Top 20 Reality Show Controversies & Scandals
#20: Rozlyn’s Affair With a Crew Member “The Bachelor” (2002-)
This dating show has seen more than its fair share of controversial contestants, but none quite like Rozlyn Papa. The single mom appeared on bachelor Jake Pavelka’s season, and was thought to be a front runner. But only two episodes in, host Chris Harrison sent her packing. The reason? She allegedly had an off-camera affair with a crewmember. The staffer was fired, and while Rozlyn tried to reason with Harrison, the host simply wasn’t having it. Even though the other women reported seeing inappropriate behavior, Rozlyn still denies they were anything more than friends. But as we all know, there’s his side, her side, and the truth.
#19: Jonny Fairplay’s Lie “Survivor” (2000-)
Reality show contestants sometimes take things too far just to play the game. Jonny Fairplay had everyone fooled when he acted out a very elaborate moment with his friend who told him that his grandma died. This gained him huge amounts of sympathy from his tribemates who allowed him to win the reward in order to get more information about his grandma. But it was later revealed that this was all just a ruse and his grandma was actually totally fine. In Jonny’s words, she was “sitting home watching Jerry Springer.” His tribemates were completely blindsided by his twisted gameplay, which was ironically far from fair.
#18: Farrah Abraham’s Tape “Teen Mom” (2009-)
Top 10 Amy Farrah Fowler Moments on The Big Bang Theory
In 2013, the “Teen Mom” star circulated on the Internet in a less than wholesome way. Rumors had it she filmed a raunchy tape with compromising positions. It was later revealed that the adult film star who was involved with Abraham was actually hired by her to film the video. Essentially, she allegedly planned the leak herself in order to appeal to the adult film industry. Rumors also surfaced that Abraham had tried to leak a homemade tape prior. Adult film companies passed on the opportunity to distribute it, but she was purportedly later offered a chance to make that tape with Vivid Entertainment. MTV eventually fired her from “Teen Mom OG” over the ordeal.
#17: Willam’s Disqualification “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2009-)
Willam sashayed away during a shocking elimination where RuPaul claimed she broke the rules of the competition. The bombshell elimination was the talk of the town, with one question on everyone’s mind: what did Willam do? Reports stated that Willam had a surprise visit by her husband, if you know what we mean. Supposed to be quarantined, she also wasn’t supposed to tell anyone she was doing “Drag Race” but did. However, Willam later admitted that this was just the cover story. The truth is, she actually broke several rules, including going out with the girls to get things the production team wouldn’t. To make a long story short, when initially asked what she did, she replied, “What didn’t I do?”
#16: Catfishing “Sister Wives” (2010-)
“Sister Wives” star Meri Brown divorced her husband and found herself in a new romance with a complete stranger she met on Twitter. Her Internet lover was a man called “Sam” and the two dated for six months during which they exchanged steamy messages and professed their love for each other. However, Brown immediately called off the relationship when it was revealed she was actually being catfished by a woman named Jackie Overton. Brown’s catfish subsequently leaked a ton of private conversations between the two. Overton ended up being arrested due to three outstanding warrants.
#15: Jillian Michaels Supplements Scandal “The Biggest Loser” (2004-20)
In 2013, “Biggest Loser” viewers were shocked when it turned out trainer Jillian Michaels gave caffeine supplements to her team members to boost their performance. These supplements were given without a doctor’s permission, which resulted in a four-pound penalty. All results from the previous week were also declared invalid. However, Michaels defended herself, saying that her team didn’t have an unfair advantage. The only regret she has over the incident is that her professional opinion ultimately hurt her team members. Michaels also believed that the judges were looking to punish her team in order to bring back popular contestant Ruben Studdard. So, was it a ploy, or a doping scandal?
#14: Geoffrey Paschel’s Past “90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days” (2017-)
“90 Day Fiancé” fans weren’t impressed when they discovered Geoffrey Paschel’s dark persona. He may seem sweet, but the truth was, Paschel was arrested in 2019 for kidnapping and domestic assault on his former fiancé. Viewers urged TLC to ax him and the network reportedly refused to let him come back for the reunion episode. In his Instagram post, Paschel defended himself saying it’s his past, his life, and his choice. He added that he can never go back and wouldn’t want to have it any different way. However, we’re pretty sure he was singing a different tune when he was convicted of the crime in October 2021 and subsequently sentenced to eighteen years in prison.
