MTV’s Johnny Bananas Reflects on the Life of Tyler Duckworth

The Challenge a star John Devenanziobetter known as Johnny Bananas, reflects on the life and legacy of his dear friend Tyler Duckworth following the tragic death of the reality star at the age of 44.

“I think one of the hardest parts about losing someone close to you, or losing someone you’ve known for so long, is that everyone wants to think it’s somehow their fault, right?” Johnny, 42, told Exclusive Us on Friday, October 30, while promoting The Challenge: Cutthroatstreaming now on Paramount +.

“I think everybody did,” he continued, adding that he blamed himself “in some capacity” because he had lost touch with his friend before his death.

“It’s just like this with people in your real family or just your family in general – you go for long periods where you don’t talk and you don’t catch up and you haven’t talked for a while but you almost never do that thinking, well, if I don’t talk to this person I might not be able to talk to them again,” Johnny explained. “And that’s what was really hard for me – after Tyler passed – just thinking back and just wishing I had more time to bond with him and I would have, you know, spent more time with him.”

The reality TV star said, “I think he got a pretty unfair shake when it came to his reality TV career. He brought so much laughter, so much energy and so much physicality. Michelle Kwan and athleticism and his crazy costumes. What they don’t remember about him is the incredible force he displayed in a physical sense.”

Tyler’s mother, Joni Duckworthannounced on August 13 that her son had died “earlier this week.”

“The cause of death has not been determined yet. I will post on Facebook about services as soon as dad and I figure it out,” she said.

The Grand Forks Police Department reported People on August 14 that the Challenge alum was found dead in his apartment after receiving a call from his downstairs neighbors complaining about water coming through the roof. Officers arrived at Tyler’s apartment on August 11, confirming that the water was coming from the bathtub in his bathroom.

Police said it is unclear how long Tyler had been dead. The reality competition star was seen one day before his body was found in the bathroom, and investigators found no signs of foul play or suspicious death at the scene.

“You were more than a friend. More than a roommate. You were the brother I never had,” Johnny wrote via Instagram on August 14, paying tribute to his friend with a video montage with the reality star playing guitar and singing a song.

“Rest, Tyler,” the caption continued. “You will always be a family. 147:3.

While he is talking to Us on Friday, Johnny reiterated what he hopes fans will finally remember about his late friend and his life.

“[Not only for] What a fun, charismatic, funny character he was, he was also a great, determined, amazing competitor,” said Johnny. “I’m glad he did. All starsso he had to get back there, but according to his family and everyone who knew him, he died loving what he was doing and the time – and that was teaching.”

He continued, “I think he really found this love of education and educating kids. And it’s crazy because we went to his hometown in North Dakota, and it was this small town, but everywhere we went people knew him.”

In the end, and despite the fame that often comes from competing on reality television, Johnny believes that his friend chose “a kind of simple life” and, as a result, “he left the Earth in a good place.”

“I think he left Earth in a good place with his friends and family and he seemed very happy,” said Johnny. “But the only thing I wish is that I could have sat with him one more time, just to tell him how much he meant to me and how he was the closest thing I had to a brother. He misses him every day.”