Former The Amazing Race contestants Jonathan Towns and Ana Towns have filed an $8 million defamation lawsuit against several companies involved in producing the CBS reality series, claiming they were unfairly portrayed during the show’s 37th season.
The couple filed the complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, accusing Paramount Global, CBS, 20th Television (formerly ABC Signature), and Jerry Bruckheimer Films of intentionally manipulating footage and creating a misleading narrative about Jonathan Towns.
According to the lawsuit, the couple alleges producers orchestrated a “smear strategy so audacious and immoral that would shock the conscience of even the most cynical propagandist.”
The complaint states, “The gravamen of this action is not a dispute over legitimate editorial judgment or discretion.” Instead, the filing argues that producers deliberately ignored footage that could have shown Jonathan Towns in a more accurate light and replaced it with a “constructed, false, and highly damaging portrayal.”
Claims of Misleading Editing
Jonathan and Ana Towns appeared on Season 37 of The Amazing Race, which aired from March to May last year. The pair ultimately finished third in the competition.
During the season, Jonathan Towns was shown in several tense moments where he was reprimanded for speaking harshly to his wife, Ana. However, the lawsuit argues that the show’s editing exaggerated those incidents while removing context that could have explained his behavior.
The complaint claims producers used “decontextualized footage” and intentionally omitted “material exculpatory and humanizing content” while including clips that were “narratively irrelevant but inflammatory.”
As a result, the filing says the final broadcast portrayed Jonathan Towns “as a morally depraved, brutal and abusive spouse.”
Autism Diagnosis Referenced in Filing
The lawsuit also states that Jonathan Towns has since been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. According to the complaint, the condition may have contributed to what the couple described as emotional stress during filming.
The filing references a “meltdown” and “clear emotional anguish” experienced by Jonathan during the production of the series, which took place between May and June 2024.
The couple alleges that producers including the show’s host and executive producer Phil Keoghan failed to properly assist him during filming and instead encouraged them to remain in the competition.
What the Couple Is Seeking
In addition to seeking $8 million in damages, the Townses are asking the court to order producers to re-edit the episodes in question with disclaimers referencing Jonathan Towns’ condition.
They are also requesting a public apology regarding how he was portrayed on the program.
As of now, neither CBS nor 20th Television has publicly responded to the lawsuit. Reports indicate the companies are still reviewing the complaint.
Despite the legal dispute, The Amazing Race continues to move forward. The long-running reality competition was renewed earlier this year for Season 39.
Source: Deadline