“I want to get rid of people who I know can beat me.”
“Now people are opening up to me, and it feels really good.”
Going into the second episode, Lay is in a good spot.
Corey Law on ‘The Challenge’.Staton Stephens
In addition to impressing his competitors, he also has a new partner, Tori Deal.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How’d you prepare forThe Challenge?
I couldn’t work out, so I bought a squat rack and put it in my living room.
Nelson Thomas, Corey Lay, and Devin Walker on ‘The Challenge’.MTV
What was working with Emy [Alupei] like during the first challenge?
Emy is, as you might tell from the episode, a firecracker.
She’s also ride-or-die, and I could tell that from the moment we started working together.
She was just so motivating the entire time.
That’s the kind of partner I need: someone who’s not going to make excuses.
And I was so happy she chose me.
You have a conversation in the episode about growing up as a gay man who played sports.
What was it like for you to share that withThe Challengeaudience?
I try my best to make them aware and bring it up to them.
It felt great having the support and being honest with every person I talked to in that house.
They were rooting for me and letting me know how happy they were to see someone like me there.
It’s very important for me to always speak on that whenever I can.
What does it mean to you to represent your community on the show?
Honestly, it means everything to me.
If I do winThe Challenge, I want to win by being me and being a good person.
I don’t want to backstab people or lie to them.
You boldly claim you want to send a veteran home.
Any chance you’re able to tease if you get your chance to do that?
When I said that, I didn’t mean personally take them out.
You made it through your first elimination!
What stands out about it?
It was an impressive introduction.
It shows people that I’m a fighter and I’m smart.
I knew they couldn’t pull me back because I’m heavier than them.
It shows, at the moment, I can make decisions, and I’m strong.
Looking ahead, what can you share about your mindset coming out of the elimination?
How did you feel about your fellow competitors and the game?
Immediately, I was very vengeful.
I felt like Aneesa [Ferreira] threw me in there for no reason, and I wanted payback.
I wanted to get clarification as soon as I could, so that was my No.
1 mission going back into the house.
What can you tease about what’s coming this season ofThe Challenge?
There’s a lot of global people coming from places that have never been represented on the show before.
Everyone brings something very exciting to the table.
People underestimated me coming into the season, and on episode one I’m winning an elimination.
Would you do another season?
It was one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had.
I would come back with new things up my sleeve.
The Challenge: Spies, Lies & Alliesairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
