The Challenge’s Johnny Bananas has seen one of reality TV’s most surprising couples up close and personal — fellow The Challenge alum Chris “CT” Tamburello and The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Phaedra Parks — and he’s giving his personal insight into the pair’s budding romance.
“I mean, listen, they were like two elementary school kids in love at the Emmys, and it seems like they’re picking up where they left off,” Johnny, real name John Devenanzio, exclusively told Us on Friday, October 30, while promoting The Challenge: Cutthroat, streaming now on Paramount+.
Johnny, 44, added, “I know CT just attended her birthday, and yeah, I think as far as I know they’re still going strong.”
Phaedra, 52, and CT, 46, met in 2023 while filming season 2 of Peacock’s hit reality show The Traitors. The pair instantly grabbed viewers’ attention with their palpable chemistry, which included Phaedra’s “castle daddy” nickname for CT.
Two years later, Phaedra confirmed her romance with CT days before making their red carpet debut as a couple at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmys on September 5.
“He always had a bit of a crush on her and was interested, but he really valued their friendship and never wanted to cross that line,” a source exclusively told Us back in September. “After his marriage ended, he and Phaedra started talking a lot more, and their relationship naturally grew from there.” (CT and his estranged wife, Catalina White, got married in 2024. She filed for divorce in January but eventually asked to dismiss the motion. CT later filed his own petition in June, claiming the pair’s marriage “is irretrievably broken.)
Johnny has previously voiced his public support for the newly-minted couple.
“I ship it, listen, I was on their season of Traitors [and I] love them both,” Johnny told TMZ photographers in Hollywood in September. “I know CT, he’s a brother to me.”
He continued at the time, “At the time [on The Traitors], they were in a time where they weren’t able to really see what the full potential of a relationship was, but I think they both leveled up. She went from Apollo to Zeus, and he went from an OnlyFans creator to an attorney, so I think they’re both winning.” (Phaedra was previously married to Apollo Nida, with whom she shares two sons, from 2009 to 2015.)
Like Johnny, a source close to CT and Phaedra told Us that the pair are the “real deal.”
“It’s definitely the real deal, and they’re really smitten with each other,” a source exclusively shared with Us in September. “They became really close on The Traitors, but CT never thought he actually had a chance with Phaedra.”
The source added at the time, “She has really inspired him to live a healthier lifestyle. He wants to take care of himself and be healthy for her and for this next chapter.”
