‘Amazing Race’ Contestants Sue CBS Over Edits

A complaint from a couple that appeared on The Amazing Race against the show has come to light. The two are accusing the long-running competition series of editing footage against them. Through the complaint, the two are also seeking a large settlement, and are also asking for more than money.

The News Comes Out As The Amazing Race Was Recently Renewed For A New Season

The Amazing Race is a competition series that shows teams of two race around the world as they navigate challenges in foreign countries. The series made its debut on CBS back in 2001.

Earlier this year, the show was renewed for a thirty-ninth season. This followed Season 38, wrapping up in late 2025.

Recently, news has come out that a pair of contestants from the show are suing CBS and the show’s producers. The contestants were Jonathan and Ana Towns, a married couple who competed during the show’s 37th season.

In addition to CBS, its parent company Paramount, and show producers ABC Signature and Jerry Bruckheimer Films have been named in the complaint. The Townses are reportedly suing for defamation.

Reportedly, the couple, who are allegedly representing themselves, is claiming that footage was edited to make Jonathan look abusive towards his spouse. According to Deadline, the suit accused the show of developing a “smear strategy so audacious and immoral that [it] would shock the conscience of even the most cynical propagandist.”

Jonathan Towns Was Recently Diagnosed With Autism Since Appearing On The Show

The jury-seeking complaint was filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday. It read, “The gravamen of this action is not a dispute over legitimate editorial judgment or discretion.”

As the statement continued, “The resulting broadcast, disseminated to tens of millions of viewers on a nationally distributed television network, falsely portrayed Jonathan Towns, a private individual with no antecedent public profile, as a morally depraved, brutal and abusive spouse.”

As the outlet noted, since his time on the show, Jonathan was diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorder. A “meltdown” and “clear emotional anguish” by Jonathan during shooting for the show were highlighted during the complaint. It was also further alleged that producers did nothing to help Jonathan during this time.

The couple claims that producers convinced them that nothing underhanded was going on in the show. However, they felt that the show ultimately took scenes out of context to allegedly portray Jonathan in a negative light. As the outlet noted, the season saw Jonathan get reprimanded for his attitude towards Ana more than once.

Reportedly, the two seek around $8 million for a settlement. In addition, the couple wants the show to re-edit the show with proper, “appropriate disclaimers” about Jonathan’s diagnosis. At this time, CBS has not released a statement concerning the complaint.

What is your reaction to this recent complaint? Have you been keeping up with The Amazing Race? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest TV and celebrity news.

John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.

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