Reality television shows have become a very popular guilty pleasure. For some odd reason, we love to watch other people live their lives. We want to see it all, the good, the bad, and of course, the ugly. Network producers are aware of the risk of bringing ordinary people on-air because we’re not actors, we make mistakes, and we don’t always say the right things, but it’s exactly those moments they usually become TV gold.
Cast members of these shows often get a chance to go from a John or Jane Doe to a celebrity overnight, so naturally, there are plenty of people rushing to become the next big thing, even if it means faking their way on a show. And when networks fail to do their homework properly, things have the potential to get really messy, really fast. Read on to read our list full of juicy details, scandals, and times the top reality shows were caught faking it.
Flip or Flop Hosts’ Relationship
They say don't mix business with pleasure, and this seemed like it was the case for HGTV’s "Flip or Flop" hosts, Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead (formally El Moussa). These real estate agents would purchase foreclosed homes in Orange County, California, and renovate them into spectacular dwellings, while the entire process was documented for the show. They seemed like the ultimate husband-and-wife duo.
In 2016, reports of the couple not getting along began to emerge, fighting both at home and on the production set. And then, their most dramatic fallout happened. On May 23, 2016, after a heated argument, Tarek reportedly took his handgun and went off to the hiking trail behind their Orange County home. Christina, frightened, called the police and she was concerned Tarek would hurt himself. A helicopter that flew over found him and escorted him back to his home. Tarek claimed that he was just trying to "blow off some steam."
The El Moussas Called It Quits
After seven years of marriage, the couple officially split up. The couple made a public statement in December 2016 "Like many couples, we have had challenges in our marriage." Despite the couple's separation announcement, they expressed that they will still continue to go to counseling as they decided on the future of their marriage.
With two children involved, divorce wasn't an easy decision to make. Not to mention that Tarek and Christina El Moussa still had a contract to abide by, requiring them to film several more episodes together in 2017, however awkward it would be.
Christina Moved on Quickly
To many's surprise, Christina began dating their contractor, Gary Anderson. So Tarek's hope of patching things up and saving their marriage seemed futile. El Moussa also took it as a stab in the back because he knew Anderson personally, and everyone knew about his contractor's two messy divorces. So what was Christina thinking?
In March of 2017, Tarek El Moussa finally spoke out, "It was a gradual thing over time. We were both very busy people with health issues and kids...we just grew apart," he told US Weekly. Apparently, Christina's relationship with the contractor didn't last long, and later she began dating and eventually married English Television presenter, Ant Anstead, taking his last name. This didn't last long either, and their relationship ended in 2021.
Fixer Upper Skipped Lead Abatement
Chip and Joanna Gaines’ TV series "Fixer Upper" revolves around their company, Magnolia Homes, renovating old houses around Waco, Texas. Some of the houses they work on are decades old, and the ones built before 1978 were painted with lead-based paint before their use was banned.
After a few episodes aired, the question arose whether the Gaines were getting rid of the toxic paint properly. When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigated Magnolia Homes’ handling of lead-based paint, they found that 33 properties they worked on were in violation. As a result, the couple had to pay a $40,000 fine and complete $160,000 worth of lead abatement work to resolve the issue.
For Display Purposes Only
On the show, "Fixer Upper", the homes at the end of each show are always equipped with the most stunning furniture and décor. The homeowners are usually speechless when they see their new homes. However, it turns out that the "Fixer Upper" families don’t actually get to enjoy the magnificent interior we see on television.
Talk about a letdown! The viewers that have an eye for details have even noticed that certain pieces were seen multiple times in different houses, and when the network was questioned about it on their website. The Gaines stated that the families have the option to purchase the furnishing but it all "depends on their budget."
Fixer Upper Was a Tough Show to Get on
Of all the shows on HGTV, it's said that "Fixer Upper" is the hardest to get on because it only films in Waco, Texas, so you'd have to be looking to purchase a home in the area. You also had to already have a minimum of $30,000 for renovations, submit pictures of the house you want remodeled plus pictures of everyone living in it, and of course, there's loads of lengthy paperwork that needs to be filled out.
