Little People, Big Problems: The Story of the Roloff Family

On the Air

In 2006, "Little People Big World" was aired for the first time and instantly became a huge hit. That's when we first met the Roloff family, including their children; each of them carries the little-people gene in one way or another. The family lives on a beautiful farm in Oregon, and each of them faces their own difficulty in being little people in such a big world.

The Roloffs captured the audience's heart instantly, and they were open to letting the cameras into their homes, no matter how hard their lives were at times. Unfortunately, as viewers of the show, we witness a few tragic moments too.

Special Circumstances

Amy and Matthew Roloff have what is called dwarfism. After a few years of being married, Amy and Matthew decided to have children and the twins Zach and Jeremy were born. Then, Molly was born, and the family seemed to be complete. Zach, one of the twin boys, has dwarfism, too, which makes him naturally very close to his mother and father.

Jeremy and Molly do not display this gene mutation and were, what is known, in regular height. There were now five members in the Roloff family, in all different shapes and sizes, which made them unique and very interesting.

One Big Happy Family

Four years after Molly was born, Amy was surprisingly pregnant again. It was another boy, and in 1997, Jacob George came into the world. As the seasons went on and the story developed, Jacob became a dominant member of the Roloff family, and many of the events, some pleasant and some disturbing, evolved around him and his wife, Isabel Sofia Rock.

The Roloff family didn't remain in its original form throughout all the seasons. In 2016, Jacob George decided enough was enough. For many private reasons, he decided to leave the show, and the Roloff family found themself one member short.

The Truth Behind Stage

Jacob was a very dominant character in "Little People, Big World." He was just nine years old when he took a serious role in the show and, over time, became one of the main causes of tension amongst the other members of the family. Jacob was the only one who really opened up about backstage scenarios, and not everyone liked that.

Jacob has said on more than one occasion that he was forced to go on the show and that he wanted nothing to do with it. To this day it is still unclear if many of Jacob's allegations are objectively true or just subjective.

Rock and Roloff

In 2017, Jacob opened up and wrote a blog called Rock and Roloff. Jacobe revealed that many of the storylines were made up only for the sake of the show and didn't happen naturally. He added that even the real events that took place were exaggerated and turned into something completely different from what really happened.

The Roloff family reality, according to Jacob, was twisted, and he didn't like it at all. He went on to write that many episodes were disturbing and left his mother in tears. Everything was about the money, the rating, and the success of the show, and nothing was about the real members of the family.

He Took Different Path

When Jacob decided to leave, at first, everyone was sure that this was the best idea for the show and the rest of the cast, but in fact, his departure was going to cause a lot of damage. Jacob was unhappy with the way things were going, and he blamed his parents for his disappointment in life and for all the trouble the show had caused him.

All this led to Jacob creating Verbing, where he spoke about his time on the show. He confessed he had to go to therapy to deal with all the damage being on the show caused.

Pointing Fingers

Being accused of so many harsh allegations was not easy for Amy and Matthew. The life of their children was far from easy, with dwarfism running in the family and being exposed to television, and they wanted to make life as easy for them as possible. One of the ways they did this was by sending them to school every single day.

This gave the children of the Roloff family the kind of regime and stability they needed and made the way of life their parents chose for them a little more bearable. Every child had different issues, some of which had to do with the way they looked and some with the kind of attention they were getting.

They Were Different

The fact that not all members of the Roloff family had dwarfism opened the gate to many complications and difficult times within the household. As you can only imagine, living with dwarfism amongst others who are exactly like you is one thing, however, when there are significant differences in many ways, things can sometimes get out of hand.

The family managed a farm that was privately owned, meaning everyone had to pull their weight and contribute to the day-to-day chores. There were no excuses, and everyone had to play a part. Taking care of the farm and looking out for the land and everything that it brings requires a lot of physical effort.

Not Everything Was Pretty Pink

Not all people who have dwarfism necessarily have related diseases, and many of them live a perfectly regular and healthy way of life. This wasn't the case with the Roloff family. Zach and his father, Matthew, went through a number of surgeries that were related to their condition. This, unfortunately, led to more complications until, eventually, they could barely work with their hands anymore.

The Roloff family were known as doers and big believers that anything was possible, so they found ways to make things work. It was when TLC first approached the family and offered to make a reality show about their lives that Amy saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Innovation

A television show about little people was something new. Up until 2006, there was no show exposing the real struggles people with dwarfism have, and this was a great opportunity to shed light on how life is for such people.

Amy believed this was the perfect way to teach the world something and, of course, make some money that the family needed. This was a great way to reach people's hearts and expose what life is for them. When all of the family agreed to take part, Amy knew she had made the right decision, however, not everything was about to go according to plan.

It Was About Everything

The show covered their day-to-day life and included almost everything that was going on. There are many less pleasant episodes, like the one that was broadcast just before Halloween of 2006. The Roloff family owned a trebuchet, which they used to launch pumpkins from their own pumpkin patch.

Just before the holiday, Jacob, the youngest child in the family, together with Mike, one of his friends, was seriously injured by the trebuchet. Jacob was hospitalized with severe injuries. This was the beginning of the end for Jacob, and when he turned 18, he was off the show for various reasons, mainly a contract dispute.

New Faces Everywhere

2010 was the time to introduce new faces onto the show. It had been running for four years already, and something new was needed to spice things up. Victoria Elizabeth, better known as Tori, joined the farm as a part-time worker. Amy and Matthew needed any working hands they could get their hands on, and Tori was just what they called for.

At first, she was sweet, charming, and hard-working, however, things were not going to remain like this forever. Little did the family know that Tori's arrival on the farm was going to change things for everyone, and the farm was never going to look the same.

True Stori

When Tori joined the farm and the show, Zach thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen and wanted a little more than just being friends. It took him almost four months to finally find the courage to share his feelings on the show.

Zach asked Tori if she would go out with him, and to his surprise, and with no doubt in her response, she said yes. Five years after they began dating, Zach and Tori were married and remained on the show until 2023. They felt it was too much for themselves but, most importantly, for their children.

It Wasn't a Cheap Deal

Tori started off as the girl next door, however, overnight, she became a celeb, and these days, she is recognized no matter where she goes or what she does. Being a celebrity, and this doesn't matter if it's a Hollywood celebrity or a "Little People Big World" kind of celebrity, comes with a high price to pay sometimes.

