On June 16th, MTV announced the immediate firing of Alex Kompothecras from the reality TV show Siesta Key. This decision came after alleged racist social media posts surfaced on his Instagram and other online accounts. The network acted swiftly, terminating his contract and editing the then-airing season to minimize his presence. The season premiere was drastically cut from two hours to 54 minutes. MTV’s official statement confirmed, “We’ve made the decision to cut ties with Alex and are editing the current season to minimize his presence. He will not be in future seasons of Siesta Key.” But what exactly did Alex Kompothecras say that led to such a decisive response?
The offensive posts that triggered Kompothecras’s firing dated back to 2018 and earlier. One particularly egregious tweet from 2018 resurfaced, showing a side-by-side comparison of Black women swimming in a creek and hippos in water. Adding fuel to the fire, Kompothecras reportedly used a racial slur as a comment under this image, according to reports from Distractify.
Another instance of racist behavior involved a comment directed at a friend. On a picture featuring a white, middle-aged man holding a beer and a hose, Kompothecras allegedly tagged a friend and wrote, “Go be a [n-word] somewhere else.” This comment, along with the tweet, painted a clear picture of racist sentiment.
Furthermore, Kompothecras’s engagement with a racist meme targeting former President Barack Obama further solidified the accusations. The meme featured Obama with a derogatory caption containing racial slurs and offensive language. Kompothecras responded to this meme with “Truth brotha,” seemingly endorsing the racist message. These unearthed posts quickly circulated online, sparking outrage and prompting MTV’s swift action.
Siesta Key Cast Members Condemn “Blatant Racism”
Following MTV’s announcement, Kompothecras’s Siesta Key castmates publicly addressed the situation, largely condemning his actions. Juliette Porter, Kompothecras’s ex-girlfriend, directly engaged with fans defending him on Twitter. She stated unequivocally that his behavior was racist and indefensible. In a tweet directed at a fan, Porter retorted, “Sorry we picked trying to get rid of racism instead of thinking about your reality tv needs Mariah… You still see all the drama, you just don’t see him.”
Porter further discussed the controversy on Barstool Sports’ Chicks in the Office podcast. She acknowledged the backlash from some viewers upset about Kompothecras’s removal, noting, “I have a lot of — I don’t want to say racist followers — but a lot of people are like really upset about him leaving… People love a villain.” However, she emphasized the severity of his actions, stating, “It’s not even like subtle racism – it was like blatant, blatant racism.” Porter indicated legal constraints limited her further comments.
Kelsey Owens, another Siesta Key cast member, echoed Porter’s sentiments and expressed bewilderment at fans wanting Kompothecras back on the show. She questioned, “I don’t understand. There are so many people saying they want him back and I’m like, do you understand why he’s gone?” Owens affirmed her belief that MTV made the correct decision in firing him.
Robby Hayes, who dated Porter after Kompothecras, reacted to MTV’s announcement with a simple, telling comment: “Karma,” as reported by Us Weekly. Chloe Trautman also chimed in, supporting Porter’s stance and dismissing those defending Kompothecras.
Prior Controversies and Final Straw
While the racist social media posts were the direct cause of his firing, Alex Kompothecras had a history of controversial incidents predating this scandal. He was previously linked to a disturbing viral video from 2017 depicting a shark being dragged behind a boat. This incident sparked outrage from animal rights activists and the public.
Furthermore, just a year before his firing, in February 2019, Kompothecras was arrested for disorderly conduct in Clearwater, Florida. According to In Touch Weekly reports, the arrest stemmed from an incident where Kompothecras allegedly urinated on a vehicle outside the Oz Club, leading to an altercation that required police intervention to de-escalate.
Despite these past incidents, it was the surfacing of overtly racist social media posts that ultimately proved to be the breaking point for MTV and Siesta Key. The network’s swift and decisive action underscores a zero-tolerance policy towards racism and reflects a broader societal shift in holding individuals accountable for racist remarks and behavior, especially in the public eye.