A phenomenon Chip and Joanne aren't too fond of is seeing homes they have renovated advertised on Airbnb. So, they made the show's contracts even stricter. A spokesperson explained on behalf of the show, “We want to honor our national viewing audience. We want to do remodels for clients’ homes. That’s the true intent of our show, and we want to ensure that does not get lost in this new vacation rental trend.”
HGTV’s Love It or List It Was Taken to Court
This reality show features the duo, interior designer, Hilary Farr, and real estate agent, David Visentin, as they renovate people's homes, while also shopping around for a home they could potentially buy. As the title implies at the end of each episode, the duo decides if they "Love it or list it."
One featured couple, Deena Murphy and Timothy Sullivan weren't especially happy with their home after it was renovated by Farr and Visentin. The homeowners put down $140,000 for their home remodeling, but claim that the show only put $85,786.50 back into it, while the rest was spent on production costs. If that wasn't enough, they said that the windows were painted shut, while other parts of their home weren't painted at all, and some of the flooring even had holes in it! Needless to say, the couple wasn't happy about all this and filed a lawsuit against the show’s producers.
The Show Is Scripted, Fake, and Full of Flaws
The lawsuit wasn't enough for Deena Murphy and Timothy Sullivan. They made sure to put "Love It or List It" on blast, calling out everyone from the hosts to the production crew, accusing them of shooting a fake show, nothing close to what is shown on television.
The couple states in the lawsuit, "The show is scripted, with roles and reactions assigned to the various performers and participants, including the homeowners. These characters are actors or television personalities playing a role for the camera, and in this case, none of them played more than a casual role in the actual renovation process." They seem to hate this show with a passion.
Rehab Addict’s Biggest Failure
The "Rehab Addict" host Nicole Curtis is famous for renovating old homes in Minnesota and Michigan but there was one house that she actually bought in Minneapolis for just two dollars back in 2012. What a steal! She promised to renovate it; however, years later, it remains as she bought it.
Turns out, Curtis never paid all of the necessary taxes on the house, so, the city of Minneapolis obviously sued. There's also a contractor that claims that she didn’t pay him for the work he did on one of her houses.
Property Brother's Bar Fight
Twin brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott, also known as the "Property Brothers", help couples find fixer-uppers and transform them into the home of their dreams. Back in 2016, one half of the brother duo, Jonathan, got into an argument with a bartender and had to be taken out of the place by staff.
One of the staff members told the police that Jonathan pulled the "Don’t you know who I am?" line, and that never goes over well in these types of situations. Ultimately, no charges were filed against him, lucky man.
Property Brothers Aren't Big Fans of Tiny Houses
Drew and Jonathan Scott dissed the whole concept of another fellow HGTV show called Tiny Houses during an interview with the Omaha World-Herald back in 2016.
“The problem is, tiny houses don’t conform to code. It’s fine if you want something that’s kind of a travel camper, something like that, but to actually think about living in a tiny home, it’s not feasible for most families,” said Drew. Was he just "keeping it real", or should he have shown more support of the show?
Identical Appearance, Very Different Love Life
After getting engaged in 2016, Drew and his longtime girlfriend, Linda Phan finally tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in Italy. Meanwhile, Jonathan split up with his girlfriend, Jacinta Kuznetsov, after being together for two years.
Before that, Jonathan was married to an airline crew scheduler named Kelsey but their marriage lasted only two years. In 2019, Jonathan started dating actress and singer Zooey Deschanel and we hope these two are going to make it all the way.
House Hunters Is Totally Staged, Allegedly
Back in 2012, a blog called Hooked on Houses alleged that the show "House Hunters" was absolutely fake. The blog claimed that HGTV only casts people who have already purchased a house. One of the show's participants, Bobi, said that the producers scramble around pretending to find houses when in fact they've already bought a house.
She added that the properties weren’t even for sale, to begin with, they were allegedly homes of friends. HGTV later released a statement but they never really denied nor confirmed Bobi’s comments. When Entertainment Weekly sought to verify Bobi’s comments and she backed out simply stating that her experience wasn’t "the norm." Perhaps HGTV paid her some hush money.
