- 10 months ago
From shocking arrests to controversial firings, the reality TV landscape has seen it all! Join us as we count down the most explosive scandals that rocked unscripted television. These jaw-dropping controversies had viewers glued to their screens and dominated headlines for weeks, months, and even years after they first aired.
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00:00Bottom line, our mission was to take down Jen.
00:03The other women were just collateral damage.
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:07And today, we're looking at the most explosive scandals ever to hit the realm of unscripted TV.
00:12It's not for you. Who are you? Go away.
00:16Number 50. Fighting in the Dressing Room.
00:19Dance Moms.
00:20Original cast member Kelly Hyland always had a contentious relationship with her daughter's dance teacher, Abby Lee Miller.
00:25But the final straw came in season four, when the Abby Lee Dance Company was in New York for a competition.
00:31An argument about Miller's harsh teaching method suddenly turned physical in full view of the young cast and their mothers.
00:37Did you just sit here and say that my daughter looks miserable, so maybe we should put Kalani in her place?
00:42No, I never said that.
00:43Yes, you most certainly did.
00:44No, I didn't think that. Listen!
00:46What started out as finger-pointing soon became a near-brawl when Hyland, reacting to Miller chomping her way through Hyland's finger,
00:53slapped the teacher in the head.
00:55The cops were called and the Hyland's left the show soon after.
00:58Court cases ensued, but Hyland was only made to complete counseling and comply with a six-month no-contact order.
01:04You want to have anyone speak to you, Kevin?
01:06No.
01:07No?
01:08No.
01:08If it was like my knee or my foot, absolutely.
01:11Number 49. Claire Butendorp's Disqualification.
01:14Project Runway.
01:15When her twin sister left the competition the week before,
01:18fashion designer Claire Butendorp was devastated to have to complete the rest of Project Runway's 16th season without her.
01:24Fortunately, she didn't have to stay too long.
01:27When Claire was announced the winner of the week's challenge, fellow contestant Michael Brambilla stormed off set.
01:33Is it true that you've been measuring garments in your room?
01:36I have measured a tank top and I have measured the crotch of a pair of pants.
01:40All right.
01:44It soon came out that Claire's competitors knew she had broken several rules involving the use of materials and tools outside the show's workroom.
01:52The show's mentor, Tim Gunn, was forced to disqualify Butendorp and rescind her challenge win.
01:57Claire's possession of the measuring tape in her hotel room and the fact that she used it to measure clothes that she owns and to make specifications is what is against the rules here.
02:09Number 48.
02:10Nick and Caitlin have a one-on-one.
02:12The Bachelorette.
02:13Nick Vile was not an original contestant on season 11.
02:16He was the previous year's runner-up and only joined the show midway through.
02:19Well, the chemistry between Bachelorette Caitlin Bristow and contestant Vile was a little too hot to handle.
02:25They were intimate during a trip to Dublin.
02:27I wanted to end.
02:28No, me neither.
02:33Do you want to go back to my hotel and hang out for a bit?
02:36Yeah.
02:37Romance is pretty formulaic on a dating show.
02:40On The Bachelorette, the season's Bachelorette and her suitors aren't really supposed to spend intimate time together until the Fantasy Suite episode.
02:47This close encounter had the potential to derail the whole purpose of the show.
02:51Despite their passion, Bristow ended up choosing Sean Booth anyway, leaving Vile as the season's runner-up once again.
02:57I guess it's frustrating to hear just because, like, I don't...
03:00If I didn't have to talk about our relationship at all, I wouldn't...
03:04At all.
03:05Number 47.
03:06The Situation Goes to Prison.
03:08Jersey Shore.
03:09In 2018, former MTV star Michael Sorrentino was sentenced to prison time for tax-related crimes.
03:16Known to fans as The Situation, the Jersey Shore and Dancing with the Stars alum pled guilty to the charge.
03:22The crime presumably stems from the millions Sorrentino made as a regular on the controversial program that saw him and other party-loving 20-somethings drinking and causing a ruckus.
03:31Listen, you will only sort of understand prison if you went through it, so you can ask any question you want.
03:36You guys are my brothers and sisters.
03:38Yeah.
03:38I'll tell you how it is.
03:39You know how it was.
03:40Sorrentino reportedly owed unpaid taxes on almost $9 million of income at the time of his indictment.
03:47He was released after serving an eight-month sentence at Otisville Federal Correctional Institution in upstate New York.
03:53Yo, I never met somebody that went to prison before.
03:55Yeah.
03:56I even learned a lot of Spanish because there's a lot of Spanish guys in there.
03:59They called me El Situacion.
04:00In June 2020, a discrimination scandal hit the popular Real Housewives spinoff set among the drama-filled staff of Lisa Vanderpump's restaurants.
04:13Former recurring cast member Faith Stowers accused Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doty of discrimination.
04:19These included racist microaggressions and falsely reporting her to the police for robberies she didn't commit.
04:24Instagram Live recalling how Stassi and Kristen falsely attempted to identify her as a woman police were looking for in a string of robberies.
