‘The Challenge’: Paulie Calafiore Finally Confirms Cara Maria Sorbello Split
What To Know
- The Challenge star Paulie Calafiore has finally publicly confirmed his break up with Cara Maria Sorbello.
- The two, who were together for several years after meeting on the series, have been mum since their rumored split in 2025.
It’s been rumored for many, many months that The Challenge duo Cara Maria Sorbello and Paulie Calafiore have called it quits on their long-term relationship sometime in 2025, after appearing together on Season 40, Battle of the Eras. However, both reality stars have kept remarkably mum on the situation, despite having deep digital footprints on social media and other publicity opportunities. However, Calafiore is finally ready to talk about it, it seems.
Appearing on The Challenge costar Zach Nichols‘ podcast, the Big Brother alum confirmed, “I am single. As a Pringle.”
Calafiore then explained, “It’s tough for me to even talk about just because there’s always been a lot of love there. I’ve loved that girl since the day I met her. I gave everything to that girl in the relationship. I did have some hiccups. I did have some mistakes. I’ve taken accountability for that. And I feel like, for the most part, I put my best foot forward. As a man, that’s all you can really do. And it just — I don’t know. This is a tough one to talk about and kind of let go of because it’s almost like turning the chapter on something. And this person’s been my best friend for seven years.”
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Calafiore and Sorbello first met on The Challenge: Final Reckoning when he was still dating Danielle Maltby and she was dealing with the fallout of her breakup from Kyle Christie. This resulted in many arguments between Calafiore and Christie on the show.
On the podcast, Calfiore also spoke to the contentious relationship he and Christie developed on that season as a result, saying, “[Sorbello] caused it on her own. And this isn’t me throwing her under the bus, but that entire summer leading into War of the Worlds 1, she was all on her press tour because I cheated on her with my girlfriend at the time with my girlfriend from The Bachelor, which was a much bigger show than The Challenge at the time — and me coming from CBS, it’s not like I was a no-name or CBS person, it’s like my brother is one of the most iconic Big Brother players of all time — and, unbeknownst to me, it’s like, she was playing this little game outside of the game where she was setting me and Kyle up to have s**t right out of the gate, and she didn’t even tell me.”
The two returned to compete together on War of the Worlds and War of the Worlds 2 before taking a break from the franchise and returning for the landmark 40th season in 2024.
Calafiore and Sorbello shared a home in Florida during their break from The Challenge, where Sorbello pursued a secondary career in photography.
Calafiore, who first gained fame from his stint on Big Brother Season 18, was expected to return for the upcoming 42nd season of The Challenge but was reportedly cut from the list shortly before production. Sorbello, meanwhile, is expected to compete on the new season.
Of the possibility of competing alongside Sorbello again, Calafiore said on the podcast, “I truly do hope that she gets to a point in her life where she’s able to have that kind of growth and have those kind of breakthroughs that I have had, and I do wish her all the best. Now, as far as the game goes? Absolutely f**king not. If I ever play the game with her, she’s the first one I’m targeting to send home, 100%. Because yes, she’s my best friend, but she is awful for my game. I don’t think I could win, ever, if she’s in there playing with me. Truly. I would feel for her, I would have her back if anybody tried to yell at her, get in her face, be mean to her. I would 100% have her back. But as far as playing the game with her, I would not play the game with her.”
