The Challenge’s Johnny Bananas is sharing his honest opinion on ex-fling Dee Valladares competing on Big Brother.
“I am not surprised she’s doing well. If there’s one thing she knows how to do, it’s play games on TV and outside of TV,” Johnny, 44, exclusively shared with Us on Monday, August 3 when promoting The Challenge: Cutthroat. “So no, I am not surprised at all with how well she’s doing.”
Last summer, viewers watched Johnny and Dee, 29, form a showmance on The Challenge: Vets and New Threats. The unexpected fling turned out to be more strategic than a serious long-term relationship after Johnny was eliminated weeks earlier than Dee.
“I wish her all the best,” Johnny explained. “But I also wish all the guys in that house all the best as well.”
Although Michelle Fitzgerald wasn’t part of that specific season, Johnny’s answer left her quite a bit shook.
“So what you’re saying is it ended well,” she sarcastically said.
Johnny replied, “What I’m saying is it ended like I felt like I was on a reality television show. I’m like, ‘I don’t see cameras around here anymore. We’re not trying to out-manipulate and out-scumbag each other, but apparently I’m the only one that got that memo.’”
This season on The Challenge, Johnny and 23 other contestants will live in a beautiful Thailand villa and be divided into three teams chosen by three captains. The teams are permanent and the only way to take home a share of the $500,000 cash prize in the end is to cross the finish line together as a unit.
While Johnny is hoping to make it to the finals this summer, Dee is trapped in the Big Brother house with a group of fellow season 28 contestants, including Survivor alum Rick Devens and Big Brother alum Angela Murray.
Although Dee’s game isn’t impressing Johnny very much, host Julie Chen Moonves previously told Entertainment Weekly that she likes what she sees in the first few weeks.
“You know, I was kind of against two former Survivors coming in, and now I find myself pulling for Dee because she gets it,” she told the publication on July 16. “I’m surprised how little Rick Devens gets this game and how much Dee gets it and got it right away.”
The Challenge: Cutthroat is streaming now on Paramount+ with new episodes dropping every Wednesday. Big Brother airs on CBS Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
