“The Challenge” Season 42 stars Nelson Thomas and Leo Dionicio gave insight into the reported racial incident that got the pair, as well as Josh Goldstein, kicked off the show.
“I let my emotions take over, broke dishes, destroyed kitchen and violated the code of conduct,” Thomas tweeted on Thursday, adding, “That’s on me. I’m learning and growing.”
In a second tweet, Thomas, 37, confirmed he received a “DM apology” from Goldstein, 30.
“I’m giving him space to take ownership publicly,” Thomas wrote. “Saying you have Black friends doesn’t give you a pass to use the N-word. This goes beyond TV. We need accountability, understanding, and growth.”
During Wednesday’s episode of “The Challenge: Cutthroat,” host TJ Lavin told the cast that Goldstein, Dionicio and Thomas “all broke the code of conduct” and were off the show, with no further explanation.
According to the spoiler account GamerVev, Dionicio, 24, was disqualified for using the N-word during a game with Thomas. Goldstein was disqualified for repeating the slur and Thomas was disqualified for damaging the kitchen after confronting Goldstein.
Dionicio gave his side of the story when he appeared on co-star Johnny Bananas’ “Death, Taxes and Bananas” podcast this week.
“Number one, I don’t really hold hate in my heart for people after they mess up,” Dionicio said. “People mess up all the time. That’s not how I move about my life.”
But the “Love Island” alum admitted he “was really upset” in the moment because of Goldstein’s alleged “super ignorant” comment.
“I thought the hand that I was dealt was pretty messed up since I didn’t really do shit wrong,” he continued. “I thought that the outcome should’ve been, ‘Boom, I’m good. Someone else should’ve got fined, and someone else should’ve got kicked out.’ But I didn’t even think I should’ve been apart of that mix.”
Dionicio also revealed that after Goldstein allegedly repeated the N-word, he “literally dropped to my knees and starting crying like a little kid.”
“I went from sadness to anger like this,” he recalled. “I got tears flowing. I’m raging, jumping up and down, screaming. I’m ready to throw a bunch of stuff.”
However, Dionicio said he wants to be done dwelling on the alleged situation.
“It’s not gonna bring me the money I could’ve won,” he explained. “It’s not gonna give me more time on the show that i can just have next season. I know I’m in good standing with production, so I’m not really concerned about it.”
Goldstein, for his part, hasn’t spoken out about the controversy.
The trio’s co-star, Izzy Fairthorne, exclusively told Page Six on Wednesday how the rest of the cast reacted to the triple disqualification.
“When they left, we were all in shock,” she said. “We didn’t really know much about it. None of us were there.”
Fairthorne, who is rumored to be dating Dionicio, told us that two of the three guys filled her in on what went down, but given how “sensitive” the topic is, she doesn’t want to speak for them.
The reality star also admitted she “was shocked” that the alleged incident was cut from the edit.
“I don’t know if they’re protecting anyone. I don’t know if it shouldn’t make the cut because it’s a sensitive topic,” she said. “I don’t know the reason behind it.”
“The Challenge: Cutthroat” drops new episodes Wednesdays on Paramount+.
