“You’re a terrible partner”: The Amazing Race star Ana’s relationship with husband Jonathan explored

When contestant Jonathan Towns lost his temper with his wife Ana after a particularly tense driving round, tensions on this season of The Amazing Race approached a breaking point. Jonathan’s annoyance turned into scathing criticism as the couple lost ground in the competition. When Ana attempted to call out his behavior, saying he was being “mean,” Jonathan fired back with the cutting remark:

"You're a terrible partner."

This exchange highlighted the couple’s ongoing struggles throughout the season, prompting concerned viewers to question the health of their relationship.

The Amazing Race, now in its 37th season, follows pairs of contestants as they race around the world, completing challenges and navigating unfamiliar territories for a chance to win a substantial cash prize.

The show often strains relationships, but Jonathan and Ana’s dynamic stands out even by its standards. Their contentious interactions have sparked discussions about relationship red flags and the ethics of reality TV casting.

The Amazing Race’s Jonathan addresses concerns over his behavior

The friction between Jonathan and Ana wasn’t limited to isolated incidents. Throughout the season, viewers witnessed Jonathan displaying what many perceived as contempt toward Ana. His dismissive reactions to her attempts at support created uncomfortable viewing moments that went beyond typical reality TV squabbles.

After watching himself on the show, Jonathan addressed his behavior publicly. On the couple’s YouTube channel, he revealed that he had sought professional help and received a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

"Looking back at what I was seeing, and knowing what I know about myself now, it's so hard for me to be supportive and helpful to somebody when my brain is in this overheated state," Jonathan explained, noting that the race disrupted his ability to regulate emotions.

The show has a history of casting couples with pre-existing relationship issues, perhaps because high-pressure situations reliably generate compelling television. Following last week’s episode of The Amazing Race, internet searches about the couple’s marital status spiked dramatically.

Ana has addressed these concerns on social media, suggesting that editing played a role in how their relationship appeared on screen.

"My friend was on Amazing Race and told me that she and her husband fought the entire time and they edited out 100 percent of it," Ana shared in an Instagram story, implying that Jonathan may have received a "villain edit" compared to other contestants.

Moving forward together

Despite the on-screen turmoil, Ana maintains that their relationship functions differently at home.

"When I'm on The Race, unlike when I'm at home, I cannot control the external factors," Jonathan explained in their YouTube video, highlighting how routine disruptions affected his behavior.

Ana has publicly stated they aren’t getting divorced and appears supportive of Jonathan’s diagnostic journey.

"Especially now, knowing it's an actual disorder, it didn't stop you from doing well in the race," she noted in their video, suggesting that understanding his condition has brought context to their challenges.

For The Amazing Race viewers, the couple’s dynamic has sparked important conversations about recognizing unhealthy relationship patterns.

Whether their relationship improves with greater awareness remains to be seen, but their story underscores the complex reality behind reality television’s crafted narratives.

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You can watch The Amazing Race Season 37 live on CBS every Wednesday, with episodes available for streaming on Paramount+ after airing.

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