“I’ll forgive her”— The Challenge star Johnny Bananas and Michele Fitzgerald make amends in a deleted scene

The Challenge: Battle of the Eras aired episode 15 on December 4, 2024, on MTV. In the latest episode, viewers saw the usual tension between Johnny Bananas and Michele Fitzgerald. However, a deleted scene from that episode was later posted on Instagram on December 6, showing the two castmates making amends after a long-standing feud.

This moment of forgiveness came after several confrontations, including Michele's showmance with Bananas' rival, Devin Walker. Despite their earlier tensions, Bananas said:

“I know she may have said some mean things about me, but I’ll forgive her since it’s her birthday.”

The scene offered a rare glimpse into their relationship, showing humor and understanding not seen in the original airing of the show.

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The Challenge behind-the-scenes look at Johnny Bananas and Michele Fitzgerald's moment of forgiveness

The feud between the two

During The Challenge: Battle of the Eras, Johnny Bananas, and Michele Fitzgerald found themselves on opposing sides due to their conflicting alliances and personal dynamics. The tension escalated after Bananas warned Michele about her showmance with Devin Walker.

Bananas believed that Devin was using Michele as part of his game strategy, a notion that Michele rejected. After Devin's elimination, Michele expressed frustration with Bananas' comments, accusing him of targeting her and her allies.

Their rivalry reached a peak in a later episode, where Michele attempted to provoke Bananas by engaging in playful behavior with Aviv Melmed, Bananas’ fellow cast member.

Previously in episode 13, when the contenders took a bus ride for the next challenge, Bananas and Aviv were seated together with their feet across the aisle. Michele jokingly said that if her feet could also join. Aviv confronted Michele about the bus incident. Bananas also reacted, calling Michele "catty" during their interaction.

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The deleted scene

In The Challenge 40 episode 15, viewers were treated to a celebratory moment where Michele received a birthday surprise from her castmates, including Cara Maria Sorbello, Tori Deal, and Derek Chavez. However, a deleted scene that was not aired in the episode shed light on a lighter moment between Michele and Bananas.

As seen on Instagram, the deleted sequence depicted Johnny Bananas joking with his castmates about Michele’s presence in the room. He playfully asked who invited her, despite the tension between them earlier in the season. He said:

“Who the f*** invited Michele in here? I know it’s her birthday, but who brought her in?”

Bananas then hinted at putting their differences aside, suggesting he might have something special planned for her birthday. He mentioned that although Michele may have said hurtful things, he was ready to forgive her since it was her special day. He added with a lighthearted comment:

“The more wine you drink, the more forgiving you get.”

Michele expressed relief and gratitude, saying she was happy that Bananas forgave her for their past disagreements. Bananas acknowledged that he had also made mistakes and said things he didn’t mean. Michele, in turn, admitted that she sometimes said things in the heat of the moment and regretted it afterward.

The scene wrapped up with Bananas offering a humorous piece of advice, suggesting Michele should "walk in his shoes" just as he walked "in the shoes of Jesus.”

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The Challenge 40 episode 15 recap

Episode 15 of The Challenge: Battle of the Eras saw contestants battling for safety in the "Tight Quarters" Daily Challenge. The task required players to crawl through dark, tight tunnels filled with bats and other obstacles, then solve a slider puzzle before racing to a second tunnel and completing another puzzle.

Tori and Kyland emerged as the winners, securing safety. Meanwhile, Aviv was disqualified after getting lost in the maze and was sent straight into elimination. The tension between alliances increased as Cory, after winning the previous arena, targeted Michele, Jenny, and Aviv.

Cory’s attempts to solidify alliances with Tori and Cara Maria further shifted the dynamics of the game. Meanwhile, Bananas, noticing Cara Maria’s growing influence, expressed concerns to his allies. Rachel, on the other hand, continued to work on building relationships with key players like Jordan and Kyland.

In the elimination round, Aviv faced Jenny in the "Iron Triangle" challenge, a physical battle involving throwing a 10-pound ball into a target. Jenny dominated the matchup, winning 2-0.

With her victory, Jenny named Cory, Derek, and Jordan as her new targets for the upcoming tasks, setting the stage for more intense rivalries in future episodes.

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New episodes of The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras air on MTV on Wednesdays at 8 PM ET/PT.