Photo via New York Post

Disqualified ‘The Challenge 42’ stars speak out about ‘super ignorant’ racial incident cut from show

Read the original at New York Post ↗
Cite

Todisco, E. (2026, September 17). Disqualified ‘The Challenge 42’ stars speak out about ‘super ignorant’ racial incident cut from show. New York Post. https://pagesix.com/2026/09/17/entertainment/disqualified-the-challenge-42-stars-speak-out-about-racial-incident/

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

New York Post · collected 2026-09-17 · by Eric Todisco

Quick Summary

In an episode of "The Challenge: Cutthroat," three contestants—Dionicio, Goldstein, and Thomas—were disqualified after a racial incident involving the N-word. Dionicio and Thomas have since spoken out on social media; Dionicio revealed he was upset about the consequences compared to his actions, while Thomas apologized for violating the show’s code of conduct by damaging property. The article highlights their conflicting reactions to the incident, which was reportedly cut from the aired episode, leaving the full context unclear to other cast members like Izzy Fairthorne who expressed shock at how it unfolded and was handled.
Written by AI on 2026-09-17, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

During Wednesday’s episode of *The Challenge: Cutthroat*, host T.J. Lavin announced that contestants Josh Goldstein, Leo Dionicio, and Nelson Thomas were disqualified for breaking the show's code of conduct without providing further details. The incident leading to their disqualification was not aired. According to reports from GamerVev and Page Six, Dionicio, who is Black, used the N-word during a game with Thomas, prompting Goldstein to repeat it. This led Thomas to confront Goldstein and later damage kitchen items before being disqualified for property destruction. The other contestants were shocked by this sudden disqualification and unaware of the incident's details until informed by Lavin. In separate tweets, Thomas acknowledged his actions and expressed willingness for growth, while Dionicio emphasized learning from mistakes without harboring hate.

Written for “The Challenge Racial Incident” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 The Challenge Racial Incident
Entertainment · 3 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 8% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Fox News
⚖️ Leans strongly left Hedges 3 of 51 claims Outlet record 68/100
New York Post
Hedges 2 of 42 claims Outlet record 66/100
“While both articles discuss the disqualification of Josh Goldstein, Leo Dionicio, and Nelson Thomas from 'The Challenge' Season 42 due to a racial incident, Article A focuses on the reaction of other cast members who were not present at the incident, whereas Article B reports on the responses from the disqualified contestants themselves.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
39
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
8%
3 of 39 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
withheld
no quote in the article backed the model's score
Publisher signals
66/100
New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
3
Entertainment
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-17 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

New York Post · 16741 article(s) · 36 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 36 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Eric Todisco
83 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Camilla, 79, was quickly given an umbrella to shield her from the rain, while Charles, 77, could be seen looking around for help, wanting an umbrella of his own, according to a BBC video.
🔮 “I would love it to feel like it was rigged and effortless.
🔮 “You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt.
🔮 “First of all, I said, ‘You could actually pay me the cost of this building, but don’t bother, because I don’t want to continue on under contract.’”
🔮 And I just put ‘maybe,'” Lete recalled.
🔮 “And [she and husband Prince Harry] thought it would be helpful in the moment for there to be a reason for their move.”
🔮 “We stand with Hila and will support her every step of the way,” the statement read.
🔮 “I had said to him, ‘I would rather go to a studio apartment with both of my children than sign this.’”
🔮 Tobin, 40, said she has “anxiety” over the possibility that the “Glee” reboot will be all she’s asked about now — especially if she’s not a part of it.
🔮 “I’ve known Alan for years, I have a lot of love for him, and I respect what he brings to the show,” he told us, adding, “I was simply sharing my opinion on how different the partnership will look with Alan stepping in for Val.
Also by Eric Todisco
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 83 articles by Eric Todisco →

Topics

Black GamerVev Page Six

Subjects

Dionicio PERSON · 6× Goldstein PERSON · 6× Thomas PERSON · 6× Black NORP · 1× Fairthorne PERSON · 1× GamerVev ORG · 1× Izzy Fairthorne PERSON · 1× Page Six ORG · 1× Paramount+ ORG · 1× TJ Lavin PERSON · 1×

Narrative

During Wednesday’s episode of “The Challenge: Cutthroat,” host TJ Lavin told the cast that Goldstein, Dionicio and Thomas “all broke the code of conduct” and were off the show, with no further explanation.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-17
🔮 “It’s not gonna bring me the money I could’ve won,” he explained.

