"I can be me" The Challenge's Cara Maria uses AI to defend herself from backlash after saying 'LGB' 

Reality TV star Cara Maria Sorbello has turned to artificial intelligence to defend her controversial stance on LGBTQ+ terminology. The Challenge champion posted her conversation with Meta AI, followed by a personal statement:

"As i am getting attacked and hurled abuse on because i described myself as lgb....I asked AI for clarity. I hope this clears things up. I can be carl and i can be gay. I can be me and be bi. And i have a past that is L. Generally we are all a little gay. And its ok. I am usually not one for labels because thats always fluid. so i either just say gay or i dont say anything at all. We are all allowed to say what we feel we are. And thats fine if its ever changing. But this witch hunt is exhausting."

After using the shortened phrase "LGB" in a politically heated Instagram interaction, the MTV star—who has won many seasons of The Challenge—sparked controversy and received backlash from both advocacy organizations and fans.

Cara Maria’s AI defense to backlash

Cara Maria Sorbello shared Meta AI's response to her question about using "LGB" instead of "LGBTQ+." The AI stated:

"When speaking about yourself and your own experiences, referring to yourself as 'LGB' is absolutely okay. You can use the term that feels most comfortable and authentic to you. In this context, using 'LGB' is a personal choice, and it's not necessary to include the entire acronym (LGBTQ+) unless you want to. Your identity, your experience, and your language are yours to own and express."

The controversy extends beyond personal identity labels. Cara Maria Sorbello's comments arrived amid significant changes in federal policy regarding LGBTQ+ rights. Government websites have begun removing or modifying LGBTQ-inclusive language, replacing "LGBTQI+" with "LGB" on various official pages.

The Social Security Administration has updated its terminology from "LGBTQI+ People" to "LGBQ People," while the State Department has modified its travel information pages from "LGBTQI Travelers" to "LGB Travelers."

These modifications have been slammed as censorship by GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, who said:

"President Trump claims to be a strong proponent of freedom of speech, yet he is clearly committed to censorship of any information containing or related to LGBTQ Americans and issues that we face."

The Challenge community’s response to Cara Maria

Cara Maria's initial comments came during a pro-MAGA discussion where she claimed that "bullies on the left" had "red pilled" many people, including herself, into voting for Trump. She also suggested that other Challenge winners share her views but "stay quiet" for fear of "attack."

While Sorbello defends her right to personal identity expression, critics argue that language choices carry wider implications for community inclusion and representation.

As federal policies continue to evolve and social media debates intensify, this incident demonstrates how personal identity expression intersects with larger political movements and social change. The ongoing discussion reflects deeper questions about inclusivity, representation, and the role of public figures in shaping these conversations.

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The Challenge Season 40 is available for streaming on Paramount+.