Contestant Cheats on Ellen’s Design Challenge
"Ellen’s Design Challenge" is produced by Ellen Degeneres and aired on the HGTV network. During the first season, there was a pretty big scandal. Apparently, the winner, contestant Tim McClellan, stole his design from a European designer named Simon Schacht. What a rookie mistake.
This, of course, led to him losing his winning title, which was then given to the runner-up, Katie Stout. Just to let him feel karma a bit more, the show’s producers made sure to do this very publicly which just added to Tim's humiliation, and certainly couldn't be good for business as he also owns a furniture store.
The HGTV Dream Homes Come With a Catch
Since 1997, the HGTV show, "Dream Homes", has given away a new $1 million home every year. Unfortunately, for the "lucky" winner, HGTV doesn't help you with the taxes that accompany such a lavish asset. Nearly every winner with the exception of two has sold their home because they couldn't afford to pay the taxes.
Don Cruz, the 2005 winner of the Lake Tyler house, requested the option to rent out the master bedroom suite on a nightly basis in order to help him pay the taxes. However, his proposition was rejected. Later, after Cruz realized that the house had an even higher value than what he previously believed, he sold the home. Would you still want one of these million-dollar homes?
The Fourth of July Table Mishap
In the summer of 2013, the HGTV network aired a special segment titled “Classic Fourth of July Table Setting Ideas,” but they made a rather embarrassing mistake.
They used an actual American flag as a tablecloth. What seemed like a creative idea was deemed treacherous to some viewers. HGTV's patriotic pro-tip didn't help either “...spills can be easily wiped off and the flag can later be hung with pride on a flagpole.” The network ultimately had to issue a public apology for the design.
Where Are Tarek and Christina??
In 2016, it was discovered that fans of the "Flip or Flop" show paid to attend a three-day workshop hosted by Tarek and Christina. They paid to receive advice on how to make money flipping houses, as well as have access to "exclusive investors". Those who signed up; however, felt they were lied to claiming that the hosts never even showed up for the classes.
The participants were instead shown a pre-recorded video of Tarek and Christina because they were “too busy” to attend. To add insult to injury, those who attended said that the workshop gave little practical advice and focused on encouraging them to sign up for more HGTV classes. No thanks!
Alison Victoria Breaks Walls and Rules
Alison Victoria from HGTV's "Kitchen Crashers" excitedly announced on her Instagram that she would be renovating a building in Chicago. Well, turns out that the building was improperly torn down.
When she attempted to knock down a wall in order to install a bay window, somehow the demolition crew ended up destroying the entire structure. Victoria got in a lot of trouble for failing to adhere to the rules.
The Final Reveal Isn't Necessarily the Final Result
Especially when it comes to the aforementioned show, "Love It or List It". Sometimes, when the designers run into problems and the crew goes off the renovation deadline, they improvise and make things look good on camera when in reality the home renovation is still incomplete.
Some tricks include sewing the fabric onto the pillows and making sure that furniture is strategically positioned to hide any flaws that haven’t been fixed yet. But let's be honest, it’s hard to get a house finished in such a short amount of time, especially the kind you see on these types of shows.
The Home Designs are Planned Out in Advance
According to Wendy Pruitt, a homeowner on HGTV's "Curb Appeal: The Block", all of the decisions regarding the design were made way before the production team or host had even set foot on her property.
Of course, this isn’t the ideal way for interior designers to work, but when you’re working on a million things in a tight time frame, you're forced to speed things along. Most people, especially if they have knowledge in the field, assumed some planning ahead takes place and everything isn't as spontaneous as it seems on television.
The Town Scenes Are Usually Embellished
On shows like "House Hunters", they usually show potential homeowners wandering down nice suburban streets with beautiful lawns, cute dogs, and rustic storefronts.
According to one guest who appeared on "Curb Appeal", the cameras were actually in an entirely different part of town when they were filming the establishing shots for the episode she featured in, wanting to show a neighborhood scene that was a bit nicer and livelier than the one she lived in.
Local Subcontractors Do Most of the Work
Even though there’s always a cool designer wearing work gloves and a construction hat on these HGTV shows, the (actual) work is done by local contracting companies.
And comes to find out that these workers aren’t paid very well, but they do get to add HGTV to their resumes. Whether that’s a good trade-off or not is theirs to decide. But come on, we're sure HGTV has enough money to pay these hard workers a decent wage.
