‘The Challenge”s Josh Shuts Down Rumors of an Affair with Laurel in Season 40: ‘We’re Not Friends’

“There’s nothing there and there never was,” Josh Martinez says of his relationship with cast member Laurel Stucky.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for The challenge: battle for the eras, season 40, episode 14, “Swinging Era.”

Josh Martinez wants to set the record straight about a rumored showdown between him and Laurel Stucky The Challenge: Battle of the Ages.

While nothing romantic was shown on-screen between the two cast members throughout season 40, rumors swirled online about an unaired affair or hookup while they were both still in the house (Laurel quit during the purge two episodes ago and Josh was eliminated by Cory Wharton on this week’s episode). Josh squashed those rumors when he spoke Entertainment weekly about his departure.

Related: The challenge‘s Darrell Blasts Laurel’s ‘Bullying Behavior’ in Season 40: ‘It’s Not Healthy’

“No comment. And we’re not friends,” Josh says, laughing. “So that’s that about that.” But he went on to elaborate: “There is nothing there and there never was anything.”

During season 40, Laurel got into a verbal fight with Cara Maria Sorbello, who claimed on social media that Laurel was “mimicking the past abuse” she suffered in unaired footage, leading to Cara Maria seeking a therapist during filming . In the weeks since Laurel quit during a purge challenge, she has posted many controversial comments on social media about other cast members and started fights with Ryan Kehoe, Nurys Mateo, Tina Barta, Horacio Gutierrez Jr., Darrell Taylor and even non-season members. 40 Challenge alumni Zach Nichols and Jemmye Carroll. Her sole remaining ally Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, who defended her on his podcast for months until it was revealed that she gave him the lowest possible points in her Karma voting during her departure, has also turned on her.

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“I think it’s really sad. I’m not going to say one bad thing about Laurel, and I know that’s the popular thing right now,” Josh says. “She’s a hot topic. It’s really disappointing that as a friend, I’ve reached out privately and said, ‘Hey, some of the things that are being said aren’t cool.’ If I behaved like this, I would want Rachel or Johnny or someone else to control me, but also to control me.”

But Josh reveals that Laurel responded to him with “not the nicest things”.

“She said I ruined our friendship at 40, so I’m going to take it from that,” he adds. “I wish her the best, but I’m taking a step back from that whole friendship thing.”

The Challenge: Battle of the Ages airs Wednesdays at 8PM ET/PT on MTV.