When reality TV goes wrong: 16 horrifying scandals and tragedies

During the 2011-2012 revival of 'Fear Factor,' an unaired episode featured contestants who were challenged to drink donkey urine and white substance. Host Joe Rogan claimed that the disturbing stunt led to the show’s cancellation for a second time.

A show called 'Under Wild Skies' on NBC Sports Network (and funded by the NRA) was canceled after the show’s host, Tony Makris, shot an elephant in the face and then compared his critics to Adolf Hitler.

Image: 'Under Wild Skies' / NBC

In 2019, the Spanish version of ‘Big Brother’ faced a massive scandal after José María López s e x u a l l y assaulted fellow contestant Carlota Prado. She had been provided with a lot of alcohol and didn’t eat any food, but she still managed to tell him to stop. It was all filmed. He was eventually sentenced to 15 months in prison and the producers had to pay her for allowing it to happen and then even showing her the video for dramatic effect.

Photo: carlotapradomalonso  /Instagram

In the 2023 reality TV show on TLC, contestants went to an island to form relationships between older women and younger men. But then came a horrifying twist: the younger men were actually the women’s sons.

Christina Grimmie, a contestant who placed third on the sixth season of ‘The Voice’ USA, was tragically shot and killed by a stalker during a meet-and-greet event in 2016. The shocking incident sparked discussions about the safety of reality TV stars and the potential dangers of fame.

Production for the 2013 season of the French version of ‘Survivor’ was canceled following the death of a contestant. Gérald Babin died during the first day of filming in Cambodia on 22 March 2013 amid a tug-of-war challenge. The program’s on-site doctor, Thierry Costa, took his own life following the controversy.

Image: TFI

The other death occurred on the Bulgarian edition, when a contestant died of a heart attack. That season, however, was aired as usual, with the death reportedly incorporated into the storyline.

Image: bTV

Ryan Jenkins, a contestant on the VH1 show who came close to winning the heart of Megan Hauserman, murdered his wife Jasmine Fiore in 2009, shortly after filming the show (and another: 'I Love Money'). Jenkins later took his own life while on the run from authorities, and TMZ found out that he had a previous criminal record for assault. The show was canceled and all past episodes were removed from broadcast.

During the series special ‘Unlocked,’ the star of ‘Storage Wars,’ Darrell Sheets, revealed a chilling find. After purchasing a locker, Sheets discovered a body wrapped in plastic. Police informed him that the deceased was a woman who'd been murdered by her husband and then left in the unit.

In one episode, the young woman Snooki got punched by a man in a bar. In other episodes, alcohol-fueled fights between then-couple Ronnie and Sammi depicted what many might call verbal abuse on his part. In 2021, Ronnie was arrested for domestic violence.

Image: Jersey Shore / MTV

The popular TLC series followed the lives of child beauty pageant contestant Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson and her family. In 2014, the show was abruptly canceled when it was revealed that Mama June, Alana’s mother, was dating a convicted child molester. Later, Mama June went to rehab for a devastating drug addiction. Honey Boo Boo went to live with her sister.

While the show came under fire for dozens of tick bites and contestants eating a rat, the most disturbing incident might be when a cockroach climbed into a contestant’s ear during a challenge. A horrified medic had to extract it. Then, in another episode, a cockroach got in someone's nose too.

Image: ITV

Former ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ contestant Summer Zervos accused Donald Trump of s e x u a l abuse. After he called her a liar, she sued him for defamation. In 2021, Trump and Zervos settled for an undisclosed sum.

For one couple on the Lifetime show, where two random people get hitched immediately, the story ended in abuse and violence. Jessica Castro, 30, said her groom Ryan De Nino threatened to kill her and her family and she had to get a restraining order against him.

Image: Lifetime

The E! reality show made entertainment from the turbulent life of model and actress Anna Nicole Smith. In 2007, Smith tragically passed away from a drug overdose, just months after her 20-year-old son, Daniel, had also died from a drug overdose.

Russell Armstrong, husband of cast member Taylor Armstrong, took his own life in 2011 after she initiated divorce proceedings for reasons of abuse. He had previously said the show had pushed him to the brink. The season went on, and the tragic death was incorporated into the plot.