‘The Challenge: All Stars 3’ Producer on Casting Nia and Jordan Despite Racial Controversy
Viewers last saw Nia Moore in 2015 for The Challenge: Battle of the Exes 2 when she was removed before the finals for assaulting Jordan Wiseley. Two years prior, The Real World: Portland roommates had an explosive argument where he used the N-word. Nia and Jordan both returned for spinoff The Challenge: All Stars 3 side-by-side and revealed they had since developed a close friendship. The Challenge producer Julie Pizzi explained the decision to bring the two back, despite their controversial history.
‘The Challenge’ producer on casting Nia Moore and Jordan Wiseley despite controversial past
Nia Moore, who hasn’t competed on the show since 2015’s Battle of the Exes 2 (2015), returned for The Challenge: All Stars 3 alongside former rival Jordan Wiseley.
Many viewers were surprised by their now close friendship. Bunim-Murray Productions president and executive producer of the show, Julie Pizzi, talked to Variety about the decision to bring them back together, despite their controversial history.
She claimed she believes the two have a “unique” situation as their journey to become friends years ago wasn’t documented. Therefore, the viewers weren’t aware of the repaired relationship.
When asked if the two would discuss their past during All Stars 3, similar to how The Real World: Homecoming casts rehash their controversial history, Pizzi noted the show does “acknowledge” their close relationship. However, “we don’t usually unpack a lot of the past that doesn’t relate to The Challenge.”
Nia and Jordan previously went live on Instagram regarding their 2013 racially charged fight
After MTV began firing cast members in the wake of the Black Lives Matter Movement, such as Dee Nguyen and Taylor Selfridge, Nia and Jordan’s history came into focus.
During The Real World: Portland (2013), the cast members had a heated exchange in which Jordan used the N-word and made monkey sounds at Nia.
Therefore, some viewers asked MTV to cut ties with Jordan as well. In June 2020, Nia and Jordan broadcasted live on Instagram together to discuss the argument as it circulated on Twitter in resurfaced clips.
Jordan claimed the edit didn’t show everything, and the two explained they had “flirty” tension between them throughout the season. According to them, it came out in the form of fighting with each other. When it comes to the blowup, Nia remembered it began when Jordan spit food at her.
Nia said she never thought Jordan’s comments came ‘from a racist place’ during ‘The Real World’ argument
She claimed they were both saying the N-word to each other during the infamous fight but never “felt like it was coming from a racist place.”
The reality star also noted she wasn’t offended by monkey noises either, as she primarily thought about wanting to “kick his ass” at the time.
The following day, roommate Marlon Williams confronted Jordan about his comments, and Nia said she “let him fall on that sword” due to her anger. The 30-year-old called their behavior “tacky, distasteful, and immature” but didn’t classify it as racist. Jordan acknowledged he had “offended people” with his comments.
However, he reiterated that it didn’t come “from a place of hate.” As the two have since become good friends, they hope “the ultimate message is the power of forgiveness and the power of growth.” The Challenge: All Stars 3 airs Wednesdays on Paramount+.
