"Hurts my feelings" — Michele Fitzgerald opens up about Johnny Bananas after The Challenge: Battle of the Eras finale

The finale of The Challenge: Battle of the Eras, which aired on January 8, 2025, concluded with unexpected results for Michele Fitzgerald. In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly on January 8, 2025, Michele addressed her dynamic with Johnny Bananas Devenanzio, a former ally.

Bananas celebrated her loss in the final standings, a reaction that Michele said impacted her.

"Nothing surprises me when it comes to Bananas anymore, but it hurts my feelings," she shared.

Competing in her first Challenge final, Michele placed second in the competition but was moved to third place due to the Karma vote system.This twist led to Jenny West and Rachel Robinson tying for first place, with Michele reflecting on the unique voting process and how it shaped the outcome.

The Karma votes in Battle of the Eras allowed each eliminated player to assign 1-5 points to the remaining competitors. These votes played a significant role in determining the final rankings.

---

Michele Fitzgerald on the Karma vote and her final placement in The Challenge: Battle of the eras

Michele spoke about the Karma vote’s influence on the finale results, explaining how it shifted her from second to third place. The voting system allowed cast members from earlier episodes to affect the final rankings in The Challenge: Battle of the Eras. Michele noted that this process was different from other shows like Survivor or Big Brother, where jury management is part of the gameplay.

She explained:

"It’s tricky to give that much power to people who haven’t really played the game or gotten to know me."

Michele expressed that understanding the importance of the Karma vote earlier could have helped her approach the game differently. She also reflected on the small errors she made during the final of The Challenge: Battle of the Eras.

She also pointed out moments where she struggled, such as missing a skull in a barrel and spending extra time on an underwater task. She said:

"If you look at my placings, I was either totally fumbling the bag or dominating, and I wish I was a little bit more consistent."

These challenges added to her overall placement, with just one point separating her from tying for first place. Despite the outcome, Michele indicated she plans to learn from the experience and adapt if she returns to the competition.

---

Michele discusses her relationship with Johnny Bananas

Michele addressed her relationship with Johnny Bananas following the finale of The Challenge: Battle of the eras. During the episode, Bananas celebrated her third-place finish, which Michele described as unnecessary.

"We would've got the picture if he just said, 'I'm so grateful to see my girls Jenny and Rachel win.' You don't have to do the dig," she said.

She acknowledged that separating the personal from the competitive aspects of the show has been challenging. Bananas later explained his actions as game-related, but Michele admitted that this had left a mark on their friendship.

"I think that forever there’s going to be this kind of asterisk on our relationship after the season," she said.

Michele shared that she holds no lasting resentment but believes their dynamic has shifted. Looking ahead, she plans to take a break from the competition to focus on other goals and regain balance. Michele mentioned she might return in the future with more experience and preparation for the game.

---

The reunion of The Challenge: Battle of the Eras will air on Wednesday, January 15, at 8 pm ET on MTV.