Tori was seen on screen on more than one occasion, revealing and opening up to the audience. She shared her most shallow moments and her most sacred secrets in front of the camera, elegantly entering people's hearts and becoming one of the show's favorites.

It Was Becoming Huge

In 2012, the show's production was enjoying huge success, and was thinking of new ways to grow even bigger. It was time for a spinoff series, and "Little People Big World: Wedding Farm" was born. Yes, Amy and Matthew entered the wedding planning business.

The show featured them as a couple with a business, hoping to see it develop into a successful one. The spinoff show was filmed and aligned with the main "Little People Big World" show, however, it only lasted for one season. Unlike the wedding spinoff, there are no signs of the original show dying, and it is still going strong.

The Bells Were Ringing

Zach and Tori's big and special day was celebrated in July 2015 in front of their family, friends, and the rest of the nation who watched the show. They held the ceremony on the family's farm, however, this was not the only party in town. A little before the wedding episode was aired, Zach's twin brother, Jeremy, got married too.

Jeremey's wedding to then-girlfriend Audrey was televised on a special episode, however, it didn't manage to draw the same amount of attention Zach's wedding did. Overall, Zach's relationship with Tori was more interesting than Jeremy's and grasped more television ratings.

Match Making

Now, just because Zach and Jeremy found the love of their lives with the help of the show, this doesn't mean that all members of the Roloff family were easily paired up. The love department didn't bless everyone, and it is clearly expressed on the show. In 2016, Amy and Matthew decided to split and go their separate ways.

The children of the family were shocked, the production of the television show was shocked, and the loyal audiences were shocked, too. No one saw this coming. The saying that every cloud has a silver lining couldn't be more accurate to "Little People Big World," and although Amy and Matthew decided to divorce, they remained close friends for the sake of their family and for the sake of the show.

Did She Sell Her Part?

When it was revealed that Amy and Matthew were separating, people wondered what was going to happen with the family's farm. There was a rumor going around that Amy sold her half to Matthew for just a little under $700,000. This was later denied by Matthew as he always claimed he hadn't got full ownership of the farm.

In 2020, the farm itself became the centerstage of the show as it had to close its doors during lockdown. It had to say goodbye to its visitors as, like anywhere else, it had to keep socially distanced. The farm has always been and will always be a very special place to Amy and Matthew, who have spent so many beautiful days together.

New Things Were on the Way

At the same time Amy and Matthew announced that they were separating, Zach and Tori revealed that Tori was pregnant and expecting a baby. So many things were happening on the show, and it managed to earn a few more hundred thousand viewers at the time.

Tori found it difficult to hide her feelings, being worried that her child might be born, as she described, "different," Zach kept calm and assured everyone around him that no matter what, his baby would be loved and taken care of. He helped Tori calm and embrace the fact that no matter what, they are strong together and always will be.

Going Online

On Tori and Zach's seventh wedding anniversary, Tori was still pregnant, and they both decided to celebrate the event online. They posted photos of themselves on their social media accounts and shared their love and strong feelings with their followers.

From this side of the screen, Tori and Zach's relationship seems to be perfect, and although, like any other couple, they have their ups and downs, they still remain very strong together and are an inspiration for many. As for their unborn baby, no one knew what the future was about to deliver, and they were all in for a heartwarming surprise.

No One Knew What to Expect

Zach was born with what is called achondroplasia, and there was a good chance his baby would be born with achondroplasia, too. Tori went to be screened while she was halfway through her pregnancy. She was then told her baby had dwarfism. This gave the couple plenty of time to adapt themselves to the situation and prepare themselves for whatever was meant to be.

Both their families were very supportive, and although there were more surprises to come, since they had experience, Zach and Tori were positive they were going to be great parents. Zach had dwarfism himself, and Tori had enough experience living with him.

There Was More to Come

Tori had a few good years of experience working with children in a kindergarten. She loved being with children, loved watching them grow, and couldn't wait to be a parent herself. In May 2017, little Jackson was born. He was a wonderful new addition to the Roloff family, and although he inherited his father's genes, Zach and Tori were over the moon with their new baby boy.

They couldn't have been happier. They promised to love their boy no matter what, and they are the most dedicated parents out there. The first few weeks of parenthood went relatively smoothly, however, not everything was going to be as easy.

There Was More to Show

In the month after Jackson was born, Tori spent a lot of her time posting pictures of herself and her beloved baby on her social media accounts. Her loyal fans were constantly updated with little Jackson's development processes and the day-to-day things that filled their lives.

Tori's affection for her baby boy was easily noticed from beyond the picture's frame. Zach, Tori, and Jackson were a loving, happy family, and everyone wished things would remain that way, however, not all was going to be so easy for the Roloff family after all. Zach and Tori were about to taste the bitter flavors of life, and they were not going to be alone in that boat...

It Was Hard On Her Too

Occasionally, Tori shared with her followers that life wasn't easy for her. Motherhood was not all a garden of roses, and she felt comfortable spilling it all out to her dedicated audience. She openly revealed that she found breastfeeding very hard and uncomfortable. "Little People Big World" helped bring awareness to dwarfism and the fact that not all women have it easy when it comes to nursing their babies.

It helped dispel some of the stigmas and rumors that surrounded dwarfism and made many women stop feeling guilty anymore about choosing to breastfeed or not. Tori suddenly became a major figure in the breastfeeding debate, and things she had to say began to make a real impact.

It Was Her Decision

Tori said on many occasions that in many societies, breastfeeding in public is still considered unacceptable, and women are asked to nurse their babies either covered or in the privacy of their own homes. On the other hand, when a mother chooses to give her child breastmilk substitutes, eyebrows are raised, and the mother is questioned yet again.

To this day, breastfeeding, yes or no, is still a hot topic all over the world. Tori took advantage of the fame and the number of followers she had to bring awareness and get people finally talking about it, and she became the voice of many.

Growing Pains

Tori's followers watched Jackson grow every day and followed her as she shared that breastfeeding is getting easier as the days go by. So many people took advantage of this platform and shared their own personal experiences of breastfeeding and bringing up children in general. Tori was overwhelmed by the love and appreciation she received, and it filled her life with joy.

There were many stories that were born on Tori's social media accounts, like the one about the nurse who worked for women's health services. This nurse commented that in modern days, women are encouraged to breastfeed and that many hospitals are investing a lot in breastfeeding awareness, however, they are neglecting many other issues that follow childbirth, like postpartum depression, for example.

