite 