Monte Taylor Dishes on Reality TV Showmance Experience
Monte Taylor, a contestant on season 2 of The Challenge: USA, decided to steer clear of showmances this time around, following his prior involvement with Taylor Hale on Big Brother 24.
“Before I went on Big Brother, my mom made it very clear, and my mom’s Puerto Rican… she was like, ‘No Chicas,’ which means no girls, and I held out as long as I possibly could until I didn’t,” Monte, 28, exclusively shared with Us Weekly one day after his elimination from The Challenge: USA aired.
Monte described the aftermath of his showmance with Taylor, 28, as a “unique experience.” He added, “As a man on reality TV… some of the things that you hear online after things don’t work out in a relationship, it [can] definitely be tough. So, I just didn’t want to go through that again. It was a bit of a traumatizing experience.”
Reality TV and Showmances
Winning Big Brother without forming some kind of alliance is tough, and it’s even tougher if you’re part of a showmance. But that hasn’t stopped competitors from pairing up time and time again. Monte and Taylor, who finished second and first during the 2022 season, surprised fans when they were seen kissing on live feeds. Taylor had previously admitted to having a crush on houseguest Joseph Abdin, whom she dated for six months after the season ended.
Before their showmance, Monte faced backlash for making negative comments about Taylor during a live feed conversation in July 2022. Taylor later criticized Monte’s treatment of her, claiming there were “deeply misogynistic undertones” to his behavior.
Controversies in Big Brother
Controversies aren’t new for Big Brother, with past seasons facing criticism for racism and discrimination. Monte’s perspective on Taylor changed after she became the first Black woman to win Big Brother in September 2022. He admitted that he didn’t remember making negative comments about her earlier in the season and had since apologized to her.
As for his return to reality TV, Monte revealed there were opportunities for him to engage in another showmance on The Challenge: USA but decided against it for his peace of mind. He mentioned having developed thicker skin and being open to romance if he’s invited back for another season.
While love often blooms quickly on reality TV shows, Monte didn’t find love on The Challenge: USA. However, his fellow Big Brother 24 alum Alyssa Snider shared a kiss with Tyler Crispen, another Big Brother contestant, during an episode of the show.
Monte spoke highly of both Alyssa and Tyler, saying, “[Alyssa] is the nicest, kindest person that you could possibly run across. She’s somebody who is just very thoughtful and just a really good friend. And Tyler’s the exact same,” expressing his support for their budding romance.
The Challenge: USA airs Thursdays on CBS at 10 p.m. ET.