‘The Challenge: All Stars’: Jay Mitchell on That Elimination & Keeping Peace Between Warring Allies

This time, the elimination of a contestant from The Challenge: All Stars Season 4 did not come as a huge surprise to him.

After winning the daily challenge, Jay Mitchell, also referred to as Jay Gotti, made the decision to enter the tank in the hopes of making it to T.J. Lavin’s final. To stand a chance of being eliminated, he had to first prove that he was the fastest competitor to complete the “Roll with It” shopping cart task. Next, Ryan Kehoe had to forfeit, thus he had to face off against current starholder Steve Meinke.

Even worse, it became evident that the odds were stacked against him as soon as everyone had a chance to view the arena. His odds of winning were nearly zero because of his lifelong color blindness, which made it difficult for him to memorize color patterns, and his broken nose, which made it difficult for him to swim freely in the tank. To him, however, the prospect of being sent home for failing to have his star to run the championship was even more dire.

Jay Mitchell was interviewed by TV Insider to discuss his significant choice and his feelings about being torn between his two closest companions, Nicole Zanatta, and Cara Maria Sorbello, as they were being forced apart by Laurel Stucky.

You mentioned at the start of the season that you still get a lot of grief for losing to your rival in the Battle of the Exes finals. Now that people have seen you on the show this season, has that changed?

Jay Mitchell: We got off to a great start right away. There is no waiting period. That is alright. I adore it. That is all. It appeals to me. We will get straight to the point. I am okay with that. I had the worst possible exit. Everyone is aware of that. It has been witnessed by everybody.  I am dubbed forever the guy who could not drink the drink. So, the opening credits, they literally show a picture of me throwing up, and it says known as the guy who cannot drink the drink. There has always been grief over it. Always been haters over it. I do not think that is ever going to stop. I think there’s still people that are going to continue that regardless.

But I think a lot of people have come to the realization that that one scenario does not represent who I am. This season, everyone has watched me save Nicole 17,000 times; I work, collaborate with monsters like Cara, and accomplish things. I have won every challenge, right? Everyone has seen how brilliantly I perform. I was the only one who missed work for around eight weeks straight. Therefore, I believe that some people’s perspectives should shift. To be honest, I hope it shifts people’s viewpoints. And I would take that instant again. Again, though, I would say no. And here is why: I can assure you it will never, ever happen again, which is why that one instant changed my life in so many ways. So, it has given me more drive and more strength and made me want this redemption so much more. So, I am grateful for that situation. It haunted me for a long time, but I think it created who I was on All Stars 4.

When you received the call asking you to come for this season, how did you respond?
Oh, this is sooo good. When I got the call, my first thought was, “I think you have the wrong number.” And that is the sincere truth of God. When I picked it up, I thought, “All Stars? Wait a minute, why? Everyone is aware of my departure. I am not a supermodel. Based on my performance in my previous season, I did not think of myself as an all-star. But I think I can give an all-star performance. On this show, I think I can hang with the greatest of the best. Apart from that one time, I simply never had the chance. So, I was shocked that I got pulled as an all-star but I was grateful because I knew that I was ready, and I was going to show everyone that I do belong there.

Nicole and you were buddies before the season started. Could you discuss how the two of you became friends? 

Yes, I was on the real world. Nicole appeared in The Real World the season following mine. It was like, “Oh, yeah! And she lives close by!” One more New Yorker! Thus, that is how we became buddies. And then, sure enough, a few years later, she was hired by the fire department, and I followed suit. I had time with The Real World to spend with her. She has more time with the fire department than I do. And then it was like, wow, look at that. And now I see her at work occasionally, and we kind of created a bond over you know, we had Real World together experiences, and now we are on the same job together with firefighters in New York City. It is a great experience. So, we have become very close over the years.

How did you and Cara Maria become allies?

In actuality, the only reason Cara and I are friends is that I detest bullies. Additionally, I detest bullying of any kind. I had an awful time on Battle of the Access; I was made fun of, talked down to, and told that my opinions did not count. It was a case of the whole house against me. I did not have any input, opinions, or anything. I received terrible treatment. Thus, for her to be on there and for people to start unjustly criticizing her and talking behind her back is absurd. That does not sit well with me. I am not grateful for that. I am not the type of guy to follow the herd.

I halted and said, “Hold on.” Take a break. What is your issue with her? I take suppose you do not have a good reason? did not believe that. Give up and go for a hike. After that, it was as simple as “Yo Cara.” Together, let us complete this. I am familiar with the sensation. She is a fierce rival. What a monster she is. And I adore that quality in her. And I adore her lack of concern. The entire home is opposed to her. “Let’s go,” she says. Are you all vying for my attention? Come on, let us go.

That is how I think. I am about 170 pounds and 5’8″. Compared to everyone I have ever fought against; I am shorter and smaller. I enjoy playing the underdog. I enjoy it when everyone is against me. I am always in when I see her in a similar circumstance. How awful that must have been for her to deal with. But she had a “I don’t care” attitude. Come on, let us do it. I then thought, “You know what? Together, let us complete this. Me and you. Let us have some fun. I followed through with you. Let us put this into action.

You threaded the needle between the two; how was that experience? How did you manage to remain out of it and keep your alliances together with all that was going on between Laurel and Nicole and then Laurel and Cara?

Indeed, to start with, we could talk about the Nicole and Laurel problem for three days because there is a difference every day that occurs every ten minutes. However, maintaining the equilibrium was really challenging because I would make up a strategy about who should enter and do what, and I would say, “Nicole, this protects your star, and it protects Cara’s star, and everyone is happy, everyone is safe.” Then something would be spoken by one person, and Nicole would lose her mind, and then everything would be different. After that, I would have to gather the fragments and attempt to explain it to others by telling them to “just do this, don’t listen to Nicole.” After that, it was unfeasible. It was just not feasible.

They do not convey how much more strength and effort it took for me to navigate this situation politically. But I must admit that trying to navigate this politically has required more fortitude and effort than anything else. The competitions proved to be enjoyable. I adore engaging in competition. It is almost impossible to be best friends with both Cara and Nicole at the same time when they are attempting to take each other’s heads—the politics, the drama, and everything else. Yes, so I am not even sure. Now I accept my own credit. I had no idea it was so crazy. It was challenging. Undoubtedly, it was among the most challenging moments of that season.

Even in terms of deciding, it appeared like you frequently went against the grain. like Jasmine Reynaud. You were not supportive of that vote. Throughout the season, you found yourself somewhat up against the house.

Thus, I will take any opportunity to support those who are victimized by bullying, gang violence, and other similar situations. And I used Jasmine for that. But in the end, I had to choose between Jasmine and Cara because Cara was my second choice. Do you understand what I mean? It is like, “See, you come first,” and you throw everything out the window there. Also, Cara was aware that Nicole came first in any situation involving her. I think everyone understands that it is just that aspect of it; that is just the nature of the game. The issues arise from those who do not.