Amazing Race couple Jonathan and Ana Towns filed an $8m lawsuit against CBS and Paramount, saying producers used misleading footage to portray him negatively.

Jonathan and Ana Towns

The couple disliked how they were portrayed on TV (Image: CBS via Getty Images)

The Amazing Race is embroiled in controversy as a couple from its 37th season takes legal action against the network.

The renowned CBS show, which pairs teams of two in a global race for a substantial cash prize, has been a mainstay of competitive reality TV for years. However, for Jonathan and Ana Towns, their third-place finish last year has since prompted them to criticize the show and its producers.

This week, the married duo filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, demanding $8 million in damages over what they allege was a misleading and harmful depiction on the show. The program features teams of two racing around the world, solving clues, overcoming challenges, and traveling on a strict budget.

 

Teams are eliminated progressively, with the first to complete the final leg winning $1 million.

Jonathan, a software developer, and Ana, a stay-at-home mom, claim that the production team deliberately used “decontextualized” footage to portray Jonathan as “a morally depraved, brutal and abusive spouse.”, reports the Mirror US.

Ana and Jonathan Towns

The couple are not happy (Image: CBS via Getty Images)

According to the couple, the network edited out scenes that would have presented him in a more “humanizing” light.”

Representing themselves, the Towns are reportedly suing CBS, Paramount, Bruckheimer Films, and other affiliates. In their legal documents, they argue that producers implemented a “smear strategy so audacious and immoral that it would shock the conscience of even the most cynical propagandist,” according to documents reviewed by The Daily Mail.

The lawsuit alleges that Jonathan’s depiction was seen by “tens of millions of viewers,” potentially tarnishing his personal and professional standing.

 

As per the report, Jonathan was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder during the show’s production in 2024.The Amazing Race’s 37th season aired from March to May 2025, showcasing 14 teams competing across 12 legs in locations such as Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, France, and Portugal, before concluding in Miami.

Best friends and gaming enthusiasts Carson McCalley and Jack Dodge clinched the $1 million prize, narrowly surpassing siblings Han and Holden Nguyen, who came in second. Jonathan and Ana rounded out the top three.

In the meantime, host Phil Keoghan shared his insights on what constitutes a winning team with Entertainment Weekly, stating, “Very rarely do you get a team where it’s equal and they have exactly the same aspirations and everything is perfect.

“You see it within any competitive sports team where there’s tension – like with Shaq and Kobe on the Lakers. It’s that competitive thing.”