04:32Bravo fired Schroeder and Doty once the accusations came to light.
04:36Racist tweets by other cast members, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni, came to light around the same time.
04:42The news broke as Black Lives Matter protests and conversations about unchecked racism dominated American media.
04:48Bravo acted accordingly, firing all four cast members.
04:52Although my actions were not racially driven, I am now completely aware of how my privilege blinded me from the reality of law enforcement's treatment of the Black community,
05:00and how dangerous my actions could have been to her.
05:03Number 45, Mariah vs. Nikki, American Idol.
05:06What is going on with you, Ms. Minaj?
05:10Oh, nothing!
05:11Sparring judges is a huge part of many reality competition shows, but this went beyond simple competitiveness.
05:17Former collaborators Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj's cutting remarks and arguments seem to go way past disagreements over talent, becoming incredibly personal.
05:26Every moment's got to be at the top of your most happy Disney princess moment.
05:31Nobody said every moment.
05:33Oh, excuse me, the music will cut me off if I can.
05:36Oh, darling, darling.
05:37They would frequently speak over each other and make shady comments while fellow judges Randy Jackson and Keith Urban tried to keep things light and fluffy.
05:44Behind the scenes, things seemed to be worse.
05:47Allegations of physical threats were even reported at the time.
05:50Both Carey and Minaj's tenure on the show lasted exactly one season.
05:55Are you the bitch she's singing about?
05:58Don't know.
06:00Don't know what she's singing.
06:01I didn't know she sang.
06:02I thought she rapped or whatever.
06:04Number 44, Juan Pablo Galaviz's Behavior, The Bachelor.
06:08Season 18's Bachelor is one of the most infamous of all time, and that is a pretty high bar to clear.
06:14Juan Pablo Galaviz's challenging tenure was evident from the jump.
06:18Leaks from the set indicated that Galaviz's attitude, homophobic comments, and unfriendly behavior made the season a chore to shoot.
06:24His selfishness and treatment of the women meant to be his potential partner was evident all throughout the show, which showed all his weaknesses to the viewers.
06:32I thought I knew what kind of man you were.
06:34Okay.
06:35What you just made me go through.
06:36Mm-hmm.
06:37I would never want my children having a father like you.
06:40Okay.
06:41Galaviz was not the Prince Charming the franchise was used to.
06:44Somehow, watching the contestants realize that made for compelling television all the same.
06:48When Juan Pablo couldn't even propose to his winner, Nicky Farrell, it was just the cherry on top of a wild season.
06:54We have so much more to talk about.
06:57Obviously, there's Nicky, your relationship.
07:00Where is that?
07:00Why should I have a regret?
07:02I don't know.
07:03I wasn't here when you guys were watching it, you know?
07:05Number 43.
07:06Shaving Marcel's Head.
07:08Top Chef.
07:08This Bravo cooking competition's most heated moment didn't even take place in the kitchen.
07:13On season 2 of Top Chef, a night of drinking in the show's dorms led to a hazing incident that saw the other chefs ganging up on Marcel Vigneron and shaving his head against his will.
07:22Seeing as how it is our last elimination challenge, I thought it would be a good idea to try to shave Marcel's head.
07:29And from there, things just basically got a little out of hand.
07:32While many contestants were involved, only Cliff Crooks, the one who pinned Vigneron down, was disqualified.
07:38The incident was a blight on the show's relatively prestigious place among reality shows.
07:43This was an uncharacteristically messy and exploitative moment for a series that prided itself on being about culinary genius.
07:49There are no ill feelings, it was just one of those stupid things.
07:53I'm sorry.
07:54My actions towards Marcel were incredibly stupid and it's one of those things where obviously you really want to take back.
08:02Number 42.
08:03Misconduct on Board.
08:04Below Deck Down Under.
08:06Bravo's Australian spin-off about the crew of a super yacht was rocked by two different cast members whose flagrant disregard for consent was captured on screen.
08:14A scene in season two saw Bosun Luke Jones captured on camera entering the third stewardess Margot Sisson's room in a state of undress despite her objections.
08:23Unfortunately, I've got nothing else but to terminate your employment.
08:27No, except that.
08:29I ain't never gonna ask you to get your stuff.
08:31Can't they shove your stuff in bin bag for me on the dock?
08:34The production team actually had to intervene on camera.
08:37But a discussion about boundaries led another crew member to come forward about being made uncomfortable by second stewardess Laura Bilescalne.
08:44Both Jones and Bilescalne were terminated on screen by Captain Jason Chambers.
08:49When do you want me to go?
08:51Immediately.
08:52That's it.
08:54Go and pack your bags and move on and we'll just have a clean slate.
09:00Number 41.
09:01Rachel's Drastic Weight Loss.
09:03The Biggest Loser.
09:04Apparently, the already controversial program got even more criticism in its 15th season.
09:09Viewers expressed concern over Rachel Fredrickson's appearance in the finale.
09:13Fredrickson lost 155 pounds over the course of the season.
09:17Her extreme weight loss just seemed to prove every terrible thing the Biggest Loser's critics ever said about it.
09:22It's scary.