Again for the Camera, Please!
Reality TV can lose its magic when it stops being spontaneous. Often, when producers don't feel as though things are entertaining enough, they get to meddling, and that's when reality becomes a bit scripted. You know the scenes where the homeowners introduce themselves to us viewers or the scenes where they discuss their feelings about different homes? Well, since the prospective homeowners are not actors, it usually requires several takes until the producers feel they got them 'right'.
There have also been times when a homeowner did things the producers thought were funny or entertaining so they ask them to recreate it so they can catch it on camera perfectly.
Ageism on House Hunters International
The HGTV network is pretty popular among people of all ages, but a while back the network was making an effort to appeal to younger viewers in an attempt to expand its audience.
One lady whose home was featured on an episode of the show as a “reject home,” said that the network hired a younger, 'good-looking' couple to fill in for an older couple in their late 50s who were really the ones purchasing a beautiful retreat in Mexico.
House Hunters Participants Get Paid
Although it may not be much, the participants on "House Hunters" get paid for appearing on the show. One guest stated that she was paid $500 for the episode she appeared on. Not bad!
Also, the production provides everyone with lunch and snacks while the show is filming. That sounds like a pretty good deal as most people would be happy simply with a chance to be on TV.
Pawn Stars
Sure, the characters really do run a pawn shop, but that's probably as 'real' as it gets on this show. Rick Harrison never works the actual counters, and all of the customer interactions seen on TV are carefully curated before shooting. Any item a person is interested in selling to the pawnshop is cleaned and vetted, and the customer must sign a consent form most of the time.
To be fair, though, this shouldn’t be a huge surprise because if you wouldn’t trust a real pawnshop, then why trust one on television with the sole purpose of being entertaining?
Duck Dynasty
If you were to take a look through some old photos of the "Duck Dynasty" stars before their show aired, you’ll find a bunch of clean-shaven, sharply-dressed guys who’d look more at home on a yuppie golf course than in the wilderness. As for all of the crazy arguments between the star characters... well, they are scripted for the most part.
The stars themselves have even explained how the show's producers create such tense situations. And sometimes “bleeps” are even added into their fake arguments, just to make things sound more heated than they actually are.
The Biggest Loser
You'll probably be surprised to find out that the iconic scale that contestants weigh themselves on is just a prop. Yes, it doesn’t do anything, and the contestants actually do their real weigh-ins two days before shooting the episodes. You may have also heard the rumors that have circulated about the medical staff on "The Biggest Loser" not actually being medical professionals.
The drama is mostly created by the producers and the editing often makes contestants look lazier than they really are, a fact that has garnered an increasing amount of criticism throughout the seasons the show has been aired.
Jersey Shore
Did you know that most of the cast of "Jersey Shore" isn’t even from New Jersey?! And before the show, no one called Nicole LaValle “Snooki”. In fact, it was just put in the show’s application when asked for a nickname as a joke and somehow it stuck.
While some of the outlandish shenanigans on the hit reality show, "Jersey Shore", are actually real, eyewitnesses have said that many scenes are exaggerated for dramatic effect. For example, producers decided on who would stay at the house overnight, so no one was just a random club pickup. And that vicious fight between Vinny and Pauly in Italy...Yes, sorry to break it to you, it was also staged.
Long Island Medium
TV has a long history of fake psychic mediums, and Celebrity medium, Theresa Caputo, is yet another one. Her methods include doing lots of research on her clients well before “reading” them.
"What are her research methods"? you may wonder. Well, she digs dip into their social media. That combined that with lots of generic advice and a bit of misdirection, and voila, you've got your “psychic” reading. Not to say that real psychics don’t exist — you decide for yourself — but dear Caputo isn’t one of them for sure.
Breaking Amish
"Breaking Amish" was a show about Amish youth who want to experience the "outside world" and travel to New York City to experience things like phones, cars, and even electricity. It just happens that TLC didn’t do their homework properly before filming and so it soon became clear the show was completely staged.
It was revealed through social media that two of the stars claimed to have just met one another on the show. However, their old social media posts showed that not only had they been in a relationship for a year but they even had a baby together. So, basically, the cast member's deceiving stories could have easily been discovered if TLC did a little background research. It’s no wonder the show lasted for only 20 episodes.