Juggling Everything Together

Tori was not the only one who nourished a successful social media account. Audry, Tori's sister-in-law who is married to Zach'e brother, Jeremy, also uses her Instagram account to express her experiences after giving birth to a daughter alongside running her own business.

Audry sought advice on how to keep a business running after giving birth, and she received free, priceless tips for life from her own followers, too. Many commented on how to balance work and motherhood in the hectic world we all live in, as there was no reason for her fashion line and her marriage counseling website to be paused because they had a child.

Beating 50 Percent

Audry and Jeremy's marriage counseling website is called Beating 50 Percent, which highlights some of the more traditional and conservative family values and encourages a more Christian life. A website with these flavors is not everyone's cup of tea. However, it has become very successful among those who do relate to this way of life.

Tori and Audry are only two of the women we see on the show who have shared their own personal life obstacles with the public. In fact, many celebs have posed photos of themselves breastfeeding their children, like big-time models Gisele Bundchen and Chrissy Teigen.

Their Way of Living

Audry and Jeremy's way of living got the couple in many unpleasant and almost disturbing episodes over the years. The show emphasizes the couple's thoughts about many controversial topics, such as LGBTQ rights. Jeremy posted on his social media account an article that was followed by a lot of noise and caused a stir as it covered how the group was trying to go to war with churches.

People began to say that Jeremy might not be as open and accepting as he seems to be on the show. This was only the beginning of what was about to turn into an online war against Jeremy and Audry and what they think of other minorities.

Online Downfall

Audrey even got into an online argument, which hit the headlines. The post has since been deleted, however, not everyone has forgotten about it. One of her followers commented that her blog is only made for opposite-gender couples and doesn’t cater to the LGBTQ+ community. Audrey posted, "LGBTQ marriage isn’t “something we agree with,” which is what set everything on fire.

She went on to add, "My blog is designed for people hoping to give more than average in their marriages.” People read between the lines, and Audrey was then believed to be one who writes only for those who live a traditional way of life.

Another One Was on the Way

In May 2019, Tori had another big announcement to make. She was pregnant again, and Jackson was about to become a big brother. Tori was carrying a little baby girl, and they were over the moon. She posted: "Zachary and I are so excited to announce that Jackson is going to be a big brother! We are expecting a sweet baby girl this November!

Thank you so much for always supporting our family and loving us!" Her posts were about serious issues, like her difficulties in life and how she was feeling. However, they were also about funny little things, like her craving for gummy bears while she was pregnant.

She Had Something to Say

Self-confidence and self-esteem were also two big topics widely discussed on Tori's social account. "You all are so fricking sweet. I wasn’t looking for affirmation, but y’all seriously gave it to me. That’s honestly what gives me the confidence to post this. I’m trying to love the heck out of my body because, dang it, I’m proud to grow this baby girl."

While Tori was happily pregnant, Audry was juggling between running her businesses and raising her child and managing to get into more online trouble. She posted, “Once a woman is married, her body is no longer her own.” She didn't stop there and added that women should fulfill everything their husbands wish for, no matter what.

The Bad Side of Publicity

Audry was in for a rough ride and was about to discover the bad side of social media. She was going to pay a high price for being too open and sharing too many thoughts. When she was pregnant, many saw this as an opportunity to fight back and give her a taste of what she had been feeding others.

One of her followers asked if she got her husband's permission before posting a certain image and that they were surprised her husband allowed her to show so much skin on social media. Many of her followers were not showing any forgiveness at all.

New Love Was in the Air

While all this was going on, Amy had some happy news to spread. After the devastating and heartbreaking divorce from Matthew, Amy found new love. His name was Chris Marek. By 2019, they were already engaged, and in the summer of 2021, they were married on the Roloff farm. As the show progressed, it revealed some less happy moments of the family, and in that same year, Amy lost her beloved dog, Felix.

Amy was devastated, and many of the show's audience were able to relate to the hurt she was feeling as Amy's dog was sudden and unexpected. The show continues to shed light on the Roloff family's life, follows them through the bad and good, and together with the social media accounts, this family has become a true inspiration to us all. They might be small or little people, but they have great souls and huge hearts, which, at the end of the day, are the only thing that matters.

How much reality exactly goes into "Little People Big World" is a question unanswered. Now, however, we know that at least one person involved was not happy with it. Keep reading to learn more about the degree of actual reality in some of the most successful reality shows out there.

Whether we admit it or not, we all enjoy watching reality shows from time to time and yelling at our TV sets.

In truth, most of these so-called “reality shows” are actually staged and predetermined. They involve carefully crafted scenarios, archetypal actors, or sometimes even both. Just to prove it, we've gathered a list of the world's most popular reality TV shows that surprisingly do not depict reality at all.

The Osbournes

One of the first reality TV shows to follow a family of semi-lunatics around while they engage in a lot of drama was 'The Osbournes".

It eventually came out that most of the show’s events were actually scripted. The Osbournes themselves simply came up with crazy ideas before each episode.

Cake Boss

It was inevitable that the popularity of reality shows would eventually lead to one about cakes. Unfortunately, "Cake Boss" really takes the cake when it comes to exaggerating drama and controversies.

Valastro is often reported to not even work in his shop when the show isn’t filming. Some of the weddings were also reported as fake.

American Idol

"American Idol" was one of the pioneers in the reality audition TV show format.

Turns out, the show’s producers send talent scouts to make sure they have a few winners at the end of each episode and fill the rest of the time with terrible participants who are known as flops ahead of time.

Say Yes to the Dress

"Say Yes To The Dress" basically follows a bride’s journey while finding the ideal wedding dress. Many people that have attended the show’s sets have claimed that a lot of the participant’s reactions were rehearsed and dramatized.

The bridal boutique featured in the show was also exaggerated in its size and popularity.

Hell’s Kitchen

Gordon Ramsey used "Hell’s Kitchen" to become a household figure and is regularly shown yelling at some of the show’s less competent participants.

Sadly, not only is most of the show scripted but many of the actual customers of the restaurant are paid actors!

MasterChef USA

Whether or not "MasterChef", or any show involving Gordon Ramsay is real, everyone watches these shows to see the notorious chef yelling at people and inventing creative expletives.