09:23I finally came onto hiding and shared my story.
09:27And then it's that moment where I had to say, I'm gonna embrace being me.
09:33Even trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels are shocked.
09:36Their looks of concern are completely at odds with the ecstatic cheering of the live studio audience.
09:42Michaels later alleged that this incident was one of the many that made her question her tenure on the show.
09:47Season 15 would be her last.
09:49I know your mom was a big part of that journey with you, right?
09:51Yeah, she's my rock.
10:01Number 40.
10:02Contestant Mistreatment Lawsuit.
10:04Beast Games.
10:05YouTube personality Jimmy MrBeast Donaldson took his daring style of philanthropy to Amazon Prime.
10:11Giving Donaldson an even bigger budget and an even bigger canvas,
10:14Beast Games pitted 1,000 contestants against one another for a chance at a $5 million prize.
10:19Most shows have a grand prize of $1 million.
10:24But on our show, we're gonna give away a million dollars before we even play the first game.
10:30The similarities between it and Squid Game drew some criticism from the jump.
10:34But Donaldson and the production companies behind the record-breaking show were rocked by complaints and a class action lawsuit.
10:41Former contestants alleged everything from unpaid wages, inhumane conditions, and even sexual harassment.
10:46Donaldson has since denied many of the claims.
10:49Despite negative reviews and a lawsuit, Prime renewed the show for two additional seasons.
10:54Oh no, I didn't start the timer yet.
10:57Oh my gosh.
10:59No, because the timer hadn't started yet.
11:01Number 39.
11:02Willem's Disqualification.
11:03RuPaul's Drag Race.
11:04During the show's fourth season, Willem Belli was suddenly disqualified for breaking the show's rules.
11:09Host RuPaul was cagey about the details.
11:12What rules had Willem broken and when did she break them?
11:15At the show's reunion, fans finally found out.
11:18Well, sort of.
11:19Your actions have consequences.
11:22And I'm afraid you leave me no choice.
11:25Willem, I have to ask you to leave the competition immediately.
11:30Willem later alleged that the story the producers told her to tell on the finale stage was not true.
11:34And there was a different reason for her dismissal.
11:36Since then, Willem has wasted no opportunity to call out Drag Race and its charismatic host for various perceived breaches of ethical and other practices.
11:45They didn't.
11:46They weren't feeding us right.
11:47They were giving us like literally $75 for 12 people to eat.
11:50That makes like $6.75 per person or something at like 10.30 at night.
11:55Number 38.
11:56The Identity of Reality Von Teese.
11:58The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
12:00Someone call Alan Cumming.
12:02There's a traitor in our midst.
12:03Monica Garcia joined the ranks of Real Housewives one season wonders in the most spectacular fashion.
12:09It took all of season four for her Salt Lake City co-stars to figure out she was at least one of the people behind an abusive social media profile called Reality Von Teese.
12:18That Garcia, clearly a fan of the show, got cast in the first place as a wonder.
12:23Yeah, I would love to see it right now.
12:25Oh my gosh, guess how you know I'm telling the truth.
12:26I have your perfect formula.
12:29Receipts.
12:30Truth.
12:32Timeline.
12:33Screenshots.
12:33But the explosive dinner where Heather Gay laid out all the evidence to prove Garcia's identity was reality TV gold.
12:40The fourth wall breaking moment had the entire internet talking.
12:43It rocked the franchise and put the period on a fantastic season.
12:47I went through this.
12:48I am not interested in that.
12:49I went through this for three years.
12:50You think I want to see a burn?
12:51Yes.
12:52Yes.
12:53Yes.
12:53Yes.
12:53Yes.
12:53Okay.
12:54Okay.
12:54Yes.
12:55Yes.
12:55Yes.
12:55Yes.
12:56Yes.
12:56Yes.
12:56Yes.
12:56Yes.
12:56Yes.
12:57Yes.
12:57Yes.
12:57Yes.
12:57Yes.
12:57Yes.
12:58Yes.
12:58Yes.
12:58Yes.
12:58Yes.
12:58Yes.
12:59Yes.
12:59Yes.
13:00Yes.
13:00Yes.
13:00Yes.
13:00Yes.
13:00Yes.
13:03It wasn't the first time a rumor swept through a Real Housewives franchise like Wildfire, but it was one of the most potentially damaging ones.
13:10What?
13:11What?
13:11What?
13:12What?
13:12What?
13:12What?
13:13Marlo, what?
13:13Because I've heard that and someone at this table has been talking behind her bed.
13:18Portia Williams accused Candy Burris and her husband, Todd Tucker, of intending to commit an illegal and immoral act against her.
13:24But at the season nine reunion, Williams couldn't stand up to the grilling.
13:28She gave up the source of the rumor as castmate Phaedra Parks.
13:31It left a bad taste in the mouths of many fans, who were used to Parks stirring the pot.
13:35And I no longer can speak on the subject.
13:38So what I want to do is have Phaedra speak, because she's the one who told me that Candy said that.
13:44But this was a very different, potentially life-ruining accusation that went far beyond the kinds of petty spats Bravo viewers were used to.