RuPaul's Drag Race
"RuPaul’s Drag Race" is a drag show competition where contestants show off their hair, makeup, costume, and performance skills. Throughout the competition, they also do entertaining performances such as impersonating celebrities and lip-syncing. Drag queens are known for coming with the drama, and they supply plenty for viewers, but according to former contestants, some of it is scripted.
Jaremi Lee Carey, or Phi Phi O’Hara, while in drag, was the runner-up of season four of "RuPaul’s Drag Race" back in 2012. He later returned to the show for the All-Star season in 2016, where according to him, he was offered a 'redemption' storyline. However, during filming, producers often egged on the drama behind the scenes and would goad him (and the other contestants) into saying outrageous and ridiculous things, only to take them completely out of context making the contestants look bad.
Say Yes to the Dress
SYTTD manages to make wedding dress shopping seem glamorous, somewhat life-changing, and very dramatic of course. And the show does a great job at making shopping at Kleinfeld, a boutique in New York, look like a much more eventful experience than it actually is.
In reality, the store is much smaller than it looks on our TV screens (which is usually the case, to be honest), making the space pretty tight for brides who now want to shop there once they fit all of the camera crew there. If that wasn't disappointing enough, shopping appointments are limited to 90 minutes, and brides are allowed to look through only a selected number of dresses while the others are stored out of sight.
Keeping Up With the Kardashians
The times the Kardashians staged drama for their hit show, "Keeping Up With the Kardashians", are literally too many to keep up with. Even the house! Yes, Kris Jenner’s Meditteranean-style family home isn’t really where these Hollywood empresses reside. The house was actually empty at the time of filming and was just simply used as a stand-in home until the property was sold in 2018.
Many of the arguments that pop up between the sisters are scripted and even some of their Twitter rants are staged for ratings. Even love! People behind the scenes have reported that at least two of the marriage proposals on the show were staged. It’s literally all an act!
The Apprentice
Long before he became president, "The Apprentice" put businessman and real estate tycoon, Donald Trump, back into the public eye. The show was a hit, but years later many behind-the-scenes tales have spread, making it clear that strategic editing played a role in the show’s successful run. Often, Trump’s stated reasons for “firing” contestants made no sense to the production team, so the editors would then have to come in and carefully splice footage together to make his sporadic dismissals make sense.
The boardroom, the suitcase, and the taxi ride... all fake too. In reality, the dismissed contestants simply went to another part of the tower and wait around with others who’d been fired previously.
Catfish
If you watch "Catfish", you’re fed the idea that the victims are the ones that contact the producers, suspecting that they might be getting catfished, and it’s the hosts who are the truth-seeking saviors. But in reality, it's the catfisher, not the victim, who reaches out to the producers.
The catfisher is then investigated, signs some release forms, and must agree to the fact that their story would be modified to fit the necessary storyline. So, whenever the catfisher acts surprised when he or she is discovered, well… they’re just doing what they agreed to do and simply playing their role.
Celebrity Big Brother
In the summer of 2016 millions of viewers watched the live feed of the "Celebrity Big Brother" and were stunned to witness a staged set-up that had accidentally revealed itself on-air. Big Brother was heard wishing all housemates goodnight as the lights went out, and after the housemates, all replied shouting 'goodnight', it appeared as if they had all gone to sleep. However, just seconds later, the lights came back on and everyone got out of bed again, with ex-EastEnders star Ricky Norwood heard saying: "Great take, guys, great take."
If that wasn't enough, Big Brother continued to explain to the housemates that they had some busy days ahead and advised them to get a good night's sleep. Viewers were furious, as this is pure evidence that producers set up certain scenarios. Responding to the outrage, Channel 5 made the following statement: "Footage shown on the live feed involved Big Brother alerting housemates of a long final day ahead. The show is entirely authentic and the housemates are not scripted."
