'Real World' Tonya Cooley Sues MTV For Sexual Assault

TMZ:

A cast member on MTV's "The Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins" claims male members acted like animals during production, in one case raping her with a toothbrush ... this according to a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ.

Read the whole story: TMZ

Comments

[butchcliff]

07:29 AM on 10/30/2011

If true, this is a terrible incident on a terrible show. Can she prove this or is she just after money or her own show? Wouldn't this have been caught on camera? Either way it won't look good on her resume. Would another studio ever hire her?

[Rachel Sherrell]

04:27 AM on 10/30/2011

Getting rapped with a toothbrush is a "freak accident"?? Real classy huffpo way to be progressive.

[robjh1]

10:54 AM on 10/29/2011

It's MTV what ya expect?

[Augustesmith]

05:30 AM on 10/29/2011

I do not Know Understand that what does this activity in reality show?
http://goarticles.com/article/A-Perfect-Sofa-Fetch-The-Cream-Of-The-Crop/5562486/

[Goldie Treasure]

10:26 PM on 10/28/2011

I am not surprised at all, MTV is trash and those 2 guys are jerks and bullies who probably think they can do whatever they want because they are big MTV "stars".

[Janine547]

12:23 PM on 10/30/2011

You jump to these conclusions as if truth is being told here. I doubt any such thing ever happened and furthermore, it's on tape as the article mentions. Should be an easy case to settle.

[pthesmith]

08:12 PM on 10/28/2011

It's very scary what people will do to each other if given the opportunity. We should all be vigilant about our personal safety.

[CKieffer]

06:36 PM on 10/28/2011

Wow... I read the headline on the Entertainment page as:

"Real World" Freak Tonya Cooley Sues MTV Over Incident"

And... somehow, I think it is more accurate.

[EvieEve]

05:31 PM on 10/28/2011

I wonder how she found out since she was passed out. But regardless, if this allegation is true, shame on MTV and the producers of this crappy show. I stopped watching this Real World years ago, but from my understanding they recycle the same people over and over again, obviously people with no jobs and mental problems. Throw in alcohol and something like this was bound to happen.

[Max Shaw]

01:36 PM on 10/28/2011

WHAT?! Raping her with a toothbrush??? How is there not film of that? I thought they recorded 24/7?? Otherwise that claim is outrageous if no proof exists.

[BBinMT]

08:40 PM on 10/28/2011

She said they did tape it.

[lilly091]

01:36 PM on 10/28/2011

I'm not excusing the actions of the two men who did this to her, I think it's sick and disgusting and they should be accounted for. But in another sense, she was passed out from drinking so much....she should accept some responsibility for letting herself get so intoxicated. This wouldn't have happened had she not drank so much. She does this every season on the RW/RR challenges...

[ZeroCoke]

02:32 PM on 10/28/2011

StupidCommentOfTheDay

[Frustrated in PA]

04:10 PM on 10/28/2011

Co-signed

[EvieEve]

06:26 PM on 10/28/2011

Blaming the victim? Rush is that you?

[lilly091]

08:54 PM on 10/28/2011

Notice, I did not blame her. I said that there's nothing to excuse the two men for doing this. I'm just simply stating that she needs to realize that passing out drunk allows this type of behavior to occur a lot more easily than if she were sober.

[by-the-sea-]

01:30 PM on 10/28/2011

What an absolutely horrible headline! Huff Post is always trying to tell us when we should be offended, and now we're telling you, "We are offended here!!!!!!!!" That headline needs to be changed immediately, how wrong.

I completely believe her claims, and that is not an "accident," that is a crime. I used to watch those dumb shows, and I wouldn't put it past those people to do something like that, and for the production to let it happen. I hope Tonya gets some sort of justice here.

[Malarcus]

12:08 PM on 10/28/2011

First, pile me with those who say, "Really, HuffPo? Rape as "freak accident"? What are we guessing here? "So, I was brushing my teeth when the doorbell rang. As I went to answer it, I stumbled on a piece of clothing- Tonya's clothes no less- and fell towards her bed. I put my hands out to brace myself and the toothbrush just kind of slipped up there...."

Second, the article states that there is video evidence of the rape. As such, I am confused as to why a lawsuit has been filed but no police investigation opened and charges filed?

I know this will not be a popular point, and it has been a long time since I watched the Real World or any of the off-shoots so for all I know she is a completely changed person. However, to my recollection, Tonya was an over-the-top drama queen, like borderline personality over-the-top. I am noting this only because, minus indisputable video evidence and witnesses who will come forward, the public record will cast a lot of doubt on her claims.

I have no doubt that, when placing 16 or so 20-somethings together, that trouble will brew. I am also of the opinion that reality show producers are an incredibly shady lot and that many of her claims may very well be true. But she needs some back up in this or she will find it hard to get justice.

[Azmom]

01:11 PM on 10/28/2011

Yesterday child molestation was called "An affair", today rape is called a "Freak incident" and *my* comments chastising HP yesterday were moderated !!

HP, get it together, or I'm not going to support this website with my traffic ever again.

[by-the-sea-]

01:33 PM on 10/28/2011

Completely agree.

[floodberg]

04:23 PM on 10/28/2011

Azmom, I posted a comment on this thread which was pretty blunt toward HP;  For some reason, it's still up.  Yet I've been modded for clean comments lately just like you and it drives me nuts.

[gneep]

12:02 PM on 10/28/2011

Freak incident? Yeah like if that was my Daughter there would be another HEADLINE: "freak incident" then the story would go on to reveal that the Father broke all of the guy's legs.

[fredpa]

03:59 PM on 10/28/2011

. . . and they'd be singing soprano the rest of their lives.

[fredimessina]

11:37 AM on 10/28/2011

Maybe if MTV hadn't changed the format of The Real World series in the first place this would be a non issue. It was originally 7 people with their own different careers from different walks of life. Now its cast with middle America social stereotypes, who are given a "job" to offset the fact that it's basically promoting binge drinking and risky sex. How do you go from Pedro Zamora to this crap?
It's a real shame.

[by-the-sea-]

01:32 PM on 10/28/2011

Yup. I have a feeling that they cast reckless people that they know will be a love, or at least lust, match. They set the stage for these things to happen, and that's partly why I stopped watching a few years ago. It's total crap, yes.

[karter]

05:32 PM on 10/28/2011

Yeah, middle America sucks alright. Those flyover states, sheesh

[floodberg]

11:31 AM on 10/28/2011

HP; SHAME ON YOU FOR THIS HEADLINE.


THIS IS RAPE.  RAPE IS A CRIME OF POWER, NOT A 'FREAK INCIDENT.'