‘Are You The One?’ Season 4 Cast Stirs Up ‘The Challenge’ Takeover Drama, Say Veterans Should Watch Their Backs

It’s no secret that the stars of MTV’s “Are You the One?” have steadily become a large presence on the network’s series “The Challenge.” It’s also equally well-known among viewers that some veterans on the competition show, those who once starred on “Real World,” are less than thrilled about the new cast additions. While “AYTO?” alums fight for the chance to win money on “The Challenge: Rivals 3,” newer stars of the franchise are speaking out about the ongoing controversy.

During a recent screening of the “Are You the One?” Season 4 premiere at MTV headquarters in New York, Season 4 cast members dished to International Business Times why they feel like they’re the future of “The Challenge.”

Newcomer Tori Deal said she’s well aware of the “Real World” and “AYTO?” rivalries but isn’t intimidated. “I’d kill ‘The Challenge.’ Slay!” she told IBT, revealing she’d be more than willing to compete. “We’re coming. Oh, we’re coming. Be ready for ‘AYTO?’ people because we’re in it!” she warned.

After realizing she would be joining the MTV brand, Mikala Thomas said she decided to tune in to “The Challenge” only to be disappointed by the negative “AYTO” storylines taking over “Rivals 3.”

“They hate us! I feel like the people from ‘AYTO?’ are all really fun. We always do physical challenges on our show. The ‘Real World,’ they don’t really do physical challenges ... I feel like they should be more open-minded and not so closed-minded,” Mikala said. “I feel we can make it a better show. They just need to get over it because we’re not going anywhere.”

Giovanni Rivera, a longtime fan of “The Challenge,” feels he would not only do well on the show if cast, he thinks he could win.

“I’m not going to bite my tongue about it, I’m not going to hold back. I go on that show, I win. I don’t care who stands in my way. I don’t care how long you’ve been on there. I don’t care how many seasons you’ve done. Everybody is a target.”

Giovanni, a self-classified “warrior” and adrenaline junky, said his martial arts training and service in the U.S. Marines would make him a shoo-in for first place. “They’re talking about ‘Real World’ versus ‘Are You the One?’ F--- that! Put ‘Real World’ versus Giovanni ... I come to win. If you’re on that show you’ve got to kill me to beat me.”

Giovanni believes the “AYTO?” competitors currently on the “The Challenge,” airing Wednesday nights on MTV, are a bad representation of what he’s about. He also expressed concern over the hate his fellow “AYTO?” alums receive on social media for their participation on “The Challenge.”

“We don’t have true competitors on the show,” he complained. “I really want to go there to prove a point because you have people on social media talking down on the show I’m a part of and I take it personal. I feel challenged to be on ‘The Challenge’ and prove a point. Hopefully, that happens.”

“Are You the One?” airs Mondays at 10 p.m. EDT on MTV.