Chopped
Food Network's loved show, "Chopped", puts top chefs up against one another in a timed culinary battle. While the timed cooking challenges aspect is real, other things are, unfortunately, not as they seem. According to sources, producers would purposely short-staple kitchen ingredients, like butter, to create tension and drama between the chefs, although they reportedly stopped doing this. And the moment in the show when the contestants discover the “secret” ingredients and then they all run to the pantries to get ingredients for their dish? Well in actuality, the chefs have plenty of time prior to filming to look through the pantry and begin to think of different dishes they can make.
And when it comes to the “best dish winning” in each round, it's also not 100% real. While the chefs do in fact taste and judge the food immediately after preparation, they don’t necessarily eliminate the worst dish. It's been reported that if a particular chef’s story is particularly compelling, they’ll leave them on the show hoping to garner some sympathy from viewers.
MasterChef (USA)
You'd think a show set in a kitchen wouldn't need any extra heat behind the scenes. Wrong! Unlike the original U.K. "MasterChef", the American version is infamously full of staged and scripted scenarios. A former contestant on the show, Ben Starr, revealed that before joining, he had to agree to potentially being “fictionalized,” which would sometimes include humiliating portrayals of him and other contestants that weren't true.
Starr said that producers also faked dialogues, to the point of editing bits of conversations to make it seem like a contestant said things they never did. But if you love the premise of the show, just not with all the fakery, then "MasterChef Australia" is supposed to be much more real and focuses more on the cooking aspect of the show rather than the drama.
Basketball Wives
The cast of "Basketball Wives" are in fact wives of some famous NBA basketball players, but that's about as real as this show gets. Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-wife, Shaunie, stars and produces the show. Other cast members include Tasha Marbury, wife of former NBA star Stephon Marbury, and Doug Christie’s wife, Jackie Christie.
According to former cast member Matt Barnes, the show is very much scripted and staged. Barnes has even gone as far as saying that he regrets that he ever accepted to be on the show. His claims of fakery were later confirmed by another star, Tanya Young, who said producers would constantly try to ramp up drama behind the scenes hoping that it would spill over onto the show.
Bridezilla
If you ever saw one of the women on "Bridezilla" throw a tantrum that seemed too dramatic to be real, well, you're right. Several of the women who had participated in the show have explained that producers would constantly push them to be more dramatic, whiney, and angry, requiring that they do multiple takes on the same moments until they can get the best one. The more swearing, the better.
Not to mention the fact that there's a team of cameramen following the women around all day during one of the most stressful periods of their lives. That'll definitely amplify the stress levels one hundred percent.
The Bachelor
"The Bachelor" and its sister show, "The Bachelorette", have been around for a while now. As you’ve probably guessed by now, despite this reality show's aim, the couples don’t tend to pass the test of time, as they often split before their wedding date and if they do tie the knot, divorce usually is right around the corner.
Many of the scenarios on the show are scripted or edited into more dramatic storylines, and the experienced producers have become pretty good at picking the suitors who they know the viewers will love. So, after choosing the contestants they carefully arrange situations to make the show as entertaining as possible and even make sure the person they want ends up as the winner, or at least, a runner-up.
The Real Housewives
Don't let the name of this popular show fool you because there's not much that's "real" about "The Real Housewives". The character's storylines and the dramatic arguments are mostly fake. If you've ever watched the show, you're familiar with Teresa Giudice, a real New Jersey Housewife. During her very public court trial, she was caught on record swearing under oath that the show was scripted.
She admitted that most of the fights are planned and/or dramatized for the viewers' entertainment. The stars of the show, are basically actors. And despite the fancy lifestyles they exhibit on the show, the truth is, many of them are actually facing crippling debt, living above their means, dependent on their credit cards. If that's real, we don't what anything to do with it.
American Idol
The reality behind "American Idol" is that the main characters are actually chosen months in advance. Same for the terrible singers we all laugh at as well. They're moved forward solely for entertainment purposes.
Many tell-all stories have emerged from this long-running talent show, and it’s become evident that "American Idol" is as scripted as all the other reality shows on our list. The show's talent scouts and producers hold auditions to whittle down thousands of eager singers months before the panel of judges visits the city.
The Biggest Loser
In "The Biggest Loser" season 15 Rachel Frederickson started this intense weight-loss reality competition weighing a hefty 260 pounds (118 kg) and clocked out weighing a worrying 105 pounds (47 kg) on the season finale weigh-in. Later, trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper admitted that they were shocked by her frail appearance, feeling both stunned and concerned that she had lost more weight than necessary.