#13: Phil Robertson’s Homophobic Remarks “Duck Dynasty” (2012-17)
Top 10 Behind the Scenes Dr. Phil Scandals
“Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson came under fire after a controversial GQ interview. He was quick to point out that he believes a relationship between same-sex people is sinful. In his rant, he stated that things between what’s right and what’s wrong are blurred and that gay people won’t inherit the kingdom of God. His son Alan defended his views and went as far as comparing his dad to John the Baptist. He added that the public outcry hasn’t changed who they are as a family. A&E decided to call off the initial suspension of “Duck Dynasty” and cited that the family apologized for the statements.
#12: Kim & Kris’s Marriage & Split “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” (2007-21)
All eyes were on this Kardashian sister when she married basketball player Kris Humphries on August 20, 2011. Only seventy-two days later, Kim caused a whole new media frenzy when she filed for divorce. What followed was a high-profile split perfect for the tabloids, with Humphries asking for an annulment on the basis of fraud rather than a divorce. Some news outlets even accused Kardashian of using the marriage as a publicity stunt. After a long and public legal battle, Kim and Kris finalized their divorce in June 2013. With Kanye West having come and gone as hubby number three however, Kim’s quickie marriage is a distant memory.
#11: Corey Clark & Paula Abdul “American Idol” (2002-16; 2018-)
This hit singing competition has had a fair amount of drama over the years - like any good reality show - but a contestant having an affair with a judge is something else entirely. The show’s second season had an elimination bombshell: Corey Clark was disqualified after making it to the Top 9. Reason? Well, officially it was due to Clark’s failure to disclose an arrest record. But it also may reportedly have had to do with his shocking relationship with Paula Abdul. Although Abdul never confirmed the relationship, Clark became very open about his experiences over the years and even ended up suing E! Television network for an allegedly unfair portrayal of his character.
#10: The Whole Show “Kid Nation” (2007)
Top 10 Dating Show Controversies & Scandals
Forty kids aged between eight and fifteen left in a desert town with no adults. “Survivor” with children? What could go wrong? The scandalous show was canceled after it received a lot of bad press. The kids had to sign a twenty-two-page-long waiver that stated CBS wasn’t responsible if the kids fell sick or even got pregnant. It was also revealed that a kid ended up accidentally drinking bleach and another burned her face after cooking with hot grease. Since the show aired, the contestants shared their own individual experiences of what they went through, and let’s just say it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
#9: The “Pretty Woman” Costume “Toddlers & Tiaras” (2009-16)
Top 20 TLC Scandals & Controversies
In Season 4 of this often-criticized TLC series, three-year-old Paisley was dressed as Julia Roberts’s character, Vivian Ward, from “Pretty Woman.” Even in an industry frequently accused of sexualizing young girls, this was controversial, prompting other pageant moms to accuse Paisley’s mother, Wendy Dickey, of going too far. In her defense, Dickey stated that she thought it would be funny rather than provocative. Despite the backlash, this pageant princess, now a teenager, has moved on to small roles in TV and movies. In a series rife with controversy, this remains one of the most talked about moments.
#8: Abby Lee Miller Goes to Jail “Dance Moms” (2011-19)
Abby Lee Miller was known for her brutal treatment on “Dance Moms.” But no one expected she’d end up in actual prison. And no, it wasn’t for screaming at kids or fighting with moms. Miller allegedly had employees sneak more than $120,000 after a trip to Australia. She was also charged with bankruptcy fraud - it turned out she was concealing more than $700,000 from the proceedings. She ended up serving eight months in prison and continued to film “Dance Moms” after she was released. In Miller’s words, her incarceration only made her tougher.
#7: Mama June’s New Boyfriend “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” (2012-14)
Not so long ago, Honey Boo-Boo and her family were TLC staples. All that came to an end in 2014 however, when Mama June reportedly started dating Mark McDaniel. McDaniel is a convicted child molester and registered sex offender. Even worse, it came to light that one of his victims was Honey Boo-Boo’s older sister, Anna. Unsurprisingly, TLC axed the series. While no longer working with TLC, Mama June continues to live as a reality star, with her series, “Mama June: From Not to Hot” airing on We TV, an AMC Networks channel. Anna since became estranged from both her mother and sisters.
