Thursday, April 2, 2026

Flaming Bros San Fernando - LATV Controversy


So, unfortunately... something emotionally tragic happened prior to filming for Season 3.

Rafa hadn't seen or spoken to David since Season 2 Episode 18 (with the Season 2 Reunion being the only exception due to having to acknowledge major events that went on during that season), and understandably so. He needed his space so he could stop worrying about "David this, David that." He just wanted to be left alone. He didn't tell David any of this and he didn't have to; he just didn't have the patience or energy to talk to David anymore. And once David figured this out, that pissed him off even more leading to something that he will never redeem himself from.

On July 2016, after the Season 2 reunion aired, messy David Ty Reza was interviewed by comedian and host Humberto Carlos Guida for the LATV (Latin Alternative Television) network in Los Angeles, and did the most unforgivable thing imaginable.

When asked by Humberto where he stood with Rafa, David said, "Ah man, I never liked that little bitch. He's shitty person who should never be trusted. And he's creepy, too. He and his whole family of witches are creepy as Hell. And all he does is cry like a little baby, and he needs to grow up. Maybe he should go to Compton with me so I can show him how to really be a man, you know what I'm sayin'? *laughing* And maybe he'll grow on me. Maybe." This took Humberto (who’s no stranger to roasting) by surprise, and made for a pretty awkward interview.

So basically, not only did he lie to Rafa in Season 2 saying that he “forgave” him and was over the Las Vegas situation, but he confirmed to everyone that he USED Rafa for 2 seasons, just like he used Alastair. A user and a liar... WHEN DOES IT END?! 

David is seriously digging a whole for himself. And this time, he cannot get out of it. David Ty Reza is officially a successful failure. How low can he go?

This quickly made headlines in the queer community - ESPECIALLY the queer Brown/Black community - so of course Rafa was going to hear about this, sooner instead of later! 

And he must have because almost immediately after news broke about David’s interview, Rafa was nowhere to be found on social media. His Instagram page? GONE. His Facebook page? GONE. His Tumblr page? GONE. His YouTube channel? GONE. His Twitter account? GONE. His Google Plus account? GONE. 

He also did not talk to the press or the media. If anyone wanted to know about Rafa’s whereabouts, they had to ask Alastair. But even Alastair refused to answer, wanting to respect Rafa’s privacy. Rafa literally withdrew from the public eye, seemingly forever. If anything, it could be assumed that he kept himself focused on his education, his major, his job, his spirituality, animals, and himself. And hopefully nobody at work or school was asking Rafa about David or the show, but I doubt it. Otherwise, it's as if he stopped existing. And David is 100% to blame.

And this silence would go on for MONTHS. And filming for the upcoming Season 3 was halted indefinitely, because the show and its setting was arguably NOTHING without Rafa.

In the meantime, David faced severe backlash for his statement; even Alastair Patton, Zachary Garcia, and Christian Gabriel Caceres-Lopez each had something to say about the controversy via social media. Hell, even future cast member, classmate, and close friend of Rafa’s Calvin Seabrooks (who we haven't seen onscreen since Season 1) and reunion host Ross Matthews each weighed in on the controversy via social media, expressing their disgust with David. In fact, Calvin’s response was so ugly and scathing (going as far as to openly believe that David's past was probably made up, too) that David blocked him (giving you a hint of Calvin’s personality when he joins the show many seasons later). 

David himself does not apologize for what he said, and uses the fact that he was apparently drunk as his excuse. He even complains on social media that he tried reaching out to Rafa about his LATV interview but Rafa already blocked his number after the interview broke the news.

Fans were worried for Rafa. No one has heard from him, and rumors started swirling that he wasn't coming back to the show as a result of David's words. Without Rafa, FBSF🌩 may as well be dead. But given what Rafa went through for two seasons, there's no way he would return unless there were conditions.

Whatever was to happen, changes were most definitely afoot.

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