The Challenge Australia 2022 winner Kiki Morris struggled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) while filming the Global Championship.
**CONTENT WARNING: This article contains references to PTSD, assault and domestic violence and may be distressing to some readers.**
She joined several other high-achieving Australian contestants – including Troy Cullen, Emily Seabohm and Grant Crapp – to compete in The Challenge: War of the Worlds.
The gruelling competition saw challengers from international versions of the reality competition show come together in Africa to determine who is the Global Champion.
As reported in episode 237 of the So Dramatic! podcast, one of our production insiders revealed that Troy makes it to the final four pairs, while Emily reached the finals.
Meanwhile, Kiki reached the top 10 before being eliminated.
The Challenge Australia’s Kiki Morris opened up about having PTSD on the global version War of the Worlds
Kiki is a highly featured contestant during her run on the international show, with our source revealing that she will open up about her experiences with domestic violence and resulting PTSD.
The insider noted that her PSTD was often triggered by physical challenges where anybody would “touch her”.
“Well, day one she had to go into a pole wrestling elimination and she had a breakdown and said she couldn’t do it because it takes her back to that place and gives her PTSD,” our source claimed.
Kiki reportedly pushed through and beat her competitor in that round.
“[Kiki] said, ‘I had to go back to that very dark place and channel a side of me that I didn’t know I had’,” the insider recalled.
Kiki Morris’ former partner Jeremy Banks was charged with assault
The Bachelor star’s ex-boyfriend Jeremy Banks was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault after choking her and hitting her in the face on May 5, 2018. He pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm in 2020, reports The Daily Telegraph.
The assault charges were initially dismissed after Kiki refused to give evidence. However, prosecutors got the case reopened after a year of legal wrangling after they discovered texts showing Banks manipulating her into pulling out of the case.
It was alleged he struck Kiki in a Manly apartment after waking her at 5 am yelling, before dragging her from the bed and holding her with his leg or foot while choking her.
Police allege that Banks “slapped” Kiki, and her neighbour from the floor below heard “shouting, a loud thumping and screams” that increased in intensity over 15 minutes.
When the neighbour came to her aid, she allegedly saw Kiki run from the flat crying, “Help me, call the police, call the police”.
According to police, the neighbour saw Kiki had a “swollen and bleeding lip”, a graze on her cheek and appeared “upset and distressed … was crying, shaking”.
Police interviewed Kiki in a video-recorded statement and charged Banks, but at a subsequent court hearing, she did not give evidence and police failed to subpoena her.
Banks’ lawyer argued as a matter of fairness the statement should not be admitted if she was unavailable for cross-examination.
Banks denied the charges, which were thrown out by a magistrate in Manly court last year.
But the NSW Supreme Court overturned the magistrate’s dismissal and Banks is due to stand trial over them.
Banks has been remanded on bail to appear at a later date. An apprehended violence order on behalf of Kiki against Banks remains in place.
If you or anyone you know is struggling and needs support, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Lifeline on 13 11 14, both of which provide trained counsellors you can talk with 24/7. You can also talk to someone from 1800RESPECT via online chat. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
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