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MTV's long-running competition series The Challenge is approaching its milestone season 40 finale this January 2025. While the show continues to draw viewers with intense physical competitions and dramatic eliminations, a controversial incident from season 37 remains significant in the show's history.
In August 2021, MTV removed contestant Lauren Coogan from The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies during filming in Croatia. The network edited her out completely within 48 hours of filming episode 2, replacing her with Big Brother winner Amber Borzotra as Josh Martinez's partner.
The 29-year-old Love Island veteran later revealed through a now-deleted tweet on X that she spent months in therapy following her removal. She expressed her frustration, stating:
“All jokes aside, I got gaslit and scapegoated on two major networks within the same month.”
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Her removal mirrored MTV's previous approach with contestant Dee Nguyen from Total Madness season. Coogan's footage only appeared in background shots of The Challenge season 37 episode 1.
Lauren Coogan links time constraints to sudden exit from The Challenge season 37
The Challenge season 37 introduced a format pairing international players with American contestants. Production selected Lauren Coogan, fresh from her Love Island appearance, to compete in Croatia. The show matched her with veteran player Josh Martinez in the premiere episode. Their partnership began during the first challenge, where teams formed through a competitive selection process.
However, the pairing ended abruptly during the early filming stages due to alleged off-camera incidents that MTV never officially addressed.
Coogan addressed the situation through multiple platforms after the episodes of The Challenge season 37 aired. As per US magazine, she conducted an Instagram Q&A on August 17, where she discussed previously unrevealed details. The reality star explained complications arose from the filming location in Croatia.
She noted that the time difference between Croatia and the United States affected MTV's legal review process. The legal team needed to examine footage containing disputed statements before the next challenge, but they ran out of time due to the shooting schedule.
In a now-deleted tweet, Coogan described facing significant personal struggles after leaving The Challenge season 37. She mentioned spending time in therapy following the experience:
”My anxiety skyrocketed, my mental health was literally in shambles and this led me to an identity crisis of sorts. Reality TV is supposed to be a source of entertainment and fun. To break the monotony of real life for the audience."
She continued:
“We didn’t sign up to be role models or politicians. We are just people figuring it out (in front of millions) both brave and crazy enough to put our lives out there for the pure amusement of whoever chooses to watch.”
Partner's account
Josh Martinez detailed his experience working with Lauren Coogan during a Watch With Us podcast interview. The veteran competitor described:
“Lauren was so out there. She was so outspoken, like, the life of the party. I was definitely overwhelmed because it was a lot. She has such a massive personality. I came into the season more focused than ever. … I just felt like Lauren was there to have a good time.”
The Big Brother winner claimed that Coogan appeared intoxicated during her time in the house. His exact words were:
“I think Lauren was drunk like the whole time she was in the house. She was definitely intoxicated the whole time… So that’s the struggle I had with her. I just felt like she wasn’t there for the right reasons,”
Coogan responded to these claims by replying to a The Challenge fan account on X (now deleted):
"Out there yes, more drunk than a house of alcoholics... no."
After her removal, MTV aired minimal footage of Coogan in the premiere episode. They completely removed her from the second episode except for a moment when Martinez received news of her exit. The announcement came through host TJ Lavin, who simply stated she "had to leave the game."
The Challenge season 40 episode 18 is scheduled to air on Jan 1, 2025.