It’s still worth mentioning that, Ben Starr, a former participant, wrote a long blog post claiming that the entire behavior of the cast is fake and intentionally overdramatized.

90 Day Fiancé

The premise of the show is that a person “imports” a potential foreign wife or husband, and has 90 days to marry them before their tourist visa expires.

There are so many things wrong about '90 Day Fiance' that many of us hoped it was fake from the get-go.

Dance Moms

Like many popular reality shows, the main entertaining crutch behind "Dance Moms" is the drama and confrontations.

In 2015, Maddie Ziegler revealed that the production basically set it up so that everyone was always mad and yelling at each other.

Beauty and the Geek

The premise behind "Beauty and the Geek" is simple, take a classic dating show and flip it upside down by pitting some of the most beautiful women on earth with the nerdiest men against each other.

Not only were many of the geeks acting, but some of the girls were paid actresses too.

Restaurant Stakeout

Willie Degel gets behind the counter in unsuccessful food establishments and fixes their broken businesses. He does this by firing inadequate staff members in a highly dramatic fashion.

One of the show’s participants admitted the studio contacted him and screened for bad employees. They also asked the restaurant's staff to act as horribly as possible.

Project Runway

"Project Runway" is quite a popular show, and gives a supposed behind-the-scenes look into the work that goes into runway fashion shows. Unfortunately, the show has been outed by many of its former participants.

These designers claim that scenes are extremely sensationalized and that the reality is much more boring.

Judge Judy

Audiences have been following Judge Judy and her myriad of strange and cringe-inducing cases for over two decades. The show turned this judge into one of the most famous people in the United States.

While the cases are as real as they get, the actual outcomes of each case are always decided before the filming begins.

Pawn Stars

"Pawn Stars" might as well be called Acting Stars, as most of its scenes are completely scripted. The store is owned by the Harrison family but functions mostly as a tourist attraction rather than an actual business.

The items on the show are usually researched with prices agreed ahead of time, and the stars don’t even work the counter when cameras aren’t filming.

Ghost Hunters

We don’t really know how to describe the fact that a reality show about ghosts is fake, it pretty much goes without saying. But we’ll do our best.

Basically, many people accuse 'Ghost Hunters' of being mostly scripted and not very realistic. Nevertheless, it’s definitely entertaining. Ghostly and unreal, but entertaining.

Cupcake Wars

We would be extremely happy if countries could actually wage wars using cupcakes, but for now, let’s just settle on watching "Cupcake Wars" instead.

In truth, various rumors have been circulating that much of the competition in the show is actually fake. Half-baked and whole-faked!

Love Island

"Love Island" is simply a mix of "The Bachelor" and "Survivor". The show pairs a group of singles on a tropical island, but according to one naughty Reddit user, it’s completely fake.

Everything, from the arguments to the dramas on the show, is made up and acted. It's just manufactured romance.

Mob Wives

"Mob Wives" basically took a bunch of rugged, tough women from Staten Island, N.Y. that were married to mobsters and pitted them against each other. Many of the show's events were staged or produced.

Most of its participants don’t actually frequent together, so the producers essentially created various dramatic scenes and fights between them.

Toddlers and Tiaras

There’s something extremely cringe-inducing about "Toddlers and Tiaras", a show which takes the already debatable idea of having adults argue on TV for entertainment, and makes children do it instead.

However, many of the show’s participants and former staff came forward and claimed that the show is largely scripted, with the drama mostly being fake.

Britain's Got Talent

Fans of "Britain’s Got Talent" mostly tune in to watch Simon Cowell get paid almost $100 million per year to dish out creative criticism to the show’s participants.

Unfortunately, it was revealed that some of the show’s talents are fake, with producers doing everything they can to make sure things stay interesting. We can't say we're that surprised.

The Apprentice

Years before Donald Trump became President, he was polishing his acting skills. The show made him almost as popular as Oprah. It revolves around Trump interviewing candidates for a chance to work for him.

Many of the show’s firing scenes were highly exaggerated, and participants knew ahead of time that they were about to get the ax.

Property Brothers

Another sad case of fake reality TV is the popular real-estate show, "Property Brothers". It follows the lovable Canadian brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott, as they broker home sales from start to finish.

The brothers allegedly only renovate a portion of the houses. Additionally, many of the exchanges are often shot several times to get the best dramatic effect.

The Hills

If you’re looking for a reality show that takes gossiping to backstabbing and puts them on the forefront, "The Hills" was made just for you.

However, most of these events and dramas are scripted. Spencer Pratt revealed that he and Heidi Montag had to re-shoot the scene where they thought she was pregnant fifteen times to make it as intense as producers wanted.

Survivor

"Survivor" might just be the longest-running reality TV show of all time, as it has been running annually for more than two decades. Unfortunately, whether it started in recent years or decades ago, the show has been outed as mostly fake.

Producers have even admitted to using stunt doubles for many of the team’s challenges.

Duck Dynasty

"Duck Dynasty" revolves around the Robertson family, which makes most of its vast wealth with creative duck hunting products. The show ran for 130 episodes and proved that beards can be extremely entertaining.

However, most of the show’s drama was exaggerated for ratings, and producers often inserted ‘bleeps’ even when the cast wasn’t swearing.

WWE Smackdown / Raw

While most boys learn by age twelve that wrestling is fake, a handful of them has grown up believing these battles to be true.

It’s hard to imagine that some fans still think that you can get smacked in the head by a chair repeatedly and just show up the next week like everything’s fine.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians

Whatever you might think about Kim Kardashian and her family, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that they have managed to make literally billions off their name and likeness by ginning up controversy and getting attention.

It still draws in millions every week though, so apparently, the truth isn’t all that important.

Breaking Amish

In today’s always-connected world, a group like the Amish tends to get quite a unique reputation, and many are obviously fascinated with their unique lives. "Breaking Amish" introduced the premise of Amish people trying to break away from their confined lifestyles and moving to New York.

It’s known at this point that the show is actually fake, as these people aren’t really Amish, just actors!

Southern Charm

"Southern Charm" is proof that you can make any show successful as long as you put an interesting spin on the classic formula of "The Real Housewives".

While its premise is interesting, former participant Danni Baird stated that many of its cast didn’t even live in Charleston. He also claimed that much of the drama was pre-scripted by producers.

