The Challenge can be an intense game. While crying, drama, and arguments are common (at least they used to be), meltdowns are a bit more rare. But, there are still many instances on the show.
What’s considered a meltdown? It’s an intense, over-the-top response to a situation. While it can involve an argument with another person, meltdowns are usually characterized by one person’s disproportionally intense reaction.
This list is inspired by Ms. Mojo’s 20 Craziest Reality Show Meltdowns, which only had one moment from The Challenge and it was an honorable mention — Camila’s meltdown when Eric quit on Battle of the Seasons. But, there are so many more meltdowns on The Challenge that are better than that one.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
15. Tony (Dirty Thirty) – Somehow, eggs and mom jokes don’t mix for Dunbar
14. Ninja (War of the Worlds) – That time Hulkeesha came out
13. Kellyanne (The Ruins) – A birthday ruined by Dunbar
12. The Mean Girls (The Inferno 2) – Veronica, Rachel, and Tina were furious when Jodi outwitted them
11. The Miz (Battle of the Seasons) – Losing is doubly worse when it’s on your 21st birthday
10. Faith Stowers (War of the Worlds 2)
Being sick is never fun, and Faith found herself in a house where people were loud and partied into the late hours. When they woke her up in the middle of the night, she resorted to banging pots and pans to make her point. This angered more people because she woke up innocent competitors, but before this could escalate further Faith removed herself from the game.
9. Evelyn Smith (Fresh Meat 2)
Many people have left the game in tears, but TJ claimed Evelyn’s departure was the worst display of sportsmanship he ever saw. She thought she won the Exile — despite frustrations with Luke — but after Landon & Carley’s time bonus from completing a puzzle gave them the win, she started crying and blaming him. Granted, Luke wanted to attempt the puzzle and Ev insisted on bypassing it, but she assumed no responsibility in this loss.
8. Ashley Mitchell (Rivals 3)
Ashley has a long list of Challenge meltdowns, and most of them are rooted in hilarity. This one is among the most comical. Convinced that Nicole R. was trying to flirt with Jamie (she wasn’t), Ashley started bawling in the bathroom. Then, Nicole entered because she had to use the bathroom, but Ashley told her to leave and pee her pants. Nicole found another bathroom, and Ashley found herself back in Jamie’s arms at the end of the night.
7. Rachel Moyal (The Inferno 3)
Losing sucks, but when Rachel was the first girl sent home on The Inferno 3, she started sobbing uncontrollably. As Jenn was celebrating her victory, Rachel was curled into a ball, unable to say goodbye to her team. Later, in her departing interview, the tears continued to flow and she called Jenn a “chubby civilian girl.”
6. Wes (The Ruins)
The first half of this season is packed with Wes-centered drama, but most of this is a result of arguments he picked. However, his most dramatic outburst came after the Champs forced his girlfriend Kellyanne to face Evelyn in The Ruins. During this, he was seen kicking things with Evelyn, calling Bananas a bitch, and laughing at his teammates. It’s clear he wanted to bring drama this season, but this was a borderline manic moment.
5. Ashley Mitchell (Invasion of the Champions)
Pranks have become par for the course on The Challenge, but after a challenge involving curry, Ashely felt Bananas took things too far by removing her toilet seat. She started crying and packing her bags, but thanks to production’s fast response and some comfort from Amanda, she got her head in the game and stuck around. She won the season, too, even though this wasn’t the only time she threatened to quit.
4. David Edwards (Battle of the Sexes)
It’s pretty clear that Dave showed up on his first (and only) Challenge looking for trouble. He’s never been one to bite his tongue, but the moment he saw Puck, civil discourse wasn’t an option. He started hurling insults at Puck and calling him a wife beater. Afterward, Puck spat on him, and Dave was petitioning for his rival to be ejected from the game. It almost happened, but when Puck was allowed to stay, David removed himself.
3. Camila Nakagawa (Dirty Thirty)
This argument with Leroy started when Camila walked in the men’s bedroom at the wrong time. Upset by a conversation involving the women’s gameplay (but not Camila specifically), she started berating Leroy. This resulted in her throwing around racial slurs, screaming at half the house, and flinging dumbbells. Afterwards, she was taken to a hotel, but she wasn’t ejected from the game.
2. Jo Rhodes (The Gauntlet 2)
After a decade away from MTV, Jo made her Challenge debut on The Gauntlet 2. It started off as a fun reunion with a few familiar faces, but it quickly escalated into a party that she wasn’t prepared for. Overwhelmed by the situation, she decided to pack up her things and leave, but when people tried to convince her to stay, she threatened to sue the island of Tobago. Police were called, Jo was escorted off the property, but the moment is etched in Challenge history.
1. Camila Nakagawa (Battle of the Exes)
I probably could have made a whole list of meltdowns centered around Camila, but her Exes 1 moment lives in Challenge infamy because it birthed the “Camilinator.” The emotional outburst included tears, chairs being flung, a dip in the pool, and screaming “You’re gonna die” at Bananas. The next day, she said her apologies and competed like nothing ever happened.
Stop Being Polite 