Top 10 Most Toxic Reality TV Couples

#10: Kaci Campbell and Evan Smith

“Temptation Island” (2001-)

It’s kind of amazing to think that these two had been together for a decade before they went on the “Temptation Island.” But then again, if you’re going on a show designed to potentially break your relationship, there’s probably confidence in its long-term success. Evan Smith nonetheless soon found himself chasing after Morgan Lolar. Even after he dogged his girlfriend Kaci Campbell on national TV, she still wanted to try to work things out with him. Watching her fling herself to the mat for Evan at the show’s last ritual bonfire is still tough to watch. Needless to say, things didn’t work out with Kaci or Morgan after the show.

#9: Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian

“Rob & Chyna” (2016)

The friction started as soon as lone Kardashian son Rob started dating former music video star and model Blac Chyna. Immediately, the sisters were not incredibly welcoming. Rob and Chyna’s tempestuous relationship was put on display on their one-season spin-off. The show saw them navigating new parenthood after the birth of their daughter Dream. However, most of the real drama happened off-screen. Kardashian publicly accused Chyna of abuse, substance use and extramarital affairs, leaking nude photos of his on-off fiancée online. Given how things ended, it turns out there were a lot of reasons for his family’s skepticism.

#8: Vicki Gunvalson and Brooks Ayers

“The Real Housewives of Orange County” (2006-)

Season 10 of the flagship “Housewives” series took things to an ugly place when original cast member Vicki Gunvalson’s boyfriend, Brooks Ayers, was outed for faking a cancer diagnosis. Already distrusted by Gunvalson’s castmates due to his treatment of her, Ayers has since remained cagey about the details of his scandals. It was even suggested that his partner was in on the scam to drum up sympathy for her man. But even when Gunvalson’s daughter, Briana, brought her suspicions forward, Mom was unable to hear them. Although the evidence suggests she wasn’t in on it, to see someone be this blind to their partner’s indiscretions was hard to watch.

#7: Jon and Kate Gosselin

“Jon & Kate Plus 8” (2007-17)

Raising eight young children is sure to drive anyone a little batty. TLC wouldn’t have rushed to train cameras on the Gosselin family if there wasn’t sure to be a little drama. But watching Jon and Kate navigate parenthood and marriage was often uncomfortable even before the bitter divorce. Between her constantly yelling at him and his complete emotional detachment, these two were a study in how not to keep the fire alive in a marriage. It’s no wonder why they divorced just a couple years after the show began, leading to its rebrand “Kate Plus 8.” They’ve spent the better part of the last 15 years badmouthing each other in the press.

#6: Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick

“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” (2007-21)

At first, there was something kind of charming about Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick. At times, they were as quippy and quirky as a sitcom couple. But that kind of dynamic can turn poisonous in real-life. After years of lying, cheating and constant griping, shared with the world on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” it became clear that these two were never going to work. Kourtney’s constant denials, even in the face of mounting evidence of infidelity and her family’s suspicions, made us rub our temples in frustration. The rocky relationship continued and grew worse after they began having children, before allegations of substance use disorder and infidelity ultimately led to their breakup.

#5: Spencer and Heidi Pratt

“The Hills” (2006-10)

Lovingly termed “Speidi,” these two know how to stir up drama. It’s like their job. Well, actually it is their job. Like “The Hills” itself, it’s hard to tell where reality ends and fiction begins with this infamous pairing. They’ve largely admitted to manufacturing a lot of the drama we saw over the years. When it began, “The Hills” was largely carried by Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag. Then, Spencer Pratt entered the picture. His spreading of a lie about Lauren Conrad appearing in a sex tape destroyed their friendship. His treatment of Heidi’s family was hard to watch, and it was even harder to watch Heidi let him do it. Whether it was real or fiction, it’s hard to stomach.

#4: Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix

“Vanderpump Rules” (2013-)

Before #Scandoval stopped the world, a lot of fans were on board with “Vanderpump Rules’s” lynchpin couple. But Tom Sandoval had a long history of belittling Ariana Madix’s success, lying, and making sideways comments to the woman he supposedly loved. His affair with co-star Raquel Leviss was just the cherry on top. Once they were outed and the aftermath was captured on-camera, Sandoval blamed Madix for turning a blind eye to the signs that he was cheating. While both have emerged from the ruins of their destroyed relationship, and have claimed being the victim in the situation, we’ll let the evidence speak for itself.

#3: Giannina Gibelli and Damian Powers“Love Is Blind” (2020-)

The premise of this Netflix dating show depends on there being a few mismatches. Giannina Gibelli and Damian Powers gave “Love Is Blind’s” inaugural season the spice it needed to be truly unmissable reality TV. Giannina ambushed Damian on-camera about his underwhelming skills in bed, and he waited until they were on their wedding altar to tell her she wasn’t ready for marriage. These two proved how wrong this experiment could go. They weren’t the biggest failure of the season, but they were the most toxic couple to get as far as they did. Neither one really knew how to communicate with each other, and it’s as uncomfortable as it is entertaining.

#2: Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro

“Jersey Shore” (2009-12)

While most of the cast of MTV’s controversial hit looked outside the shore house for love, Ronnie and Sammi had a whirlwind disaster of a romance right in front of the cameras. Magro’s struggles to stay faithful ended up causing most of the drama. Both of them were immature and prone to rage, often getting physical on camera more than once. Their housemates intervened, but this only added fuel to the fire. Giancola initially refused to dredge up the past by turning down “Jersey Shore’s” reunion series, “Family Vacation.” When she did end up making an appearance, it was sufficiently awkward.

#1: Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley

“Teen Mom” (2009-21)

The original “Teen Mom” was based on the challenges of young parenthood. Clearly, Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley had problems that were only magnified by the cameras. Things got so bad between these two that the police were called about a fight that MTV actually filmed and aired. Portwood was charged with domestic violence as a result. Watching these two navigate a relationship and parenting was disturbing, to say the least. Years later, the two are still trading barbs and accusations on TV and in the press.

Which of these reality TV couples did you change your feelings about? Tell us in the comments.