MTV
Warning: This article contains spoilers forThe Challenge: Battle of the Erasfinale.
Karma was not a friend toMichele Fitzgeraldat the end ofThe Challengeseason 40.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You were so close to making it a three-way tie for first place.
Michele Fitzgerald.Credit:MTV
Not bad for your first final!
We see Jenny struggling with it.
Everybody was like, “We’ve never seenSurvivorMichele so much before.”
‘The Challenge’ season 40 finalists.MTV
I was lucky with the format of this final.
I don’t think anyone knew just how much of a threat you are when it comes to swimming.
I think that their endurance is probably better.
Jenny West, ‘The Challenge’.MTV
But what I did know is that I was a good swimmer and I’m good at puzzles.
But that’s okay.
That’s what sleeping medications are for.
Johnny Bananas Devenanzio, ‘The Challenge’.MTV
Which checkpoint do you think could have gone better for you?
Like you said, only one point separated you from third and making first place a three-way tie.
Not seeing the skull in the barrel is such a rookie move.
And the other one where my oar floats away, I was so frazzled at that point.
That’s why I was struggling to get up onto the platform.
If they don’t specify that you have to untie the whole thing, then find your own way.
There’s always a shortcut that you could potentially take.
As long as they don’t say the rule, then it’s not really a rule.
You got second place, but Karma bumped you down to third while Jenny and Rachel tied for first.
It’s really strange because when it was happening, I was devastated.
My family’s going to watch it and they’re going to be so proud.
And it’s over and I get to go see Devin."
My sister reminded me this was my first final and I should be proud of that.
I’ve come in third place onSurvivor, that was a jury vote.
That being said, what the f—, Kaycee?
Why did I deserve that?
I’ve worked with you every season that we’ve been on together.
I thought she had more respect for me than that.
Obviously, Jenny took a hit as well; she has to split her first-place prize pot.
But I do feel like I was the one who most personally was the victim of the Karma vote.
We’re having people who left episode 1 dictate who is going to win at the end.
We see juries onSurvivorand onBig Brother, and it’s something that you tailor your game around.
I’ve burned a lot of bridges in my years here, so there’s that.
What did you think about how there is no second place?
If Rachel and Jenny tied for first, you still should technically be second place.
I would’ve placed third out of everyone if it was not divided male and female.
Me, Jenny, and Jordan were top three for majority of things.
Like Tori won nothing, so it sucks.
I’ll find ways to cope.
Bananas was rubbing it in during the episode, but ultimately I had no real ill will towards anybody.
But I think people will be happy that Rachel is placing first.
Did Bananas surprise you with how much he was celebrating your disappointment there?
Nothing surprises me when it comes to Bananas anymore, but it hurts my feelings.
It doesn’t get easier to watch.
You don’t have to do the dig, but Bananas has to do the dig.
Me and Bananas did all of the dirty work, and then we both landed in third.
It’s funny that it ended this way.
Bananas, it’s possible for you to’t really make fun of me.
You landed in the same spot as me and you have 12 finals that prepped you for this moment.
How are you and Bananas now?
We have talked a lot about it after the show.
I have a hard time letting go of things.
And for me it was a little bit harder to separate those two things.
I find him to be really fun and funny.
Devin knows that, Bananas knows that.
I think that’s inevitable, sadly.
And we get into it at the reunion.
It was a little bit therapeutic.
And turns out, every one of us was hurt.
How did this season affect you as you look ahead to future seasons?
I’m going to take a little bit of a breather.
I don’t want it to be my whole thing.
When it starts to become your entire thing, then it becomes much more personal.
Getting a little bit of balance back in my life is necessary.
Maybe I’ll start training cardio.
Maybe I’ll come back looking like Jenny.
Nah, I love wine too much.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Challenge: Battle of the Erasreunion airs Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