Hardcore Pawn

"Hardcore Pawn" revolves around the Gold family, who runs a pawn shop in Detroit’s rough 8 Mile. While the show teaches you a thing or two about negotiations and handling people, much of its drama is fake.

Many of the show’s participants later claimed that their incredibly exaggerated fights with the Gold family were completely inauthentic.

I Am Cait

Caitlyn Jenner rocked the world when she announced her transition into a female, and everyone wanted to follow her story. "I Am Cait" was the answer to that demand. The show followed her throughout her challenging gender transition.

Once the first season was over, most of the excitement was gone, so the producers began creating fake scenarios for Cait to react to.

Jersey Shore

In 2009, "Jersey Shore" became one of the world’s most popular reality shows. While the cast members are friends in real life, most of their drama is apparently made up.

A lawyer whose offices were located just across the street from them reported that many of their walkouts were not only staged but rehearsed to perfection.

Undercover Boss

There’s a lot of merit behind a show about hard-working people finally getting rewarded for all their under-credited hard work. Each episode revolves around a company’s boss going undercover and learning crucial lessons about his employees and business.

Unfortunately, various reports indicate that the show is mostly fake, including the various promises made to employees.

RuPaul's Drag Race

In 2009, "RuPaul's Drag Race" showed the world what would happen when you take a bunch of drag queens and put them in a reality show.

Despite its popularity, former contestants claim that the show’s producers often ginned up the drama by intentionally getting them emotional and then cutting clips deceptively to make them look bad.

Long Island Medium

Whatever your opinion is on mediums, you can’t deny that they have a certain appeal, wouldn't you want someone to act as if they have all the answers? Theresa Caputo, the show’s star medium, has been involved in many, many scandals and legal issues over the years.

The star has also been accused of receiving most of her readings from the crew through a hidden earbud. Scandalous!

Pimp My Ride

MTV and Xzibit teamed up for a show about breaking down mediocre cars and turning them into pimped-out rides. Unfortunately, many of its restorations were fake.

Many of the cars that were “pimped out” never actually got improved the way they were shown. They were simply outfitted with various props that just look good on camera.

The Biggest Loser

Let’s face it, most of us should probably spend a little more time exercising and a little less on watching people try to lose weight on "The Biggest Loser".

The show is notorious for putting its overweight participants on soul-crushing diets that end up backfiring horribly after the show ends.

WAGS LA

A WAG is the wife or girlfriend of a famous athlete. "WAGS" quickly became one of the E's most-watched reality shows. The premise was a behind-the-scenes look at the life and drama of being a sports star’s wife.

Unfortunately, most of the conflicts in the show were completely made up. The show’s deceptiveness got to the point where some women in it didn’t even date these athletes in real life!

Catfish

MTV’s "Catfish" features hosts Nev and Max as they help people uncover the identities of those they’ve been chatting with online.

You’d think that they get approached by people who suspect they are being catfished, but many reports claim that the show’s producers actually get approached by people who catfish and want to apply for it. Basically, the catfish get cast first, which is kinda fishy, if you ask us.

Last Comic Standing

Everyone loves a good standup show. The show is centered around finding highly talented comedians and giving them the spotlight. Unfortunately, it was reported that it's the show’s production that ends up picking the winners instead of the judges.

They also deceptively edit good performances to make them look like flops. Why would anyone do that?

What Not To Wear

Many people dream of getting $5,000 to achieve a total fashion makeover. Some of the show’s participants claimed that the producers forced them to give away all their old clothes to charity.

This was done in order to get tax breaks on their new clothes, which pretty much made them free for the TLC network.

The Real World

"The Real World" is actually not real at all. Many of its participants admitted that most of the conversations that happened in the house were actually scripted and pre-planned by the producers.

Everyone gets a rough direction of what they need to do or say, and improvise their way from there.

Total Bellas

Professional wrestling always included its fair share of women athletes, as they bring a much-needed air of femininity to this mostly male sport.

"Total Bellas" was originally pitched as a reality show about two prominent female wrestlers. We’re not surprised the show was completely fake, considering its source material.

Bridezillas

Marriage is indeed a very stressful thing, the pressure of having a perfect event can really pile up on a bride.

While "Bridezillas" manages to capture this reality quite well, many of the show’s participants claimed that production misled them in one way or another. That’s not a nice thing to do to a bride, but anything for ratings, right?

House Hunters

"House Hunters" follows various individuals, couples, and families as they hire agents to find the house of their dreams.

Like many of these shows, many aspects of it are completely fake. In truth, many of the show’s participants have already found their house and are living in it before the filming even begins.

Storage Wars

When David Hester, host of "Storage Wars" was fired, he went to the press and claimed much of the show was fake.

In response, the network sued him, and he was recently forced to pay roughly $122,692 in legal costs. The show was fake, but the amounts of cash were very real.

The Bachelor/The Bachelorette

Like many reality TV shows that revolve around finding love, both shows are mostly scripted. There have been many rumors of producers basically working behind the scenes to create much of the drama on the show.

Everything from casting to the eventual rose ceremony is predetermined. The producers of the show are in control from start to finish, which leaves no room for love.

Basketball Wives

"Basketball Wives" follows the lives and drama involved in being married to famous basketball players.

Unfortunately for the show’s producers, in an astonishing interview, former cast member Matt Barnes claimed that the show is entirely fake. His claims were backed up by Tanya Young, who was equally unsupportive of the show’s creators.

The Simple Life

There’s nothing quite like watching rich socialites try to live like the rest of us. "The Simple Life" put Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie in situations that forced them to do actual work.

While the show was real in the sense that the girls did work a lot, Hilton admitted that most of their reactions were exaggerated for entertainment value.

The City

Whitney Port from "The Hills" got her own spin-off show in "The City". Port went to live in New York City and got into various dramatic scenarios throughout her day.

While the show was essentially real in terms of the people involved, many of its events were either staged or forced by the production.

South Beach Tow

We thought that nobody would watch a show about towing illegally parked cars, but "South Beach Tow" proved us wrong.

The show’s lead star, Bernice, is known for using incredibly creative methods for towing cars. The show is obviously fake, but that doesn’t mean it's not extremely fun to watch.

Teen Mom

"Teen Mom" revolves around young girls who have gotten pregnant before age 18 and their journeys through motherhood.

While all the arrests, breakups, and other issues shown were real, many of the dramatic conversations were edited to seem a lot harsher than they actually were.

