⁠"Worst husband ever"—The Amazing Race fans react to Jonathan blaming Ana for their decisions

In the intense whirlwind of The Amazing Race Season 37, one team has sparked unprecedented backlash among viewers. Husband-wife duo Jonathan and Ana Towns have become the focal point of heated discussions following Episode 5, which aired April 2 on CBS. As the nine remaining teams continued their adventure through Bali, Indonesia, audiences found themselves increasingly troubled by Jonathan's treatment of Ana during challenging moments.

The premise of the beloved reality competition pits teams against each other in a global race, testing physical stamina, problem-solving skills, and, perhaps most importantly, relationship dynamics. While stress often reveals character, Jonathan's responses to pressure have triggered a wave of criticism across social media platforms.

From snapping at Ana during taxi rides to visibly withdrawing support during water challenges, his behavior has transformed him into what many fans consider this season's undisputed villain. Recently, Jonathan revealed his autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, providing context for his reactions, though many viewers remain unconvinced this explains the full extent of his conduct toward Ana.

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The Amazing Race fans react to Jonathan’s treatment of Ana

The controversy surrounding Jonathan's behavior has split The Amazing Race fandom into distinct camps. The overwhelming majority express deep concern about what they perceive as verbal abuse and emotional manipulation.

“Jonathan on amazing race is literally the worst husband ever” one fan commented on X

“Me liking every tweet talking sh-t about Jonathan” another fan said.

“I honestly don't think I can take watching anymore episodes with this Jonathan dude. He's horrible as hell and there's no way you're going to convince me he's not verbally abusive to his wife” a netizen claimed.

More people chimed in, expressing their displeasure.

“I know i've said it before but i think it's more than fitting to say it again, Jonathan's an a–hole. They way Ana tolerates his disrespect is absolutely astounding. I REALLY hope they get eliminated because Jonathan insufferable” a viewer commented.

“Me liking all the tweets about Jonathan being a jerk” another fan commented.

“He’s a big baby and a sore loser. His wife deserves a medal for still being with him bc he’s a jerk. When things aren’t going his way he gives up, sulks and acts like a child. I can see the wife has to be the strong one.” a netizen claimed.

Many viewers point to a pattern of blame-shifting, where Jonathan attributes team failures exclusively to Ana while taking credit for successes.

“me picking up ana and driving past jonathan while he’s stuck in the ditch if i was in the race” another fan said.

“All of America: God I hope that second team finds that bracelet quick so we can watch Jonathan’s whiny a-- crash out.” a netizen posted to X.com

“this season of the amazing race pisses me off simply because of the way jonathan speaks to ana…. the way he insinuates everything they do wrong is her fault is sooooo icky idk” another person commented.

“he’s like “YOU picked the wrong detour” and “YOU lost it for us” idk sir maybe you also play a part in this team challenge just a thought” a fan added.

The discussion has evolved beyond mere reality TV gossip into broader conversations about relationship dynamics, accountability, and how neurodiversity factors into interpersonal communication during stress.

The ditch incident and other moments facing scrutiny

The latest episode of The Amazing Race featured a pivotal moment that crystallized fan frustrations. Jonathan and Ana found their car stuck in a ditch, creating a significant setback in their race progress. Fellow competitors Brett and Mark attempted to help push the vehicle out but eventually had to continue their own journey when the efforts proved unsuccessful.

Local residents eventually assisted by tying Jonathan and Ana's car to another vehicle with rope, successfully pulling it from the ditch. Throughout the ordeal, Jonathan's demeanor remained notably tense, with Ana assuming a supportive role despite the clear pressure.

What truly incensed The Amazing Race viewers was the aftermath. As the couple finally resumed their race, Jonathan repeatedly implied Ana bore responsibility for their predicament, despite him having been the one driving when the car became stuck.

Ana's composed response to the situation stands in marked contrast to Jonathan's approach. Even while facing significant adversity, she remained solution-focused and avoided casting blame, a fact not lost on attentive viewers.

During a water-based task in a prior episode of The Amazing Race, Ana battled her fear of water, further highlighting this behavioral contradiction. She wore a life jacket and persisted in finishing the assignment in spite of her obvious distress. However, viewers who expected spousal support during such vulnerable periods were further alienated by Jonathan's lack of support during her struggle.

Later in the episode, Jonathan continued to focus on his own suffering while appearing to ignore Ana's emotional needs by complaining about headaches and taking multiple breaks during a Roadblock challenge.

Despite these challenges, the couple managed to avoid elimination, finishing as Team #3 at the Pit Stop in the latest episode, while Scott and Laurie were sent home after falling victim to a U-turn.

As The Amazing Race continues, viewers remain riveted not just by the competition itself, but by the unfolding relationship dynamics that have made Jonathan and Ana's journey a lightning rod for discussion about partnership, communication, and mutual respect under pressure.

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You can watch The Amazing Race Season 36 on CBS every Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT, with episodes available to stream the next day on Paramount+.