Kriti Mehrotra
With CBS’ ‘The Amazing Race’ following teams of two as they face off against one another across the globe to hopefully walk away with a grand prize, we get a competition unlike any other. That’s because this original production focuses on diverse challenges that bring forth not only people’s individual realities but also the teams’ interpersonal relationships more than anything else. Therefore, of course, season 37 was no different, and there was one duo that soon found themselves at the center of attention for all the wrong reasons — married couple Ana and Jonathan Towns.
Ana and Jonathan Towns’ Stint on the Show Was Very Tumultuous
From the moment Ana and Jonathan Towns first appeared on our screens, they didn’t shy away from their competitiveness or confidence in being ready to take on anything that may come their way. That’s how they ended up taking the lead early on before securing first place not once or twice but thrice throughout the international legs of this once-in-a-lifetime adventurous experience. However, because of these great highs, as soon as the couple hit a snag, it became evident that Jonathan’s intensity was such that anything less than the best was a complete loss to him.
Yet, what bothered fans from across the globe was Jonathan’s treatment of his wife during the bad days – he shut down, blamed her, and then disregarded everything she had to say. He even went as far as to tell her to “stop crying” and “whining” when she tried to express her emotions during the early stages, long before he called her a “terrible partner” in leg 10 for taking some time to complete a task. However, things only escalated as during leg 11, when he nearly gave up on the race after they got lost for a while, shut down her attempts to be positive, negated her experiences, and then said she disrespected him. Leg 12, though, was a completely different ballgame as they were unwaveringly supportive of one another despite knowing they had fallen behind, resulting in them concluding their stint on this show as second runner-ups.
Ana and Jonathan Towns Have Since Uncovered a Diagnosis and Worked Hard to Better Their Relationship
Ana and Jonathan admittedly struggled in their relationship even before their appearance on the CBS reality show, with their differences in how they handle tough situations reportedly being a big point of contention. In fact, as per the former’s own account in the series, they had even separated for a year before their young family and the idea of participating in ‘The Amazing Race’ brought them back together. It turns out that once filming had concluded, the couple carefully processed everything, just to be appalled by the “extreme and strange behavior” the 42-year-old had displayed.
Therefore, Ana and Jonathan did significant research before also seeking professional help from medical experts and therapists, at the end of which the latter got an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. While this doesn’t justify how he treated his wife during the race, it did give them both an insight into why he acted as he did, without any indication of remorse until long after he had calmed down. After all, like many with autism, he unwittingly relied on a routine for emotional regulation in his daily life, which went haywire while filming, so everything he felt was heightened, and he took it all out on his wife.
We should mention that Jonathan has since also taken accountability with fans, even going as far as telling one they didn’t need to apologize for judging him without knowing the backstory, because his behavior was admittedly toxic. “No apology needed,” he penned in a YouTube comment. “I treated Ana very poorly while we were on the show, and I understand how that can trigger a lot of strong emotions in people, but yes, we have come a long way since then.” That’s because this diagnosis undeniably also helped Ana get a better understanding of who her husband is, how he functions, and what he needs to be better. Honestly, it appears as if they both are now making significant efforts for one another.
Ana and Jonathan Are Gradually Evolving into True Public Figures
While Ana was a stay-at-home mom to her and Jonathan’s two adorable young daughters before they stepped into the show, he was a software developer at a local company. Yet, since then, they have actually expanded their wings and decided to dabble in the world of content creation/influencing as YouTubers in the genre of family as well as lifestyle. They have a channel called The Road Less Traveled, where they not only share their experiences from ‘The Amazing Race’ but also reveal what it’s like to be in a neurodivergent-neurotypical relationship as they navigate all aspects of life, love, and parenthood while residing in their hometown of Pomona, California.
From different challenges to doing a countdown series for the reality show to simple vlogs, Ana and Jonathan do it all on their channel – as of writing, they have 30 videos with over 37,000 total views. Coming to their personal standing, we unfortunately don’t know much about their background, education, or early experiences since they prefer to keep such details well away from the limelight.
However, it appears as if ever since the couple returned to the real world, they have been prioritizing one another and their family above all else by going on outings or undertaking various adventures together. They have even been giving back to their community in every way possible, including recently participating in a donation drive for victims of wildfires. As of today, aspiring half-marathon runners Ana and Jonathan seem perfectly happy with where they stand at the moment, which is all that really matters. We wish them and their two little girls nothing but the very best for their future.
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