Top 10 Competition Show Scandals That Got Contestants Kicked Off
#10: The Head-Shaving Incident
“Top Chef” (2006–)
Top 20 Game Show Scandals
What started out as intoxicated horseplay soon turned serious between the show’s top five contestants. Cliff Crooks, Sam Talbot, Elia Aboumrad, and Ilan Hall got rowdy, with the latter two deciding to shave their heads. They then turned their sights on a sleeping Marcel Vigneron’s heavily styled head of hair. In his attempt to shave Vigneron’s head by force, Crooks attacked and pinned him down, which constituted a breaking of the rules against aggressive physical contact. The next morning, Crooks was disqualified and asked to leave the competition. The scandal did present a problem, as judge Tom Colicchio blogged that he would have been fine sending everyone home and crowning Marcel the winner. But, to avoid an early and bitter end to the season, Crooks was the only casualty.
#9: Breaking COVID Protocol
“The Voice” (2011–)
Top 10 Cast Breaking Moments That Were Left in the Show
While it was initially reported that Ryan Gallagher dropped out of season 19 of “The Voice,” the singer would later respond by saying he had been disqualified. The story broke that he had violated the show’s COVID-19 protocol all contestants were required to follow. Gallagher, who had been chosen to be part of coach Kelly Clarkson’s team, denied the allegation through his representatives. There was some speculation that his dismissal may have been linked to his mother’s hospitalization with the virus some weeks prior. Nevertheless, the opera singer didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye on the show. He was there one week, gone the next.
#8: Inappropriate Relationship
“The Bachelor” (2002–)
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When the twenty-five hopefuls of season 14 began the competition, they were all looking for love. According to the show, Rozlyn Papa may have found it not in the season’s Bachelor, Jake Pavelka, but in a member of the production team. In the second week, host Chris Harrison took her aside to awkwardly confront her with this information. Admittedly, it probably could have been handled with more tact off camera, but that’s reality TV for you. The producer was fired, and Papa was disqualified from the season as a result. Although she would later deny the show’s story, Harrison confronted her at the reunion and the other contestants offered their own eyewitness accounts of the misconduct.
#7: What Did Willam Do?
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2009–)
Another Top 10 Game Show Scandals
In season four of the drag competition, the controversial Willam was a natural agitator of drama. That continued even after her elimination. After winning the week’s maxi-challenge, RuPaul called her forward to announce that she was being kicked off the show for breaking competition rules. No other details were revealed until the reunion, where Willam said she gave a concocted story about conjugal visits with her husband during filming. Since the show, Willam has given an account of her numerous infractions of the rules, along with other allegations about the show’s poor treatment of the cast. Even so, her sudden and mysterious expulsion has been fodder for fan speculation ever since.
#6: The Tape Measure
“Project Runway” (2004–)
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It was one of the show’s most dramatic runway presentations ever, and it took a few minutes for us to even understand what was happening. When Claire Buitendorp entered the season with her twin, Shawn, she didn’t necessarily endear herself to her fellow competitors. Although contestants Michael Brambila and Margarita Alvarez took issue with her incorporating ideas from the other designers, the real issue turned out to be that Claire was in possession of a tape measure in her room and was measuring clothing in her apartment. According to the rules of the show, measuring tools are forbidden outside the work room, so Tim Gunn subsequently dismissed her from the show.
#5: Title Revoked
“America’s Next Top Model” (2003-18)
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It’s tough enough when a contestant is disqualified halfway through a season. What happens when that contestant is also the winner? Tyra Banks and company allegedly had to reshoot the final judging of the “Top Model” All-Stars cycle when original winner, Angelea Preston, was stripped of her crown for breaking the rules. Preston would later say she had disclosed her past career as an escort to producers, but they still revoked her win because of it. The show reshot portions of the finale without Preston’s involvement, crowning competitor Lisa D’Amato instead. This didn’t stay quiet for long. Preston would later sue the show and its makers, including Banks.
#4: Misconduct in Mexico
“Bachelor in Paradise” (2014–)
The first week of any “Bachelor in Paradise” season can be chaotic. Just ask season 3’s Chad Johnson. This was a scandal so huge it was leaked way before the show even premiered. Just days after filming started, entertainment news sites picked up allegations of sexual misconduct on the “Bachelor in Paradise” set in Mexico. Production on the fourth season was suspended while the network, Warner Bros., investigated an incident surrounding DeMario Jackson and Corinne Olympios. No evidence of wrongdoing was unearthed, but neither of the parties returned to complete the season with their castmates. While the show continued as planned, the whole event left a cloud over the season.
#3: Inappropriate Touching
“Survivor” (2000–)
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Although contestants have quit or been forced by their fellow contestants to leave before, “Survivor’s” 39th season saw someone ejected from the game. Throughout the season, Hollywood talent manager Dan Spilo ruffled feathers with his lack of attention to people’s personal space. Accusations flew, and production actually had to intervene off-camera, but the controversy continued. Fellow contestant Kellee Kim’s discomfort with Spilo was manipulated by other players, and she was voted out. Spilo would later be ejected from the season and, although the reason wasn’t spelled out for fellow castaways, it wasn’t a total mystery.
#2: Past Indiscretions
“American Idol” (2002-16; 18–)
Top 10 TV Shows That Totally Abandoned Past Storylines
Hopeful pop stars have to abide by a pretty strict contract to compete on “American Idol.” Already on season 2 of Fox’s juggernaut reality competition show, Frenchie Davis had been given the boot over a topless photo shoot she had done years prior. But scandal rocked the show again when news broke that one semi-finalist, Corey Clark, had been arrested a month before auditioning. He was disqualified at the Top 9. Clark maintained his innocence in the matter, saying that the show and the network treated him unfairly. He even went so far as to claim he had received coaching from judge Paula Abdul, saying that it turned into a sexual relationship. It was a major scandal, especially considering how big “American Idol” was at the time.
#1: Sherry Pie
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2009–)
Drag Race Recap: Robyn Guest Judges and Sherry Pie Disqualified | MsMojo's Drag Race RuCap
The cast announcement for season 12 of the drag competition series was followed by several allegations of sexual misconduct against one queen. Multiple accusers came forward with stories about how Sherry Pie, whose given name is Joey Gugliemelli, catfished as a casting agent and convinced them to send illicit media of themselves. Sherry Pie was officially disqualified, but the season had already been shot. The editors did their best to lessen her presence over the episodes, but they couldn’t hide her challenge wins and presence in the finals. In fact, it’s likely she could have won given her track record. Although the season showcased many now-beloved queens, the scandal hovered over the competition, and made for a bizarre and uncomfortable viewing experience at times.
