29 Reality TV Shows With Very Dark Downsides

By:: Brian C. Miller; Cracked Writers

January 29, 2022

29 Reality TV Shows With Very Dark Downsides

The issue of how dumb the creators imagine the audience to be is among the most sensitive and crucial concerns in television and art in general. When producers of high-brow films and music acts are pressured by fat cat, cigar smoking studio execs to see if a given scene can be made more "accessible" to the “mainstream" they know they're in trouble. Big trouble.

The reason is that there's almost a dark side to appealing to the lowest common denominator, and it's not just the death of truth, beauty and creative expression. Sometimes it can mean REAL death. Don't believe us? Check out these wild examples of reality tv productions with super dark downsides.

It turns out that quick and low-cost television productions can have a sinister side! Here are some of the most egregious examples of reality program reality. So scroll down for some wild stories of reality tv show anecdotes you will not believe.

29

While filming a promotional video for their Discovery CHANNEL reality show Terry Flanell, wife of Mel Bernstein SHOOTIN RANGE (The most armed man AGON ARK A in America) was killed by an exploding smoke bomb. Bernstein sued the Discovery Channel for negligence but the case was dropped. CRACKED.COM — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

28

Even though he was only a background player, Charles Ommanney's life was ruined after appearing on The Real Housewives of D.C. THE SHOW TOOK A TOLL ON HIS CAREER, AND ENDED HIS MARRIAGE. CRACKED.COM — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

27

CRACKED.COM Bryan Okvath and his family were surprised to have their house turned into a two-story mansion on the ABC show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. However, they struggled for the next couple of years to keep up with the 'extreme' bills and high property taxes caused by the renovations, and finally ended up selling the house at a loss. — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

26

BRITAIN'S GOT IXLENT Alyn James was a contestant who had been judged to be under a serious risk of suicide on seven occasions, and despite the producers' knowledge of his vulnerability, he was invited to the televised audition anyway. As a result, he was mocked by the judges and the audience and was once again placed under suicide watch. GRACKED.COM — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

25

CRACKED COM Geno Machado, a participant on the Spanish reality-talent show Operacion Triunfo (Triumph Operation), claimed that the show didn't prepare her to handle her new fame and fortune, and the stress of going broke afterward caused her to lose her hair. — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

24

Deleese Williams was slated to appear on an episode of Extreme Makeover with the promise of plastic surgery to improve her face. In preparation for the episode, the show's producer coerced Deleese's family members to verbally abuse her looks on camera. That surgery was ultimately cancelled. Riddled with guilt, Deleese's sister couldn't deal with the hurtful things she had said and committed suicide. CRACKED.COM — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

23

OUTPLAY OUTWIT SURVIVOR GAME CHANGERS MAMANUCA ISLANDS OUTLAST In 2017, Zeke Smith was outed as transgender by an angry tribemate during a tense Tribal Council. Having such private information revealed to the world was deeply CRACKED.COM traumatic for him. — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

22

CRACKED.COM P ICER N mass atorodrama Junes 22 D ANA TORO: NO TENGO NINGÚN FAMILIAR NI NADIE QUE DELUXE ME AYUDE. TODOS MIS AMIGOS HAN DESAPARECIDO After participating on the Spanish Ц Brother), Ana Toro was shunned by her reality show Gran Hermano (Big n father and forced to live in a hospice. — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

21

Tyra Sanchez tried to commit suicide after being bullied online for two years, following his appearance on RuPaul's Drag Race. I was fed up, is how he described the drunken, lonely moment when he tried to take his life. CRACKED.COM — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

20

CHERYL KOSEWICZ A 35-YEAR-OLD FORMER DEPUTY GRACKED.COM DISTRICT ATTORNEY, KILLED HERSELF AFTER BECOMING THE FOURTH PERSON KICKED OFF THE SHORT-LIVED, SURVIVOR-LIKE PIRATE SHE LEFT MASTER A THE NE IN from 2007. Stinett Mark COMMENT ON MYSPACE EXPLAINING THAT THIS FRIK'N SHOW HAD COME Pirate Master BETWEEN HER One million dollars in hidden treasure. Sixteen Pirates who will do anything to find it. AND HER BOYFRIEND - WHO HAD COMMITTED SUICIDE A FEW MONTHS EARLIER. wompe Daews — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

