TMZ obtained a copy of a lawsuit that former Real World Chicago star, Tonya Cooley filed against MTV,the producers of the show, and two of her fellow cast members. In the suit, Tonya claims she was raped using a toothbrush by Kenneth Santucci and Evan Starkman. They did so while she was passed out drunk. In the lawsuit she also highlights rampant sexual harassment that goes on during the filming of the show and that producers encouraged the women to get naked and the guys to grope the women. Whenever she complained to producers, her protests were ignored. Although she was kicked off the show for slapping someone, she says that nothing happened to the two guys who raped her.
Oh my GOD. :-( I think this was the last season of TRW I watched, actually. 2002, right? I would have been in college.
ReplyDeleteI suppose they settled out of court? I know it must have been hard for Tonya to file this suit, but I do wish this had gone public at the time; MTV *really* should be held accountable for the drunken behavior of its cast members and how they encourage them to be as wild as possible. Jersey Shore might be sleazy, but the behavior of those guidos/guidettes is pretty innocuous compared to stuff like this.
Her Real World season filmed 10 years ago. If this is true, I wonder why it's taken so long? And also, if it's true, why did she do so many Real World/Road World Challenges?
ReplyDeleteI saw on another site it was from an incident that happened on RW/RR Challenge, not her actual season
ReplyDeleteOhhhh that seems about right. I remember the last challenge she was on, she got so sloppy drunk she couldn't function, and her castmates just kept messing with her for fun. Bless her heart.
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ReplyDeleteIt has to be from a challenge because Kenny and Evan are not Real Worlders. They were both introcuded on the Fresh Meat challenge as noobs (meaning they were not from a real world or road rules season previously)
ReplyDeletethe thing is, not that its ever ok to do this to a chick, you have to expect to a degree what to expect when you go on this show. she did TONS of these challenges and they all act like hooligans. the men and the women. its one of those "its all fun and games until....." situations. when the lines of moral integrity are blurred to begin with and you have a much of drunken a-holes its surprising there aren't more stories like this.
@Ida- I am happy we can find a common ground today. I agree that MTV and Bunim/Murray should be held accountable for this stuff. I think if The Situation wants to have as much sex as he can with consenting women, more power to him. He isn't shoving toothbrushes up people's lady bits.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I wish they would tone down the violence on JS. The bottle throwing, the bar fights, Ronnie destroying Sam's stuff for the 40th time...
@Barton - Urinary tract infection back with a vengeance? WTF does that mean? Wow. You are one twisted dude. And FYI the vagina does not excrete urine.
ReplyDeleteThat's just gross. Brave of her to bring the suit.
ReplyDeleteI read this on a site already. The sad part is that there were people were blaming her and saying she was lying. Its sad that people are victim blaming.
ReplyDelete"KIDNEY STONES AND KIDNEY STONES! JUSTIN, JUSTIN, JUSTIN. DON'T WANNA GO TO WORK!"
ReplyDeleteIf anyone watched Real World Chicago, they'll get that. Tonya was a hellacious bitch and life ruiner. Never the less she didn't deserve to be raped, albeit by a toothbrysh.
Jesus. Yay MTV.
ReplyDeleteHow to say this? I remember her season and she had such an obvious personality disorder, most likely Borderline Personality disorder. She was always stirring up trouble then playing like she didn't do anything. I agree it seems like the lawsuit was a long time in the making but I find it odd that this stuff wouldn't have been videotaped as the contestants are on tape 24/7, perhaps with the exception of when they are in the bathroom. One would think the people at MTV would know a rape would be a prosecutable offense leaving them wide open to liability.
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ReplyDeleteAbsolutely and totally believable. Since a suit like this means She Will Never Work In That Town Again, it has to be true.
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't even know this person or have ever watched as much as five minutes of The Real World in all the years it has been on, combined.
Lauren - I completely agree about JS. I couldn't watch it after they aired that episode where he threw her stuff out the window and was allowed to stay on the show. That sort of agression is probably not contained to throwing stuff.
ReplyDeleteI knew something like this would happen on the Challenge.It has some of the most vile,mean,repugnant people I have ever seen.Kenny and Evan are two of the worst.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember this season, but I'm sure I watched it.
ReplyDeleteI hope she wins a boat load of money. Why is she not also suing the individuals who did this?