13:51Parks was fired from the show as a result.
13:53All I can do is apologize. I can't obviously change what happened.
13:59I'm just glad the truth came out.
14:01Number 36.
14:02The Stockdale Case.
14:03Wife Swap.
14:04The ABC show that saw wives and mothers switching families for two weeks had its fair share of iconic moments.
14:10But watching this 2008 episode now is just disturbing.
14:13One of the families who participated in season four, the Stockdales, were notably strict and devoutly religious.
14:19The parents forbade their children from playing video games, watching TV, and dating.
14:24I want to know where you guys would like to go tomorrow night.
14:26Yeah, but, well, you obviously know that we don't want to.
14:29Why not?
14:30Going out has certain connotations.
14:33Catherine Stockdale especially prided herself on the work ethic she and her husband were instilling in their sons.
14:38However, in 2017, Jacob Stockdale, one of the sons featured on the episode, slaughtered matriarch Catherine Stockdale and his brother James.
14:47I got you guys cable TV.
14:50As well as video games.
14:52Nope.
14:52Stockdale pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but later pleaded guilty at trial in 2021.
14:59Number 35.
15:00Misconduct in Morocco.
15:01The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.
15:03This Bravo series features alumni from several Housewives franchises vacationing together in scenic locations.
15:09But the fifth season has invited scandal even before it's aired.
15:13Cast member Caroline Manzo, originally from the New Jersey franchise, filed suit against Bravo over an incident with Brandi Glanville.
15:19It took a lot for me to go back there.
15:22Yeah.
15:22Um, going back with the best of intentions, with the highest of hopes to do something fun.
15:27Yeah.
15:28Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me that way.
15:29The lawsuit alleges that the producers allow and enable disturbing situations for ratings.
15:35Glanville has since denied the allegations that she invaded Manzo's personal boundaries.
15:40Filmed in Morocco in January 2023, the entire season is supposedly edited and ready to be aired at any time.
15:47It's just a question of when and if.
15:50I would imagine it would unfold on the series when it airs.
15:53Right.
15:54And there'll be a lot said then.
15:56And maybe it didn't turn out to be the positive experience you had hoped.
15:59Number 34, Race Swapping Photoshoots, America's Next Top Model.
16:04Tyra Banks and the crew behind Top Model got away with a lot of things back in the day.
16:08Not once, but twice did they challenge a cast of aspiring models to don the look of another race.
16:14Christina, you're gonna be an East Indian.
16:16Tiffany, you're gonna be Native American.
16:19Brittany, an African American woman.
16:22Kenya, Korean.
16:24Odds are, this wouldn't fly today.
16:25As one contestant later put it, she was donning, quote, blackface.
16:30Cycle 4's models were made up to look like women of different races for a Got Milk campaign.
16:34Similarly, Cycle 13 saw a challenge with models being made up to emulate biracial women.
16:39These moments were reappraised in 2020, when several former models and heated online conversations put the since-canceled show under the microscope.
16:47That's it, sweetie. I got you.
16:48You're not gonna go.
16:49Couple more.
16:50Brittany, best shoot to date.
16:53Number 33, Snooki Gets Punched, Jersey Shore.
16:56This MTV juggernaut was a lightning rod for scandal.
17:00Reviled by critics, but a hit with viewers, Jersey Shore reveled in the hard-partying antics of its cast.
17:05But one moment from its first season got several sponsors to pull their advertising.
17:10Nicole Snooki-Palizzi was punched in a bar during the filming of one episode.
17:14I just want to have a good time with everybody and not be that girl that misses their mommy.
17:19Footage of The Punch appeared in a teaser for the episode and circulated on the internet afterward.
17:24The episode aired with The Punch edited out.
17:26However, all of the chaos surrounding it was still there.
17:30It turned out to be one of the show's most scandalous and most unforgettable moments.
17:34So I get another three shots.
17:36This time taken.
17:37That'll take two for me now.
17:38And Snickers is like, those are for our friends.
17:40It's not for you!
17:42Number 32. Paula Deen's Racism. Paula's Home Cooking.
17:46For years, the Southern chef and restaurateur shared some of her favorite butter-soaked recipes for the home audience.
17:52With her charming, affable smile and folksy lilt, Paula Deen captivated viewers.
17:57In the meantime, America, I wish you best dishes from my kitchen to yours.
18:02But in 2013, it all came crumbling down when she was sued by a former employee for discrimination.
18:08In a court deposition, the star of Paula's Home Cooking admitted to using racial slurs.
18:13Things have changed since the 60s in the South and my children and my brother object to that word being used in any cruel or mean behavior.
18:21This soon unearthed a history of racial discrimination and unsavory comments, touching off a swift public takedown.
18:28She lost her shows, as well as brand deals with several companies.
18:32Although she still makes cooking content, she's not quite as ubiquitous as she once was.
18:36Which N-word is she talking about? There's a whole bunch of N-words.
18:41Well, the bad one.
18:42Black nutrition.
18:44Number 31. Chrisley's in Crisis.
18:46Chrisley knows best.
