‘The Challenge’ Star Big T Fazakerley Announces Indefinite Break: ‘This Is the End of My Challenge Career’
The Challenge fan-favorite Big T Fazakerley announced an indefinite break from the reality TV show as she plans to focus on her budding culinary career.
Big T Fazakerley announces retirement from ‘The Challenge’
Following her elimination from The Challenge 37: Spies, Lies, and Allies, four-time competitor Big T Fazakerley took to her Instagram to announce she had no immediate plans to return to the reality show.
According to the 29-year-old London native, she has gotten accepted into a cooking school and wants to pursue a career in culinary. “I’m absolutely devastated that I never made it to a final,” she explained in the caption.
However, she’s grateful to have found friends throughout her two years competing as the bonds she’s formed make her “feel like a winner.” The Shipwrecked star continued, noting, “this is the end of my Challenge career, for now. I’m a dreamer, and I can’t wait for my next adventure.”
Although she doesn’t know when or if she’ll return, Big T stated she planned to continue “training” as she’s following host T.J. Lavin’s motto of “always stay ready.” The reality star also thanked the viewers for their support, ending with, “Please don’t forget me, and once I conquer the kitchen, hopefully, I’ll be back on your screens.”
She has competed four times
Shortly after competing on Shipwrecked: Battle of the Islanders (2019), Big T debuted on The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2 as part of Team UK. However, she didn’t make it far as Georgia Harrison eliminated her during the second episode.
The London native returned for Total Madness, where she stole viewers’ hearts. They fell in love with her personality and began rooting for her, so they were upset when she got medically disqualified after a drunken night ended with her foot cut.
She came back for Double Agents and ended up partnered with seasoned veteran CT Tamburello. The two formed a friendship that many viewers loved to watch develop, and she won her first elimination before getting bounced shortly before the finals.
The 29-year-old returned for what could be her final season, Spies, Lies, and Allies but had trouble gaining her footing in the house as the veterans thought she aligned with the rookies and many competitors considered her a weak player they didn’t want on their team.
Big T on criticism that she’s an ‘anchor’
The Challenge 37 initially featured duos but switched to cells, or teams, halfway through the competition. With the encouragement of CT, she picked Team Ruby.
As the group continued to lose, many players began looking for other options, including Big T. However, several competitors made it known they didn’t want the UK native joining their cell, considering her an “anchor.” Big T responded to the criticism in a Nov. 2021 Instagram story by pointing out the cast is filming a reality TV show.
As The Challenge is about more than competitions, Big T admitted she doesn’t understand why some viewers and castmates comment about her lack of physicality because she noted she doesn’t call out anyone who isn’t “interesting” for weighing down the ratings.
Additionally, the 29-year-old claimed she didn’t consider herself or Amanda Garcia “anchors” when it comes to entertainment, noting, “We’re all different, and we all have different strengths that are needed collectively to get this show running.” The Challenge 37 airs Wednesdays on MTV.
