The new show Fear Factor: House of Fear started on Fox on January 11, 2026. Hosted by Johnny Knoxville, 14 strangers live in a scary house. They do gross and tough challenges and vote to kick people out. The last one wins $200,000.

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In the first episode (“Sealed Fates”), one player got a lot of hate: Zach (Zachary Nelson), a 33-year-old unemployed coal miner from Illinois.

it's getting HEATED at the first elimination challenge omg 😳😱
the drama on the new version of fear factor 🍿 >>> #FearFactor pic.twitter.com/GhWt9ACnVh

— Fear Factor (@FearFactor) January 15, 2026

Kristen, another contestant, called him “the real snake.” She said he was sneaky and mean. Many viewers agree. They say Zach acted badly toward women. He picked women first to target or eliminate. Some think he said things like wanting “women out first.”

People on social media (like X and comments under @FearFactor posts) called him names. They said he is an “asshole,” shows “pure hate” toward women, or is misogynistic (hates women). One viewer wrote: “He could pick guys, but he goes after women. It’s not just strategy—it’s hate.”

Some fans defend him. They say it’s smart game play—using fear to win. But most complaints focus on him being too mean and personal, not just playing to win.

Zach did well in the first challenge (he teamed with Rob and got power). He survived the first vote—Kristen got eliminated instead.

The drama makes Zach look like the early bad guy. Viewers think the house will turn against him soon. Episode 2 airs January 21—maybe more fights or he gets voted out.

The show mixes big stunts with house drama, like Survivor but with bugs and fear. Zach’s style has people talking—a lot.

Who is Zach ?

Zachary “Zach” Nelson, 33, is a contestant on Fox’s Fear Factor: House of Fear (2026 reboot). An unemployed coal miner from Benton, Illinois, he previously worked as a machine operator at Gateway North Coal Mine until a recent layoff.

He has a 10-year-old daughter, Kennedy, and is motivated to win the $200,000 prize to support his family. Raised in Benton since fourth grade, Zach grew up watching Johnny Knoxville in Jackass with his younger brother.

He calls the show “Fear Factor on steroids” and filmed in Canada soon after being cast. Public family details are limited beyond his mom (Elise Nelson) and daughter. No public net worth estimates exist for him—sources show none for this everyday contestant (unlike executives with the same name). He remains in the game after the January 11, 2026 premiere.