Vanderpump Rules

Lisa Vanderpump got her chance for a spin-off with "Vanderpump Rules". In the show, she and her staff are followed as they try to manage her restaurant, SUR.

A fan of the show noticed that one of the characters was repeatedly shown with and without her necklace during a scene, which pointed to the fact that it was shot several times and only later pieced together.

The Voice

We’re sad to announce that "The Voice" isn’t quite as authentic as many would want to believe, but don’t take it from us.

Rock singer Adam Wiener claimed that he was approached by the show, but eventually chose to decline their offer to participate. He said the producers choose the performers, but even worse than that, it also picks their songs and music styles.

The Real Housewives

There was a lot of speculation over the years about whether "The Real Housewives" was scripted or not. The debate around the authenticity of the show came to an end when Teresa Giudice, one of its stars, swore in court under oath that it was fake.

The star claimed that everything, from the meetings to the confrontations, is all planned in advance by the production.

Divorce Court

"Divorce Court" revolves around married couples that need to come to a resolution around their divorce.

One mother claimed that her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend were hired to act and basically fake a marriage story on the show. We want to say that that's disappointing and while it is, as long as we are entertained, we don't care that much.

Naked And Afraid

"Naked And Afraid" basically takes that premise and is not afraid to run naked with it, as the show takes participants and makes them live half nude on an island.

The show is extremely produced. Participants receive from staff various amenities that don’t exactly exist on desert islands, such as tampons and various other supplements.

The Jerry Springer Show

"The Jerry Springer Show" is one of the most outlandish and exaggerated shows on TV. It basically features the worst of humanity, from fathers who happily abandon their children, to some pretty messed up cases of family abuse.

While it's all heavily edited, at least it’s clear by the audience’s reaction that they’re having lots of fun, and we viewers at home feel good about ourselves.

Fixer Upper

Producers of "Fixer Upper" weren’t going to risk investing much time and resources only to fail at finding a house for their participants. Most of the show’s houses were already purchased before filming began.

Homeowners were reportedly required to pay extra to keep their new furniture, and the production team often skipped renovating various rooms for the sake of cutting down expenses.

Cribs

"Cribs" ran for more than a decade, and featured the houses of many popular entertainment figures.

However, a woman named Janette Verla sued MTV after her leased house was promoted as Ja Rule’s fake crib. They may be luxurious, but they’re also very fake.

Famously Single

E! Networks' "Famously Single" brings together celebs who haven't yet met their match and tries to set them up with various romantic prospects.

The show features the stars' dates, recaps, and therapy sessions to help maintain the feeling of reality. However, the celebrities aren't exactly talented actors, and the dramatic happening depicted in the show are often artificial.

Wife Swap

"Wife Swap" was incredibly popular. The format involves two households swapping matriarchs with viewers watching the dramatic conflicts ensue.

Changing house rules for a family is bound to create some conflict, but the producers amped those conflicts. Production meddling has gone as far as targeted editing and even showing supposedly married couples who weren't partners in real life!

Big Brother

CBS's "Big Brother" is the ultimate reality show. It features strangers in a house with 24/7 cameras and different weekly challenges and public eliminations.

Yes, the participants are being constantly filmed, which makes completely faking it a little hard. However, the footage used in the regularly scheduled episodes is edited to favor some of them and make the others look insane.

Dancing With the Stars

"Dancing With The Stars" has been on for more than 20 seasons and it keeps raking in some serious viewership. You may have noticed that some of these stars appear pretty professional prancing on the dance floor.

Some reports claim that the producers regularly interfere with votes and use elimination as a threat held over the heads of participants who don't follow directions.

American Pickers

Watching "American Pickers" on the History Channel will have you thinking people are natural-born hagglers. You might be surprised, however, to learn that most of the items featured on the show have a price that was agreed upon off-camera.

There is an actual screening process involved designed to make sure that the items aired have some sort of entertainment value.

Total Divas

More than anything else, pro wrestling matches are essentially displays of choreographed stunts. So we can't really hold it against "Total Divas" for being fake as well.

This show supposedly follows pro-wrestling women and their behind-the-scenes intrigue. However, most of the show is scripted, as confirmed by some of the participants.

Guy's Grocery Games

Guy Fieri has transitioned into a career as a celebrity chef a long time ago. His show involves challenging other chefs with culinary tasks.

Flavortown Market, the famous grocery store where the challenges take place, is all fake. Well, the products are real, and so are the aisles, but that food that isn't being used gets donated to local charities.

Chopped

Compared to other shows on this list, a lot of what you see on "Chopped" is actually real. However, there are some adjustments.

One such adjustment is letting the judges try the food when the time is up so they don't have to eat it at room temp. Also, the producers sometimes stir the pot by hiding some pantry items or deliberately stocking it with a limited amount of a certain product.

Love It or List It

Would you choose your own home after a professional redecoration or a brand new one? This was the "Love It or List It" format, as viewers and participants were led to believe.

One couple who went on the show reported that their home was left needing repairs after the redecoration (holes in the floor, painted-shut windows, and more).

Designed to Sell

Let's say someone participated in a reality show that renovated their house so they can sell it. Let's say they're not interested in selling anytime soon. HGTV found a nice (fake) way to deal with those kinds of participants in "Designed to Sell".

They just host a fake open house. That fake open house is full of fake potential buyers and that way it looks like they at least tried!

The HGTV Dream Home Giveaway

So yes, this show does live up to its title in the sense that it gifts someone a new home. What you don't really see on HGTV is how high the tax for the house is.

Those who win also win an obligatory tax that's worth 40% of the whole property value. Sadly, it is very rare for any of the winners to actually keep the house.

Deadliest Catch

"Deadliest Catch" pastes scenes from different occurrences into one for dramatic effect, plus the show is actually damaging the fishing industry and real-life fishing crews.

You see, the fishing crews on the show make their money from being on TV, unlike the people who fish for a living.

Chrisley Knows Best

"Christley Knows Best" follows the lives of real estate legend Todd Christley and his family. It first premiered in 2014 and has since spawned no less than eight seasons and three spinoffs.

An inside source from the show's set admitted that most of the dialogue on it is scripted. In an effort to keep the comedy going, scenes that didn't turn out as funny as Christley imagined get re-shot.

Ice Road Truckers

The first season opening of "Ice Road Truckers" shows a huge truck breaking through an ice road and falling into the icy water below it.