18:48For 10 seasons, the Chrisley family showcased their great wealth for all to see on their long-running show for USA Network.
18:54But that money seemingly came at a cost.
18:56In 2019, real estate developer Todd Chrisley and his wife Julie were indicted on charges related to tax evasion, bank fraud, and conspiracy.
19:04Within that time, they also filed for bankruptcy.
19:07The indictment calling them career swindlers.
19:10The Chrisleys pleaded not guilty, maintaining their innocence.
19:13The couple was convicted in 2023 and were both sentenced to prison for their crimes.
19:18Although the show essentially ended after their criminal trials and convictions, their story doesn't end there.
19:24President Trump himself controversially pardoned the couple in May 2025.
19:28They have since been released.
19:29What does redemption mean to you?
19:33I don't really look at redemption because I know that what we were convicted of, we didn't do.
19:37So I'm not trying to redeem anything.
19:39Number 30. Erica Jane embezzlement scandal.
19:42The real housewives of Beverly Hills.
19:44In November 2020, Singer and Beverly Hills housewife Erica Jane announced that she and her husband Tom Girardi were separating.
19:51But the real bombshell dropped the next month.
19:54Allegations arose that the divorcing couple embezzled from a charity fund set up to support people affected by a 2018 plane crash.
20:01The victims, if you know our names, do you know anything about us?
20:08Not really.
20:09To be perfectly honest.
20:11However, the legal charges, moral implications, and ensuing legal battle became a main plot point on the real housewives of Beverly Hills,
20:18which saw the housewives taking sides.
20:21In 2020, Jane was dismissed from the embezzlement lawsuit and scored a major win in court against fraud charges.
20:28The case was also the subject of two Hulu documentaries.
20:32The lawsuit against her in Illinois dismissed.
20:35The reality star appearing to claim victory on Instagram, thanking her supporters, writing,
20:40Thank you to my friends that know me.
20:42It's a marathon.
20:44Number 29. Frenchie Davis' Intimate Photos.
20:47American Idol.
20:47Coming off a juggernaut of a first season, this singing competition was one of the most popular shows in America.
20:54On American Idol, hopeful pop star's dreams came true with the simple phrase,
20:58You're going to Hollywood.
21:00Well, Hollywood was the end of the story for season two contestant Frenchie Davis.
21:04Uh, Hollywood, yes.
21:06Definitely.
21:07Amazing from the first note to the very last.
21:10Brilliant.
21:11Hollywood.
21:12See you in Hollywood.
21:13She disclosed that she had taken revealing pictures a few years before, but the website they were featured on was defunct.
21:20The producers waited several months to disqualify her mid-season.
21:24They knowingly allowed me to advance in the competition in two weeks before I was to perform.
21:31Given the program's popularity at the time, Davis' talent was immediately missed.
21:36She would later appear on The Voice, where she made it to the semifinal round.
21:40Number 28.
21:47Keith Michael's Disqualification.
21:49Project Runway.
21:51Bravo's fashion design competition was just beginning to gain a following in its third season,
21:55when contestant Keith Michael was suddenly disqualified.
21:58The brash designer was accused of having a pattern book in his hotel room,
22:02which was explicitly against the rules.
22:04Word spread among the designers very quickly.
22:07After being confronted by his fellow competitors, Michael left the hotel,
22:11and mentor Tim Gunn stepped in to confirm he had been disqualified.
22:14We have very clear and concise rules for our designers on Project Runway.
22:20We're gonna have to ask you to leave.
22:22This, plus his leaving the production site to use the internet, were cited as the reason.
22:27Michael denied any wrongdoing, and even denied the rule was made clear to him.
22:32Number 27.
22:33Dog uses a racial slur.
22:35Dog the Bounty Hunter.
22:36For eight seasons, viewers watched Dwayne Chapman hunt down fleeing fugitives from the law.
22:42Because of the potential for dangerous situations,
22:44the show had many close calls and scary moments over the years.
22:48However, it was Dwayne's mouth that got him in trouble.
22:51The accusations are serious and scathing.
22:54Dog's daughter claiming he is racist, homophobic, and was unfaithful to her late mother Beth.
23:00In 2007, the National Enquirer leaked a tape featuring Chapman repeatedly using a racial slur to describe his son's girlfriend.
23:08Chapman, whose son leaked the conversation, faced a media firestorm as a result.
23:13Dog the Bounty Hunter was put on hiatus in the middle of its fourth season.
23:16I'm a good man.
23:17I would have never done that.
23:20However, the program returned the next year, and continued for several more seasons.
23:25Number 26.
23:26Amber Portwood's Arrests.
23:28Teen Mom.
23:29MTV viewers followed this original 16 and pregnant cast member from her teen pregnancy to motherhood.
23:34The show highlighted her tempestuous relationship with her child's father, Gary Shirley.
23:38In 2010, fans were shocked to watch her physically assault Shirley on camera.
23:44The case against Amber Portwood now goes to the district attorney.
23:47If convicted, she faces up to three years in jail and $10,000 in fines.
