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'Real World' Tonya Cooley Sues MTV For Sexual Assault

T

First Posted: 10/28/11 10:22 AM ET Updated: 10/28/11 03:05 PM ET

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

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butchcliff
The future is unwritten
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?
04:27 AM on 10/30/2011
Getting rapped with a toothbrush is a "freak accident"?? Real classy huffpo way to be progressive.
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robjh1
That Job Just Isn't Into You!
10:54 AM on 10/29/2011
It's MTV what ya expect?
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/
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Goldie Treasure
Sweet smart aleck,24,proud to be child free
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".
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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.
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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.
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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
An injustice to one is an injustice to all
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.
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Max Shaw
My micro-bio is no longer empty.
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.
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BBinMT
Is this a 5 minute argument or the full half hour?
08:40 PM on 10/28/2011
She said they did tape it.
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lilly091
Southern and loving life!
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...
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ZeroCoke
HP COMMUNITY BARTENDER
02:32 PM on 10/28/2011
StupidCommentOfTheDay
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Frustrated in PA
I am not frustrated, I am NOW disgusted
04:10 PM on 10/28/2011
Co-signed
EvieEve
An injustice to one is an injustice to all
06:26 PM on 10/28/2011
Blaming the victim? Rush is that you?
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lilly091
Southern and loving life!
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.
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by-the-sea-
Happiness hit her like a bullet in the back...
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.
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.
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Azmom
Independent thinker.
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.
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by-the-sea-
Happiness hit her like a bullet in the back...
01:33 PM on 10/28/2011
Completely agree.
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floodberg
Attorney (ret.)
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.
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gneep
if it wasn't always the same, it'd be different
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.
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fredpa
I will try again tomorrow.
03:59 PM on 10/28/2011
. . . and they'd be singing soprano the rest of their lives.
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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.
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by-the-sea-
Happiness hit her like a bullet in the back...
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.
05:32 PM on 10/28/2011
Yeah, middle America sucks alright. Those flyover states, sheesh
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floodberg
Attorney (ret.)
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.'