People who've participated in the show have confessed to it being scripted and heavily edited to paint average people as villains or heroes. Furthermore, the show portrays ice road trucking as far more dangerous than it actually is.

Geordie Shore

"Geordie Shore" is the British take on the not-so-real American reality show "Jersey Shore". And if you've ever tried watching the latter, you've probably guessed it's incredibly fake.

The thing that without a doubt outed the show's fakery was one of its 2018 trailers. Marnie herself later tweeted that the show is "fake and scripted".

Made in Chelsea

No, not the Chelsea in New York, the one in London. Although it doesn't really matter because it's totally fake.

Former participants actually spoke against the producers and the way they script different happenings and create drama where there isn't any. One of them has even gone on record saying that they filmed fake dinners early in the morning.

Alaskan Bush People

"Alaskan Bush People" follows the Brown family, who were supposedly born and raised in the Alaskan Bush. But, the family's neighbors told the media that the family has once lived in the modern Alaskan Icy Strait Lodge.

Then there are testimonies stating that the family's so-called Bush home was only used for filming and they didn't really live there. And finally, the media has discovered that the Browns had lived outside of Alaska between 2009-2012, making their legal status as Alaskans questionable. Authenticity is out the icy window.

The Island

Surviving on a deserted island is hard. Just ask the participants of "The Island". Or maybe don't.

The production had to make sure the island had enough food and water for the duration of the shoot. As it turns out, they just created a freshwater pool and imported animals for the men to hunt. Survival is a lot easier when it's fake.

The X Factor

The songs are real, the singers are real, and the audience is real. Simon Cowell is definitely real. However, there is something they don't tell you about the auditioning process.

The auditions you see on TV are essentially moot because the contestants are pre-screened. What about the contestants who can't sing? Well, they were picked in advance, as 'filler' candidates for entertainment value and supposed credibility.

The Amazing Race

Couples of various relationships and backgrounds go on a journey around the world and compete against each other in different challenges. The winning couple receives a very real million-dollar cash prize.

While the challenges in the show are genuine, there is some fakery going on in the casting process. Favoring people who are already financially settled.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

The people of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" actually did live up to their promise. They indeed take families in need and built them a new and improved house in a mere week. So far, so good.

The thing is, once the house is upgraded, it also increases in value. Sadly, that resulted in many of them having to sell their dream, custom-made homes.

Love Is Blind

"Love Is Blind" is a delicious little show, but was any of it real? Well, it turns out that at least some of it was fake. Season 1 contestants said they got to talk to each about the fact they would refuse the marriage proposal, before the actual proposal ceremony.

Still, in the ceremony itself, when the girl says no, the guy acts surprised. That sounds fake to us!

Too Hot to Handle

"Too Hot to Handle" is very much like its name, but we still enjoy it very much. One contestant came forward saying that while production didn't tell him what to say or do, they did influence his decisions.

Basically, they tried to 'encourage' participants to do what they think will make the show more dramatic. One part that was very real though, is the fact that participants were not allowed any form of sensual satisfaction.

American's Next Top Model

This show ran for an incredible amount of seasons and it dominated pop culture for a long time. But, you'd be disappointed to hear that many times the winners were not picked based on their performance, and they were not even picked by the judges. In fact, it was Cover Girl who decided who would win the show.

Many of the models have also admitted that being on the show was a terrible experience and that being a Top Model veteran made it harder for them to get modeling jobs.

The Masked Singer

The show has had some amazing talents on it, but it isn't really about talent at all. It has been said that production decides who will go home based on who fans seem to connect with and not based on performance.

The judges have been known to avoid guessing the correct person, even when it's obvious. Most notably, the show doesn't have a live audience, but producers hid that fact from viewers till season 4.

Queer Eye

The reboot of this old classic took is always a mood-lifter, but things are not as real and authentic as the fab five make them seem. Home renovations are heavily sponsored by Ikea, and Booby, who is responsible for them, actually gets blueprints of the houses weeks before.

Also, the show makes it seem as if all the guys stay in a fancy loft together, but most likely each one of them has their own accommodation.

Amish Mafia

There's nothing more enjoyable than watching what was characterized as the Mafia of the Amish community, most of what you see on the show is fabricated. What do we know? Well, firstly, it was confirmed by police that was no such thing as an Amish Mafia.

Most of the people you see on the show are not even Amish, and the scenes are staged by the production team. It turns out that reality doesn't really make for good reality TV.

Pawn Queens

There is very little that is real about the show "Pawn Queens" which is all about a bunch of women who operate a pawn shop in Illinois. The women you see on the show are not real, in fact, one of them came forward anonymously saying she was hired to be on the show even though she had no experience pawning.

She was given a fake backstory by the show's team and was coached on how she should behave on the show.

Next in Fashion

The Netflix fashion design show is the streaming service's version of "Project Runway" and it has Queer Eye's Tan France as one of its hosts.

Like many reality shows that are competition based, the selection of winners and losers is sometimes so weird that you know it had nothing to do with how well people did in the challenge and everything to do with what the production wanted the outcome to be.

Glow Up

This show did for make-up artists what project runway did for designers — brought them to the forefront and showed how hard they must work. However, many viewers felt like the heartfelt show's judges didn't really ever explain their choices and critics and didn't give any objective feedback to the aspiring makeup artists.

One thing the production did right, though, is that it kept the show mostly drama-free and made sure to focus on the makeup looks.

Room Raiders

Who didn't love MTV's early 00's reality shows? They all had insane concepts that kept everyone wanting to come back for more. Someone who worked as a producer on the show confessed that the kids had no idea what show they were participating in.

While we all did get to see real rooms, the participants were actually told to remove some items before the film crew came in, which means that unlike what we saw on TV, they knew the crew was coming and weren't actually surprised. These items were usually personal photos or any nude photos they had around.

MTV's Made

If you watched MTV during the early 00's you must remember "Made," a show where one student was desperate to get better at something, so they got a personal coach from MTV to help them with that. Students who were on the show said that most of the time it felt like the show's team already had envisioned how their story is going to turn out, before filming even began.

One former participant even told that they were forced to have a 'crush' for the purpose of the show. Yikes.

Selling Sunset

The hit Netflix show was brought to us by the same people who created both "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills." If you've heard anything about these other shows you know they are not known for being too realistic.