23:53An argument over custody became a full-on verbal and physical assault,
23:57with Portwood slapping and punching her ex right in front of the cameras.
24:01MTV's decision to air the event was criticized and led to her arrest.
24:05It would be the first in a long line of legal troubles for Portwood.
24:09Two years later, she dropped out of a rehab program addressing substance use disorder issues
24:13and opted instead for a five-year prison sentence.
24:17The whole two and a half months I had been in rehab, every week that I went to court,
24:20I always went, you know, alone or like my mom would come.
24:23And this was the first time that Gary actually went with me,
24:25because I knew I was opting out that day.
24:27I knew I was going to prison.
24:29Number 25.
24:30Portia Williams attacks Kenya Moore.
24:32The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
24:34Many Real Housewives fights threatened to come to blows.
24:38Mud has been flung, tables have been thrown, and wine glasses have been tossed over the years.
24:43The season six reunion of the Real Housewives of Atlanta brought things to a whole new level.
24:47It wasn't appropriate at the time.
24:49She's saying that you cheated on Cordell.
24:51Listen, you are not going to keep on talking about my character like you know what you're talking about.
24:56A season-long feud between Kenya Moore and Portia Williams erupted as the two traded barbs.
25:01And Williams stood up and dragged Moore across the set by her hair.
25:06In the aftermath, Williams was arrested.
25:08Though she was demoted to a recurring role in the next season, Williams wouldn't be fired.
25:13She and Moore would both retain regular roles on the cast for many of the future seasons.
25:18Violence against women, whether it's women on women or men on women, that's something that should never divide us.
25:24Whether you like me or not or she likes me or not, right is right and wrong is wrong.
25:30Number 24. Russell Armstrong's death. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
25:35The housewives can be seen sitting together, sharing their very emotional reactions to the tragedy.
25:40The rest of the show aired scenes that were shot six months ago but were re-edited.
25:44Taylor Armstrong's story of abuse at her husband's hand was about as real as the Real Housewives had gotten up to that point.
25:50Season two of Bravo's latest Real Housewives franchise was already shot and edited when Armstrong's husband Russell took his own life.
25:57The network had a decision to make.
26:00The decision to re-edit and air the season anyway was criticized and praised in different corners.
26:06Viewers weren't sure what the season would show of their marital issues, but the show didn't shy away from Taylor's experience much at all.
26:13How have you been?
26:14I feel like I'm starting to operate really with my mind and not so much with my feelings.
26:22Scenes of her co-stars confronting her about the abuse made it into the final edit.
26:26Whether it was ultimately exploitative or illuminating depends on who you ask.
26:31She cannot feel responsible for that.
26:33Number 23. Rachel Kirkconnell's racist past.
26:37The Bachelor.
26:38When the 25th season of the long-running dating show premiered in 2021, Matt James made history as the very first black bachelor.
26:45He ended the season by choosing 24-year-old Rachel Kirkconnell as his partner.
26:50Then the scandal erupted.
26:51Our relationship, it was on the context of you not fully understanding my blackness.
27:00A TikTok user's racist allegation led to an unearthing of her past, which included the winner sharing right-wing conspiracy theories.
27:07But the kicker was her participating in a college party with an Old South theme.
27:11And just last week, a post on Reddit allegedly showed the Bachelor contestant at a 2018 Old South college formal.
27:18The fact that she had been chosen by the series' first black bachelor made the whole situation all the more volatile.
27:23Even longtime host Chris Harrison left the show after defending Kirkconnell in an interview.
27:28Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018 or is it not a good look in 2021?
27:33It's not a good look ever.
27:35Number 22.
27:36Jen Shah's arrest.
27:38The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
27:40The snowflake-holding cast of Bravo's Utah-based franchise was caught up in an avalanche of drama when a co-star flaked out just before they were set to go on vacation.
27:48Jen Shah fled the scene mere minutes before the shoot was crawling with cops.
27:53Just keep us posted.
27:55And if you want us to turn the bus around, I can turn that bus around.
27:59Hey, Jen.
28:00Jen, are you going to be okay?
28:01Yeah, I just got to go figure out what's going on.
28:03She was then charged for her involvement in a wire fraud scheme.
28:07Given her villainous nature on the show, Shah was always a magnet for drama.
28:11But this was more than anyone expected.
28:13She would later be convicted and sentenced to prison for her crimes.
28:17She's not the first or last Real Housewife to get in trouble with the law.
28:20But the fact that so much of the drama played out on screen makes this one a reality scandal to remember.
28:25This morning, Jen Shah is waiting to learn in which federal prison she'll have to spend the next six and a half years.
28:31She left court wearing sunglasses after tearfully apologizing.
28:35My actions, she said, have hurt innocent people.
28:37Number 21.
28:39Anjali Disqualified.
28:40America's Next Top Model.
28:42Tyra Banks' modeling competition has had its fair share of unfortunate, offensive, and downright cruel moments.
28:48But its All-Stars edition was clouded by controversy when competitor Anjali Preston was disqualified for unspecified reasons in the finale episode.
28:56Unusual circumstances.
