Despite previous failed showmances, The Challenge’s Johnny Bananas seemingly entered yet another with MTV’s Season 41.
Early in Vets and New Threats, viewers saw Bananas cozy up to rookie Dee Valladares, best known for winning Survivor 45.
During confessional remarks, the polarizing MTV vet suggested it was as if a Cuban empanada hit him instead of Cupid’s arrow.
However, Dee commented that she probably should stay away from the seven-time champion, as other players would be targeting him.
That didn’t work out so well, because Bananas chose her during the partner selection process at the end of the Day Zero episode.
But according to the former Real World: Key West star, he and Dee met before the games officially began for The Challenge.
Bananas reveals he and Dee connected before The Challenge
During an interview before the Season 41 premiere on MTV, The Challenge’s Johnny Bananas revealed he and Dee met during a finale party for Battle of the Eras. Bananas explained they have a mutual friend in his castmate, Josh Martinez, from Big Brother.
“She’s friends with Josh, so we chatted back and forth a little bit before leaving, just kind of being like, ‘Let’s get together, let’s work together this season,'” Bananas shared.
“Since we have a mutual friend in Josh, that was the understanding that we had. And then on top of that, we’re both single, and it always helps move the game forward if you have somebody like that to spend time with. So that was kind of the thought process going in,” he told Entertainment Weekly.
Bananas said he had an interest in pursuing something with Dee before they started filming. That led to his question about Dee being his girlfriend during the TJ Lavin interrogation scene.
He mentioned hesitancy about starting something with Dee because she used manipulation to win Survivor.
“I’m just so paranoid at this point because I’ve been burned in this game so many times by relationships, so it was difficult to be on the same page and really trust that we both were honest about our intentions. I just wasn’t sure what the actual vibe was,” Bananas said.
Bananas also addressed working on ‘cheating’
One of the major talking points from the Vets and New Threats supertrailer is TJ calling out some cheaters. The host tells the cast that it’s the one thing he dislikes more than quitters.
However, it’s unclear which rookies or veterans are behind that particular scandal. Fans are already speculating about who it could be.
“If you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying. You just have to be better at cheating. You can’t get caught. If people get caught for cheating, it’s because they just need to work on their cheating game. You’re a little sloppy,” he said.
“In all my years, I’ve never been caught cheating…Well, at least, on the show,” he told EW, laughing.
Most likely, Bananas was joking about another The Challenge showmance that blossomed into a more serious relationship after filming.
He and Big Brother’s Morgan Willett got pretty serious after teaming up for War of the Worlds 2. Over a year into their relationship, she discovered Bananas cheating on her and ended things with the MTV star.
The Challenge: Vets and New Threats airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on MTV.