Basically, the characters you see in "Selling Sunset" are real-life people, but the scenes you see are most likely staged or shot several times to get the most dramatic effect.

Face-off

The special effects makeup show gives us a peek into what it takes in order to create iconic spooky characters like monsters and vampires. But, one of the show's former artists created a documentary saying the game was rigged and the winner of the show is picked before the season even begins.

The movie was created by someone who decided to walk off the show, and many say his makeup skills weren't up to par. So, is everything he is saying real, or could it just be that he's a very sore loser?

Super Sweet 16

The MTV classic reality hit show featured high schoolers just as they were hitting a milestone they seemed to think was incredibly important — turning 16. The rich spoiled kids wanted to have the world's best party and weren't willing to settle for any less.

Still, the production usually created drama by making sure someone who wasn't invited would show up and rumor has it that the kids didn't actually get fancy cars, but the production just made it seem so.

Paris Hilton’s My New BFF

The fakeness of this reality show is already in its title, as no one can actually pick a best friend on a reality show. If you need any further proof, well, Hilton did not stay in touch with the first season's winner, Brittany Flickinger.

When asked what happened, Paris claimed that they just grew apart, but honestly, we're not buying it at all. Most likely, the two were never even really friends to begin with.

Cooking With Paris

Paris Hilton has found herself many different reality shows to star in over the years, and we get it, it's probably a lucrative deal. When it comes to "Cooking With Paris" the star most likely exaggerates her dumb, self-obsessed blonde persona for entertainment value.

If you've seen her 2020 documentary, "This Is Paris," you'll know the real Paris is very different from the one you see on the show. She even uses an artificial voice!

16 and Pregnant

The show followed teenagers who got pregnant at a very young age and many times showed the teenager telling the people close to her about the pregnancy. But, it makes no sense they didn't know at that point and that scene was most likely staged for the camera and for dramatic effect.

It has also been reported that while the events that take place are real, some scenes are totally scripted.

Double Shot at Love With the Ikki Twins

Who are the Ikki Twins, you ask? Well, we've asked ourselves the exact same question. One finalist from the show gave his own answer to the query: they are liars. Former participants say that while don't regret going on this show, pretty much everything about it was fake.

Taking into account the fact that it was a reality dating show, we are not that surprised to hear that's the case.

Are You the One?

The show puts a fun twist on the old, tired, reality dating show's convention. Participants are told their perfect match is already in the house, and if everyone managed to find the person the production decided best for them — they all win a million dollars.

While producers claim they have a scientific way of choosing perfect matches, many of the people who end up being "perfect" for each other actually make no sense together. It's more likely that production cared about casting individuals more than it cared about finding the right person for each participant.

Ink Master

The show was truly groundbreaking when it first aired, being part of the revolution that brought tattoos to mainstream culture. Contestants say the show is not scripted per se, but are asked to discuss things they maybe wouldn't naturally start talking about.

They also added that because the show is heavily edited people are portrayed the way they actually are. As for the art of tattooing, it really shouldn't be done in such a rush as it's done on the show.

Floribama Shore

The "Jersey Shore" reboot is as fake as the original one. It is incredibly similar to the original show but has different cast members. Watching the show, it's easy to see that the cast members speak lines that were fed to them by the producers.

How can we tell? Sadly, none of the cast members are that good at acting, so it's easy to see when they are not being natural.

Punk'd

The classic prank show hosted by Ashton Kutcher used to be a big deal back in the day. We know that the show is fake in at least one aspect — the celebrities are being put into fake scenarios.

The idea was to see the real reaction a famous person would have to being put in a complicated bizarre situation. Some celebrities actually knew they were being punk'd and just acted surprised. Others had the ability to influence editing, making sure they look their best.

A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila

You know that a name like Tila Tequila is 100% fake and that's already in the title. The show featured both men and women, all competing for the love of the bi-woman Tila. But, the season one winner, who was a man, said that he never even got the chance to communicate with Tila after the show was over.

Claims were made that she wasn't even attracted to men and the whole thing was a sham.

The Circle

Netflix's show "The Circle" is about playing the social media game. Each player is put into an apartment, all of which are in the same building. But, they can't see each other, the only way they are allowed to communicate is via chat.

The show uses footage of Chicago to set the location, which would make you think that's where the show is shot. But, that's fake. The show is actually shot in England.

Man Vs Wild

Bear Grylls is indeed an expert at surviving in the wild and no one can take that away from him. Still, he does get a lot of support from the production so you can't really say he's surviving in the wild on his own.

The show even starts off with the revelation that “Bear Grylls and the crew receive support when they are in potentially life-threatening situations.” The thing is, it's very likely that he also gets help when the situations are not that life-threatening.

Kitchen Nightmares

"Kitchen Nightmares" is actually a dream to watch. It's almost laughable how some restaurants run. As always with Ramsay, he gets angry specifically for the camera. Who knows, he might even be a chill guy in real life.

We also heard it said that sometimes the people you see as kitchen staff in these real-life restaurants are actually just actors who were paid to pretend that they've always worked there.

Laguna Beach

"Laguna Beach" was both real and fake. Real in the sense that all the people you saw on it were real people, who were actually friends. They just casually had cameras tag along. But, like almost any reality show, many moments were heavily produced and heavily edited.

For example, while production didn't tell Kristin to be a "bad girl," they would never put in the show moments when she said something sweet or acted nicely. That way she always seemed mean.

Indian Matchmaking

The Netflix show featured an Indian matchmaker who helped real people try and find love. While one participant claimed everything you see on the show is real, another said he felt misrepresented by the show.

He said that producer made it seem as if he was ghosting the girl he was dating, but he claims it was the other way around and that he was actually the one being ghosted by her. He didn't appreciate being written off as the bad guy.

Sexy Beasts

Here's a fun fact you may not have known, the show was actually originally a British one that aired in 2014. In 2021, Netflix decided to bring it back to life. The concept is simple, people get to date each other, but everyone is wearing crazy special effects masks that make them unrecognizable.

Each person is represented by a different animal and there's no way you can know what the person looks like under the mask. While it seems that the decisions they make in the end are real, most of the other things about the show are likely not.

Selling Tampa

The show makes for really good TV but is any of it real? It's most likely that most of the drama in the show is actually created in the editing room.

While the events you see are most likely real, you do see an exaggerated version of them. So no, the show is not scripted, but it's also not really real either.