“The Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins” star, Tonya Cooley, accused some of her male co-stars of sexually abuse in a new lawsuit against MTV, Bunim/Murray Productions, and male cast members, Kenneth Santucci and Evan Starkman.
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Tonya claims the production offered them large quantities of alcohol and encouraged them to mistreat the female cast members. When she spoke up against certain individuals’ misconduct, the producers allegedly told her to “just deal with it”.
“[MTV and producers] created an environment in which degrading and harassing behavior toward the female contestants was openly tolerated and even encouraged,” the complaint states.
The reality star recounts one incident in particular when she got drunk and passed out to wake up with several lacerations and abrasions in her genital area (in May 2009). According to the lawsuit, Kenneth and Evan took some other contestant’s toothbrush and raped her with it while the camera continued shooting.
Tonya also revealed the females were stripped off their bathing suits and male cast members were encouraged to inappropriately touch their bodies, including in more intimate areas.
Tonya is suing for sexual harassment, assault, sexual battery, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and, finally, wrongful termination since she was kicked off the show for slapping another cast member.
A rep for Bunim/Murray, the production company, told TMZ they actually did “a thorough investigation” into the allegations — but “found Tonya Cooley’s claims to be completely baseless.”