19

David Nickell appeared on MTV's True life: Addicted to Pills where among other things he was filmed buying and supplying others with drugs. Soon after the episode aired he was arrested on drug and other charges and served seven months. After his release he sued MTV, claiming that one of the show's producers had convinced him to behave as he had done by promising he wouldn't get into trouble. CRACKED.COM — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

18

After a dismal bathroom renovation, Rochelle Kirk and Scott Waters signed up for Catch a Contractor, a reality show with the goal of repairing mistakes caused by the original contractor. Months later, the family were experiencing assorted aches, fatigue, and rashes. Investigation revealed the TV show's own contractors were responsible for the spillage of 200 gallons of raw sewage into the floors of their home and the couple filed a lawsuit against the show (and had to suffer through a third remodel). CRACKED.COM — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

17

Lorrie Arias underwent an extreme makeover on The Swan, but now she doesn't leave her house except to see her therapist every few months. Les Deux Khora gg BEFORE AFTER A decade after all the plastic surgery, she suffers from bipolar depression and agoraphobia, and her pre-existing body dysmorphic disorder. She blames the show for failing to offer therapy after the makeover. CRACKED.COM — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

16

Saad Khan, 32, drowned while trying to complete a challenge in a Pakistani reality TV show. Swimming across a lake with a 15-pound backpack, he started drowning and called for help. Cast and crew members rushed to save him, but they weren't fast enough. His body was later recovered by divers. CRACKED.COM — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

15

Seven contestants were killed while filming a reality show called Desafío al Corazón (Challenge to the Heart) in Uruguay. In a test of strength challenge, participants worked together to push-and-pull a locomotive train along a section of railway track.. They succeeded, but lost control of the train. The runaway locomotive ran over TWENTY of the contestants. Seven died and many others were seriously hurt, some losing limbs. The tragedy was witnessed by 3000 children attending the filming. CRACKED.COM — Source: 15 Reality TV Shows That Ruined People's Real Lives

14

PS COPS HAS been TELEVISING REAL police officers ON THE beat for OVER 25 YEARS. IN 201 4 THE CREW WERE iN OMAHA, Nebraska filming A police RESPONSE TO A RobbERy WHEN THE officers MiSTook A fake GUN for A REAL ONE ANd opened FiRE, CRiTiCALLy wounding both THE SUSPECT ANd A CREW MEMBER. Bryce Dion Cortez Washington Both men died of their injuries and the incident raised questions about the effect of cameras on CRACKED.COM cops' behavior. — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

13

M DO ARMED CRDSCRACKED.COM LINE NOT DO & UCE ARMEDIAN AND FAMOUS Famous DO NOT S D list ULIO celebrities short lived (yeah. CBS reality absolute show. nobodies) where CELLANCE LINE were trained to become police officers. THESE 'COPS' RAIDED LYNDSAY CLEMENTS' HOME WITH A TELEVISION CREW, CUFFED HER AND TRASHED HER ENTIRE HOME, ONLY TO REALIZE THEY HAD THE WRONG ADDRESS. CITY OF MUNCIE A $1MILLION LAWSUIT WAS FILED CITY HALI OLICE DEPARTMENT AGAINST THE SHOW WITH THE COURT REMINDING CBS THAT THE POLICE IS NOT A CIRCUS. MUNCE O IMAGINE CALLING 911 AND GETTING THESE GUYS. — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

12

Seth Caro had an anxiety attack during the first season of TOP CHEF Just Desserts TEA that سم - The incident made the show. What didn't was the aftermath. After being tended to by EMTs, he was taken to a mental hospital where he stayed involuntarily for three days. Caro has said he's been unable to find work in the industry since leaving the show and is working on changing his name. CRACKED.COM — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

11

So far three former contestants of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette have killed themselves. ALEXA MCALLISTER, GIA ALLEMAND, JULIEN HUG, OVERDOSED IN 2016 HANGED HERSELF IN 2013 SHOT HIMSELF IN 2010 According to Bachelorette winner Jesse Csincsak, contestants are humiliated on the shows and attract labels like the slut, the loser, or the drunk. Bachelor is one of the most dangerous shows. GRACKED.COM — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

