Johnny Bananas is offering an affectionate assessment of Chris “CT” Tamburello and Phaedra Parks’ relationship, comparing the reality television couple to “two elementary school kids in love.”
The Challenge star, whose real name is John Devenanzio, shared the comment with Us while promoting The Challenge: Cutthroat, which is streaming on Paramount+. He said CT and Phaedra appeared that way at the Emmys and suggested they were continuing to build on their connection.
Johnny, 44, added that CT had attended Phaedra’s birthday and said that, as far as he knew, the pair were “still going strong.”
Phaedra, 52, and CT, 46, first met in 2023 while filming the second season of Peacock’s The Traitors. Their chemistry quickly attracted attention, including Phaedra’s nickname for CT, “castle daddy.”
The couple confirmed their romance two years later and made their red-carpet debut together at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmys on September 5. A source previously told Us that CT had been interested in Phaedra but valued their friendship and did not want to cross that line. According to the source, the relationship developed naturally after CT’s marriage ended.
Johnny has also expressed public support for the couple, saying in September that he “ships it” and loves them both. He described CT as a brother and said he believed both had reached a point where they could recognize the potential of a relationship.
A source close to CT and Phaedra likewise described the relationship as genuine, saying the pair were “really smitten with each other.” The source added that Phaedra had encouraged CT to adopt a healthier lifestyle as they entered what it called a new chapter together.
Sources: Us Weekly.