Even though many contestants on "The Challenge" have become series regulars, MTV still holds all the power when it comes to casting. If the network sees fit, it can outright ban contestants from ever appearing on the show again. There are several different reasons why MTV would choose to cut ties with a contestant, and those reasons aren't always made public. However, some contestants are just too problematic for the network to risk getting bad publicity over.
One of the most infamous cases includes former competitor Tonya Cooley, who sued two of her former cast members and MTV for sexual assault during the filming of "The Ruins." A private settlement was reached, but Tonya and her alleged attackers, Kenny Santucci and Evan Starkman, haven't been on the show since. A more recent example includes Dee Nguyen, who Deadline reports was released from her contract and edited out of "Total Madness" for her insensitive comments on the Black Lives Matter movement. Her words even lead to the release of a statement from MTV stating that they "strongly condemn systemic racism and stand with those speaking out against racial injustice."
In the show's 37-season history, there have been a large number of scandalous moments that have led to cast members being dropped by production. While MTV has never been the most family-friendly network on television, "The Challenge" does appear to have some standards.