10

here comes Honey BooBop TLC canceled Here Comes Honey Boo Boo after photos surfaced of Mama June reuniting with Mark McDaniel-her ex-boyfriend who served 10 years in prison for molesting her then 8-year old daughter Anna. June admitted to bringing her daughters, including 9-year old Honey Boo Boo, with her to see the convicted child molester following his release from prison. CRACKED.COM — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

9

CRACKED COM top AMERICA'S NEXT model An official complaint filed by a former contestant accused the show of a range of horrors: Forcing contestants to film nonstop for double-digit hours, forbidding them from eating or drinking or leaving a room at certain times and even withholding medical care to generate drama! — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

8

David Gibbs, Darren Rydstrom and Michael Donatelli died in a helicopter crash in Polsa Rosa Ranch in Acton during the production of a Discovery Channel's military-themed reality TV show. David Gibbs Darren Rydstrom Michael Donatelli The segment was filmed at night, and the pilot had trouble seeing the terrain because of the camera light. CRACKED.COM — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

7

CRACKED.COM DANGEROUS WATERS WAS A REALITY SHOW ABOUT AN ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE GLOBE ON JET SKIS. DURING THE BERING STRAIT LEG OF - THEIR TRIP, THE CREW WANDERED INTO A MILITARY ZONE, AND WERE DETAINED FOR 4 DAYS BY RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES. — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

6

CRACKED.COM M MEGAN WANTS A MILLIONAIRE Ryan Jenkins, a man with a history of domestic violence, slipped past background checks to appear on the VH1 reality dating show Megan Wants a Millionaire-and it gets worse from there. VH1 pulled the show mid-season after police implicated Jenkins in the murder of his ex-wife. Days later Jenkins hanged himself, prompting VH1 to deep-six the show for good. — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

5

The Price is Right the has a history of PRiCE mistreating the is models featured Right in the show. In fact, the show's producers treated their models like second-class citizens. The show's original host, Bob Barker, had coerced a model to have sex with him in order for her to keep her job. After his retirement, the show's producers faced multiple lawsuits of sexual harassment and mistreatment. One of the models even claimed that she suffered miscarriage due to harsh treatment from the CRACKED.COM producers. — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

4

Needing cash to fund their next music project, brothers Matthew and Nathan Leone went on Fear factor and it nearly KILLED THEM. The twins contracted a FLESH-EATING DISEASE while performing a stunt involving swimming in a trench filled with maggot infested cow parts and drinking a cocktail of its contents. We were hours from dying, said Matthew. Yes, the brothers did end up winning. GRACKED.COM AIA A A ALA — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

3

THE BIGGEST 28 27 LOVE 30 37 32 23 25 26 م LOSER We've picked out your fat person coffin. The Biggest Loser might seem like an BIGGEST LUSER extra-tough workout, but the show has pushed contestants until their feet bled, Alas and sometimes even to the point of hospitalization. Meanwhile trainers inspire them using phrases like, You're going to die, just like your mother, or the classic, We've picked out your fat person coffin. Some contestants have tried to get an edge by dehydrating themselves. One did it for so long he started urinating blood. CRACKED.COM — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

2

CRACKED.COM American committed 2008, former suicide three years In a contestant after her failed audition. Paula Goodspeed became suicidal after being made fun of during the show, with Simon Cowell making personal attacks on her braces, saying things like I don't think any artist on Earth can sing with that much metal in your mouth. — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

1

CRACKED.COM A contestant died during the filming of Survivor. In 2013, 25-year-old Gerald Babin suffered a heart attack while participating in a tug-of- war challenge on the first day of shooting France's Survivor Koh Lanta. OUTPLAY OUTWIT SURVIVOR KOH-LANTA OUTLAST A couple weeks later, Dr. Thierry Costa, who treated Babin, committed suicide. The doctor left a suicide note that pointed to the media blaming him for the contestant's death. The season was quickly cancelled. — Source: 14 Dark (Concealed) Realities Of Reality TV Shows

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