MTV announced in March 2021 that it was pausing production after Gianna Hammer, a former contestant from Season 5, alleged she was drugged and sexually assaulted during filming in 2017. She told media site The Daily Beast she was given prescription medication by production to calm her down after an argument with a cast member. Soon after, Hammer blacked out and other contestants later told her she got into bed with a male cast member and was saying "no" before being pulled out of the bed by her fellow contestants. Hammer said, "I guess I really thought about it and was like, 'Wow, that was really fucked up.' They should have never left me in an unsafe position. I'm definitely a changed person after it all."