Claims (39 extracted, 3 hedged)

“I let my emotions take over, broke dishes, destroyed kitchen and violated the code of conduct,” Thomas tweeted on Thursday, adding, “That’s on me. asserted
That → let → me
I’m learning and growing.” asserted
I → learn → ?
In a second tweet, Thomas, 37, confirmed he received a “DM apology” from Goldstein, 30. asserted
he → confirm → Goldstein
“I’m giving him space to take ownership publicly,” Thomas wrote. asserted
Thomas → give → ownership
“Saying you have Black friends doesn’t give you a pass to use the N-word. asserted
you → say → word
This goes beyond TV. asserted
This → go → TV
We need accountability, understanding, and growth.” asserted
We → need → accountability
During Wednesday’s episode of “The Challenge: Cutthroat,” host TJ Lavin told the cast that Goldstein, Dionicio and Thomas “all broke the code of conduct” and were off the show, with no further explanation. asserted
Goldstein → tell → explanation
According to the spoiler account GamerVev, Dionicio, 24, was disqualified for using the N-word during a game with Thomas. uncertain
Dionicio → accord → Thomas
Goldstein was disqualified for repeating the slur and Thomas was disqualified for damaging the kitchen after confronting Goldstein. asserted
Thomas → disqualify → Goldstein
“Number one, I don’t really hold hate in my heart for people after they mess up,” Dionicio said. asserted
Dionicio → hold → people
“People mess up all the time. asserted
People → mess → ?
That’s not how I move about my life.” asserted
I → ’ → life
But the “Love Island” alum admitted he “was really upset” in the moment because of Goldstein’s alleged “super ignorant” comment. asserted
he → admit → comment
“I thought the hand that I was dealt was pretty messed up since I didn’t really do shit wrong,” he continued. asserted
he → think → shit
“I thought that the outcome should’ve been, ‘Boom, I’m good. asserted
I → think → ?
Someone else should’ve got fined, and someone else should’ve got kicked out.’ asserted
someone → fin → ?
But I didn’t even think I should’ve been apart of that mix.” asserted
I → think → mix
Dionicio also revealed that after Goldstein allegedly repeated the N-word, he “literally dropped to my knees and starting crying like a little kid.” uncertain
he → reveal → kid
“I went from sadness to anger like this,” he recalled. asserted
he → go → this
“I got tears flowing. asserted
tears → get → ?
I’m raging, jumping up and down, screaming. asserted
I → rag → ?
I’m ready to throw a bunch of stuff. asserted
I → ’m → stuff
However, Dionicio said he wants to be done dwelling on the alleged situation. asserted
he → say → situation
“It’s not gonna bring me the money I could’ve won,” he explained. uncertain
he → go → money
“It’s not gonna give me more time on the show that i can just have next season. asserted
i → go → that
I know I’m in good standing with production, so I’m not really concerned about it.” asserted
I → know → it
Goldstein, for his part, hasn’t spoken out about the controversy. asserted
Goldstein → speak → controversy
The trio’s co-star, Izzy Fairthorne, exclusively told Page Six on Wednesday how the rest of the cast reacted to the triple disqualification. asserted
rest → tell → disqualification
“When they left, we were all in shock,” she said. asserted
she → leave → shock
“We didn’t really know much about it. asserted
We → know → it
Fairthorne, who is rumored to be dating Dionicio, told us that two of the three guys filled her in on what went down, but given how “sensitive” the topic is, she doesn’t want to speak for them. asserted
she → rumor → them
The reality star also admitted she “was shocked” that the alleged incident was cut from the edit. asserted
incident → admit → edit
“I don’t know if they’re protecting anyone. asserted
they → know → anyone
I don’t know if it shouldn’t make the cut because it’s a sensitive topic,” she said. asserted
she → know → cut
“I don’t know the reason behind it.” asserted
I → know → it
“The Challenge: Cutthroat” drops new episodes Wednesdays on Paramount+. asserted
Challenge → drop → Paramount+
Conversation Your voice matters. asserted
voice → matter → ?
Discussions are moderated for civility. asserted
Discussions → moderate → civility
💬Give feedback
🕘History 🎫Support