The Amazing Race season 37 is coming to an end, but one of the final four teams — married couple Jonathan Towns and Ana Towns — remains as controversial as ever. Each week, countless viewers have taken to social media to criticize Jonathan for his behavior toward Ana, with some fans begging for him to be eliminated from the competition. In Touch breaks down what to know about Jonathan and Ana and the reactions toward the couple this season.
Who Are Jonathan and Ana on ‘The Amazing Race’ Season 37?
Jonathan and Ana are married parents of two daughters from Pomona, California. He works as a software developer, while she is a stay-at-home mom.
Since the beginning of season 37, which premiered on March 5, 2025, Jonathan and Ana have had quite a few red flag moments. For example, he criticized her soccer skills when she was struggling with a Roadblock early in the season. Later, he told Ana to “stop crying” and “stop whining” when they lost their lead. Jonathan also faced backlash for calling Ana a “terrible partner” after she said that he was being mean to her.
Fans React to Jonathan and Ana on ‘The Amazing Race’ Season 37
Fans have shared their thoughts on Jonathan and Ana online throughout the season.
“Jonathan can yell at Ana to stop whining and crying, but Ana can’t try to be encouraging and tell him to not give up … the difference between being supportive and not supportive is glaring,” one fan wrote on X on April 2, 2025.
“Me picking up Ana and driving past Jonathan while he’s stuck in the ditch if I was in the race,” another user joked on April 16, 2025, using a GIF to reference a moment when Jonathan and Ana’s car got stuck in the mud in Italy.
“I am so sick of Jonathan’s bulls–t. If something is even slightly Ana’s fault he f–king drills into her, but whenever he screws up it’s just ‘bad race luck’ or something similarly stupid. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a team to lose more than I want them to,” a third person wrote after the May 7, 2025, episode.
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Many fans wondered if it was possible for Ana to keep racing while Jonathan gets eliminated from the race.
“Is there anyway for Jonathan to be eliminated but Ana to keep racing without him, he’s a POS!” one user wrote, while another person added, “Jonathan (from amazing race) is someone no one wants to root for and I feel bad for Ana. It irritates me beyond words seeing men treat their women like that.”
‘The Amazing Race’ Host Phil Keoghan Addressed Jonathan’s Behavior
The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan appeared to subtly address Jonathan’s comments toward Ana when the couple arrived on the mat at the end of the April 16, 2025, episode.
“I know when you first came into the race, particularly when things didn’t go your way, you were extremely hard on yourself and your team,” he said to Jonathan. “What’s the most important thing you feel like you’ve learned on this race?”
The dad of two replied, “If I could learn to become more resilient and to stay confident, through adversity and through the lows, we could maybe have a good shot at winning.”
Jonathan Says He Was Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder After ‘The Amazing Race’
Jonathan responded to the backlash in a video on his and Ana’s YouTube channel, “The Road Less Traveled,” on April 8, 2025. He revealed that, after watching his behavior unfold on The Amazing Race, he sought professional help and was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
“Looking back at what I was seeing, and knowing what I know about myself now, it’s so hard for me to be supportive and helpful to somebody when my brain is in this overheated state,” he explained, adding that he has an “hyperactive brain” that was triggered on the show.
“When I’m on The Race, unlike when I’m at home, I cannot control the external factors. I have no control – my routines are completely non-existent,” he continued. “And we rely on – people like me rely on routines in order to help us regulate our emotions and to control the amount of stimulus that we can get at any given time.”
Jonathan brought up the moment when he told her to “stop crying,” admitting that he spoke to her in a “harsh tone.” However, he said that, at the time, he “felt like there was a nuclear reactor that was melting down.”
“Even though I know now she’s going to express her frustration in her way, and I need to respect that, at that time, I was just overwhelmed with everything that was happening at that time that I felt like I didn’t have time to deal with the crying,” Jonathan added.