28:58Yeah, it turns out that after shooting was wrapped, our production team and the network learned information from Anjali that disqualifies her from the competition.
29:06The aired finale saw Lisa D'Amato being named the winner.
29:10Preston would later come forward with the truth.
29:12Banks had originally awarded Preston the title in the 17th season, only to take it away once producers learned Preston had worked as an escort.
29:20This only came out when the contestant sued Banks, the producers, and the network.
29:24So it was a stupid decision that I made, and then it came back to bite me with them decrowning me.
29:32Her lawsuit didn't go far, but it did add to contemporary reappraisals of the show's harsh treatment of its rotating cast of young, impressionable, aspiring models.
29:42Number 20.
29:43Tristan Thompson Cheats on Khloe Kardashian.
29:45Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
29:46There's no good time to find out your boyfriend is cheating on you, but days before having his child is probably one of the worst times.
29:54The entire Kardashian family was on camera when news broke that Khloe's boyfriend, Cleveland Cavaliers player Tristan Thompson, had been spotted kissing another woman in public.
30:04There's a video of Tristan making out with a girl last night.
30:07I know.
30:08First reported in April 2018, the scandal rocked the family and would become a main storyline on the show's 15th season.
30:15And then again in its 16th season, because Kardashian and Thompson's relationship would take yet another hit when similar revelations came out the next year.
30:23Good thing the Kardashians are no strangers to a media frenzy.
30:26I talked to Jordan.
30:28She, it's really weird.
30:29She's not giving me all the information.
30:32She was like, he was trying to kiss me.
30:33I was like, I can't remember if we did or didn't.
30:37I'm like, what?
30:38Number 19.
30:39Rosalyn's affair with a crew member, The Bachelor.
30:42Rosalyn, can I touch you outside?
30:45Thanks.
30:46I'm sorry.
30:47Excuse me.
30:48This dating show has seen more than its fair share of controversial contestants, but none quite like Rosalyn Papa.
30:54The single mom appeared on Bachelor Jake Pavelka's season and was thought to be a frontrunner.
31:00But only two episodes in, host Chris Harrison sent her packing.
31:04The reason?
31:05She allegedly had an off-camera affair with a crew member.
31:09Rosalyn, you entered into an inappropriate relationship with one of her.
31:14With one of our staffers.
31:21That staffer is no longer working with us.
31:24The staffer was fired.
31:26And while Rosalyn tried to reason with Harrison, the host simply wasn't having it.
31:30So you think that there's no other girls here that felt for other people before they came on the show?
31:40No, not at all.
31:42Because it wasn't a relationship you had back home.
31:44Even though the other women reported seeing inappropriate behavior, Rosalyn still denies they were anything more than friends.
31:51But as we all know, there's his side, her side, and the truth.
31:55In 2013, the Teen Mom star circulated on the internet in a less than wholesome way.
32:10Rumors had it that she filmed a raunchy tape with compromising positions.
32:14It was later revealed that the adult film star who was involved with Abraham was actually hired by her to film the video.
32:22Essentially, she allegedly planned the leak herself in order to appeal to the adult film industry.
32:28Rumors also surfaced that Abraham had tried to leak a homemade tape prior.
32:33Adult film companies passed on the opportunity to distribute it.
32:37But she was purportedly later offered a chance to make that tape with Vivid Entertainment.
32:42This is my video, and I'm telling you exactly what is.
32:48MTV eventually fired her from Teen Mom OG over the ordeal.
32:53Number 17. Catfishing. Sister Wives.
32:56I trusted him.
32:58Sister Wives star Mary Brown divorced her husband and found herself in a new romance with a complete stranger she met on Twitter.
33:05Her internet lover was a man named Sam, and the two dated for six months,
33:10during which they exchanged steamy messages and professed their love for each other.
33:15What is the motivation? Why does she do this?
33:20You know, I mean, is she just evil?
33:24However, Brown immediately called off the relationship when it was revealed that she was actually being catfished
33:30by a woman named Jackie Overton.
33:32Brown's catfish subsequently leaked a ton of private conversations between the two.
33:37Overton ended up being arrested due to three outstanding warrants.
33:42Number 16. Jillian Michaels Supplements Scandals. The Biggest Loser.
33:46Working out with me for the first time can be rough on a person, and often they throw up and cry.
33:53In 2013, Biggest Loser viewers were shocked when it turned out that trainer Jillian Michaels
33:59gave caffeine supplements to her team members to boost their performance.
34:02If you don't have what it takes, I'm going to find out this week.
34:06These supplements were given without a doctor's permission, which resulted in a four-pound penalty.
34:12All results from the previous week were also declared invalid.
34:15However, Michaels defended herself, saying that her team didn't have an unfair advantage.
34:21The only regret she has over the incident is that her professional opinion ultimately hurt her team members.
34:28Michaels also believed that the judges were looking to punish her team in order to bring back popular contestant Ruben Stuttered.
34:35So was it a ploy or a doping scandal?
34:37It's good to be back.
34:38Number 15. Jeffrey Pashel's Past. 90 Day Fiance.
