10 Times Reality TV Took Things Way Too Far

Before A&E’s Escaping the KKK even made it to air, it found itself in hot water. The docu-series was set to premiere in January of 2017. However, in late December, it was revealed that field producers for the docu-series had paid subjects for access, which is in direct violation of ethical procedures concerning documentaries. Shortly after A&E publicly learned of these payments, the network dropped the series.

It was the slap heard round the world. Irene McGee spent a lot of her time on Real World fighting with her fellow housemate Stephen Williams, so when it was time for McGee to leave for her health, it’s not surprising things were tense. However, what followed was the first time any Real World contestant has attacked another contestant. While McGee was driving away, Williams knocked on the door, reached inside, and slapped his departing roommate. Here’s a great oral history from McGee’s point of view if you want to know the full story.

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From its use of Pixie Stix to the way it rates little girls based on appearance, Toddlers and Tiaras has always been a bit of a problematic show. However, it crossed the line from questionable to horrifying when one mother dressed her three-year-old daughter up as Julia Roberts’ character from Pretty Woman. That’s a child under the age of five pretending to be a hooker on television. The mother of the child defended the costume, saying that it was a joke and that even though pedophiles are “everywhere” she didn’t think they were “so much at pageants.”

Where to stream Toddlers and Tiaras

The short-lived VH1 show followed former Rock of Love contestant Megan Hauserman as she tried to decide between dating several very rich men. While the show was running, an arrest warrant for one of its contestants, Ryan Alexander Jenkins, was issued. Jenkins was wanted for the murder of Jasmine Fiore, a 28-year-old swimsuit model. VH1 put the show on indefinite hiatus once it learned of the warrant and officially cancelled the series once Jenkins was charged for murder. Jenkins later committed suicide.

The show that brought the world Dr. Oz once made a dark mistake. During the show’s first season, the medical drama that took place in real hospitals in New York filmed a surgeon trying to save a man who had been hit by a garbage truck. The surgery was unsuccessful, and the elderly Mark Chanko passed away. However, the doctors and producers forgot to ask the family of the recently deceased man whether they could use the footage on NY Med. The episode containing Chanko’s death aired, and though his face was blurred, Chanko’s widow was able to identify her late husband from his voice. The family tried to sue, but ABC was not held liable because the emotional trauma was not “extreme” enough.

Really, there’s no better reality show freak-out than Teresa Giudice’s table flip. During a first season that almost seemed boring, Danielle Staub’s rumored former life was the show’s only saving grace. Those rumors transformed into an uncomfortable reality when Danielle threw her tell-all book on the table in the middle of a relatively normal dinner. Things quickly escalated from there, but it was Teresa who lost her freaking mind while introducing us all to the insult “Prostitution whore!”

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Amber Portwood has recently been in the news for alleged domestic abuse, but the 2017 allegations have been disputed. However, Portwood’s name was first connected with domestic abuse in 2010. An episode of the reality show showed Portwood repeatedly hitting her now ex-boyfriend. The star was charged with two felonies and one misdemeanor, largely because the violence was committed in the presence of the couple’s daughter.

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This is one of the genuinely unsettling moments in Big Brother’s long history. While flirting with a drunken Krista Stegall, Justin Sebik swung a sweeper at her head. As the two continued to make out, the situation went from weird to worse. Sebik held a knife to Stegall’s throat and asked her if she would be mad if he killed her. Shortly after, he lowered the knife, but the incident was disturbing enough to have him kicked off of the show.

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It’s common for at least one reality TV contestant to say something stupid or offensive, but in Big Brother 15’s case, that controversy wasn’t contained to one contestant. It was the whole house. The season became notable for its contestants making racist, homophobic, misogynistic, and antisemitic comments both in the broadcast episodes and on the live feed. However, the controversy centered on Aaryn Gries, who made several offensive remarks about minorities.

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Susan Hawk had a horrifying experience during her return to Survivor that had little to do with the show itself. Hawk alleged that her fellow cast member Richard Hatch sexually harassed her. The abuse got so bad, Hawk eventually left the series on her own terms. “I was sexually violated, humiliated, dehumanized and totally spent,” she said.

Where to stream Survivor