Frederickson defended herself saying that her dramatic loss was in an effort to secure the win in the competition and she did! After the final weigh-in, she put some needed weight back on, and we're sure she enjoyed doing it.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo
There was a brief moment in time when "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" was an international phenomenon, and the show's home network, TLC, did some impressive numbers thanks to it. Unfortunately, it didn't last as long as they hoped it would.
The network was forced to cancel the program after it was revealed one of the stars, Mama June, was accused of inappropriate and illegal behavior that couldn't be waved.
American Idol
We are all familiar with the singing competition, "American Idol", and we just couldn't forget that time Paula Abdul made headlines as a judge on the show.
In 2005, Abdul was the subject of much scrutiny when former contestant, Corey Clark, accused her of seducing him with the promise of helping his music career. She vehemently denied the allegations, of course, so it's his words against hers, but even if it was a bunch of baloney, who cares about the truth when the lie is so much more entertaining.
Lifetime's Dance Moms
We have to admit, we were pretty shocked when we saw Abby Lee Miller's name in the headlines (and in handcuffs). The dance instructor and choreographer whose school was the focus of the reality show "Dance Moms", was found guilty (on several counts) of bankruptcy fraud. She subsequently served a year behind bars.
With the dance teacher locked up, the show ended, of course. Although she was released in 2018, things haven't been the same for her, and they probably never will be.
MTV's 16 and Pregnant
Farrah Abraham, one of the featured young moms on MTV's "16 and Pregnant" became somewhat of a D-list celebrity among her peers when she appeared on the show for having a child as a teenager.
It wasn’t until years later when she began having plastic surgery and started a career in the adult film industry that Abraham really "expanded her fanbase".
The Food Network's "Dear" Paula Deen
During a lawsuit that alleged the celebrity Southern cook, Paula Deen and her brother Bubba Hier, of being publicly prejudiced, Deen was dropped from hosting her loved Food Network show.
During the trial, she admitted to most of the acts she was accused of. Including referring to some of her POC employees with derogatory, offensive words.
Jillian Michael of The Biggest Loser
Jilian Michaels, the loved fitness instructor, and "The Biggest Loser team" leader is known to push her contestants (and personal clients) to their limits in order to achieve results they'd never imagined. But, apparently on the show, she took her job a bit too far at times.
The team head was found guilty of providing her contestants with "unapproved caffeine pills". Whether or not it gave her team an advantage couldn't be determined but because of this, her team was penalized with an additional four pounds (1.8 kg) per contestant on the following week's weigh-in.
Fox's Million Dollar Money Drop
Fox's game show, "Million Dollar Money Drop", lasted just one season. Despite its short run, it managed to squeeze in, not one, but two scandals. Starting with $1 million, contestants had to place some or all of the money on possible answers to the presented seven multiple-choice questions. In the end, contestants could leave with whatever money they had left after the questions.
The first issue involved the contesting couple, Andrew and Patricia Murray, who bet their whole $580,000 sum on a single response, only to be told that their answer was incorrect. They later filed a suit seeking their $580k (plus damages), arguing the question was not properly explained, which is why their answer was "incorrect". Another incident involved contestants, Gabe Okoye and Brittany Mayti, who lost a painful $800,000 on a question. They were sure of their answer, and the show later admitted they did, in fact, answer correctly. However, rather than give them the money they deserve, the show offered simply offered to "let them" play again and that never happened because the show got canceled.
Reality Show Romance-Heather Rae and Tarek El Moussa
In what only could've been cooked up by the reality TV show gods, property developer Tarek El Moussa of "Flipping 101" and realtor Heather Rae Young from "Selling Sunset" found one another and fell in love! Luckily for fans of the couple, snippets of their relationship were shown on both reality shows.
The lovebirds said "I do" in a lavish wedding that took place on October 23rd, 2021 in Montecito, California. Some tear-jerking moments from their big day were featured in the season 5 finale of "Selling Sunset," giving fans (and haters) of the property-obsessed pair a sneak peek into the ceremony and celebrations.