#6: Brooks Ayers Fakes Cancer “The Real Housewives of Orange County” (2006-)
If you saw Season 10 of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” you know the scandal that surrounded Brooks Ayers. Most of the season focused on his health while others questioned his diagnosis. However, Ayers stood by the fact that he had cancer and was receiving treatment. He even said that his castmates just want to fabricate drama. However, a few months down the line, E! News reported that he was actually lying after the hospital he claimed he went to confirmed they never treated him. Knowing he was finally caught, Ayers eventually admitted that he was, in fact, lying about his diagnosis. Wow.
#5: Teresa & Joe Go to Jail “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” (2009-)
The “Real Housewives” franchise is all about the drama – just ask Kenya and Porsha. While Porsha was arrested and released for assault, Jersey housewife Teresa Giudice (jew-dice) wasn’t so lucky. In March 2014, Teresa and her husband Joe pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges. That October, Teresa was sentenced to fifteen months in jail, while Joe was sentenced to forty-one months. After eleven months in prison, Teresa was released in December 2015. After being released in 2019, Joe returned to his native Italy rather than await a deportation decision. As this reality couple proves, all that glitters is not gold.
#4: Jon and Kate’s Divorce “Kate Plus 8” (2007-17)
Top 10 Reality Show Scandals That Got Stars Fired
With twins and sextuplets, the Gosselins were reality royalty. But in 2009, their show and picture-perfect family fell apart. Kate filed for divorce after ten years of marriage, launching a bitter custody battle. Rumors of Jon cheating circulated, but were never confirmed. In 2018, Jon was awarded custody of children Hannah and Collin, after Kate had enrolled the latter in an inpatient facility. Jon later went on “The Dr. Oz Show” in 2019 to voice some of his struggles post-divorce. Clearly, the divorce hasn’t been easy, especially on the children. Only time will tell if this famous family ever makes amends.
#3: The “Turkey Slap” Incident “Big Brother Australia” (2001-08; 2012-14; 2020-)
Top 10 Reality TV Show Scandals
This reality franchise has no shortage of bad apples. In “Big Brother 15,” Aaryn Gries (greece) and other contestants faced backlash over their bigoted comments. But the show’s Australian version saw arguably the biggest scandal in franchise history. During a live-streamed episode of Season 6, Michael Cox allegedly rubbed his genitals in Camilla Halliwell’s face while Michael Brie held her down. Both men were booted from the house, while Camilla went on to place runner-up. Australian Prime Minister John Howard was so upset by the incident that he called (unsuccessfully) for the show’s cancellation. Clearly, what happened in the Big Brother House didn’t stay there.
#2: The Murder of Jasmine Fiore “Megan Wants a Millionaire” (2009)
Top 20 Game Show Scandals
Real estate investor Ryan Jenkins reportedly placed third on this dating show, but only three episodes aired. The day before VH1 pulled the plug, Jenkins was charged with the murder of his wife, Jasmine Fiore. The model’s badly beaten body was found in a suitcase. Because Jasmine’s teeth and fingers were missing, she could only be identified by the serial number on her breast implants. Jenkins however, never lived to stand trial. On August 23, 2009, he was found after having taken his own life in a Canadian hotel - a tragic end to an all too real and horrific story.
#1: The Josh Duggar Scandal “19 Kids and Counting” (2008-15)
Top 10 Shocking Kids Show Scandals
In 2015, the eldest Duggar son Josh was in the news after the Ashley Madison leak revealed he was paying for the controversial service. Duggar released a statement, admitting to being unfaithful to his wife and having an addiction. However, it doesn’t stop there. Way back in 2002, a thirty-three-page police report described Duggar behaving inappropriately with minors while they were asleep in the Duggar family home. In 2003, two more incidents were reported. And in 2019, the police raided his business and discovered an office where he searched the dark web for inappropriate images and videos of children. He was sent to prison in 2021 and could face upwards of twenty years.