34:4290 Day Fiance fans were not impressed when they discovered Jeffrey Pashel's dark persona.
34:50He may seem sweet, but the truth was Pashel was arrested in 2019 for kidnapping and domestic assault on his former fiancé.
34:59Viewers urged TLC to axe him, and the network reportedly refused to let him come back for the reunion episode.
35:05In his Instagram post, Pashel defended himself, saying it's his past, his life, and his choice.
35:13He added that he can never go back, and wouldn't want to have it any different way.
35:17The past couple of years have been extremely, extremely hard.
35:20However, we're pretty sure he was singing a different tune when he was convicted of the crime in October 2021,
35:26and subsequently sentenced to 18 years in prison.
35:30Number 14. Phil Robertson's Homophobic Remarks. Duck Dynasty.
35:35Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson came under fire after a controversial GQ interview.
35:41He was quick to point out that he believes a relationship between same-sex people is sinful.
35:46His son Alan defended his views, and went as far as comparing his dad to John the Baptist.
35:52He added that the public outcry hasn't changed who they are as a family.
35:56A&E decided to call off the initial suspension of Duck Dynasty, and cited that the family apologized for the statements.
36:04Number 13. Kim and Kris's Marriage and Split. Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
36:10All eyes were on this Kardashian sister when she married basketball player Kris Humphries on August 20th, 2011.
36:17Only 72 days later, Kim caused a whole new media frenzy when she filed for divorce.
36:23What followed was a high-profile split perfect for the tabloids,
36:28with Humphries asking for an annulment on the basis of fraud rather than a divorce.
36:33Some news outlets even accused Kardashian of using the marriage as a publicity stunt.
36:38After a long and public legal battle, Kim and Kris finalized their divorce in June 2013.
36:44Number 12. Corey Clark and Paula Abdul. American Idol.
36:48Give me the big boy and free my soul.
36:51I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away.
36:56This hit singing competition has had a fair amount of drama over the years.
37:00Like any good reality show, but a contestant having an affair with a judge is something else entirely.
37:07The show's second season had an elimination bombshell.
37:10Corey Clark was disqualified after making it to the top nine.
37:14Reason?
37:15Well, officially, it was due to Clark's failure to disclose an arrest record.
37:20But it also may reportedly have had to do with his shocking relationship with Paula Abdul.
37:25It's really refreshing.
37:27I've said it before, your voice is really refreshing,
37:29especially when you go up in your upper register.
37:31Although Abdul never confirmed the relationship,
37:33Clark became very open about his experiences over the years,
37:37and even ended up suing E! Television Network for an allegedly unfair portrayal of his character.
37:43Did you have a sexual relationship with her?
37:46Yes, ma'am, we did.
37:47Number 11.
37:48Alleged misconduct on set.
37:50Bachelor in Paradise.
37:52Things frequently get messy on the set of any Bachelor show.
37:55It's par for the course.
37:56But the fourth season of Bachelor in Paradise threatened to get a little too real.
38:00Production halted when reports of severe intoxication and intimate misconduct
38:05were leveled against contestant DeMario Jackson.
38:07Millions of viewers tuned in last week witnessing the jaw-dropping moments
38:11after the show was shut down amid sexual misconduct allegations
38:14surrounding Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson.
38:17Both of the contestants involved, Jackson and Corinne Olympios,
38:20were removed from the season, which continued to film.
38:24Though the details of the incident remain vague,
38:26an investigation concluded that no misconduct actually occurred.
38:30Rumors swirled, inviting criticism and speculation
38:33that affected both contestants for months after the news broke.
38:36Yeah, I actually told him last night, I was like,
38:38you ran to the media, I'm so mad at you.
38:41And he was like, no, I didn't.
38:43Like, I only went to the media after your statement came out.
38:46I was upset that we couldn't have just handled it privately.
38:49Number 10.
38:49The Pretty Woman Costume.
38:51Toddlers and Tiaras.
38:53In season four of this often criticized TLC series,
38:57three-year-old Paisley was dressed as Julia Roberts' character,
39:00Vivian Ward, from Pretty Woman.
39:02Even in an industry frequently accused of sexualizing girls,
39:05this was controversial, prompting other pageant moms
39:08to accuse Paisley's mother, Wendy Dickey, of going too far.
39:12They dressed Paisley up like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.
39:15In her defense, Dickey stated that she thought it would be funny
39:19rather than provocative.
39:20Despite the backlash, this pageant princess, now a teenager,
39:24has moved on to small roles in TV and movies.
39:28In a series rife with controversy,
39:30this remains one of the most talked about moments.
39:33Number 9.
39:34Teresa and Joe Go to Prison.
39:36The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
39:39The Real Housewives franchise is all about the drama.
39:42Just ask Kenya and Portia.
39:44While Portia was arrested and released for assault,
39:47Jersey housewife Teresa Giudice wasn't so lucky.
39:50In March 2014, Teresa and her husband Joe pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges.
39:55The Judices allegedly submitted false and fraudulent mortgage
39:59and other loan applications from 2001 to 2008.
40:03That October, Teresa was sentenced to 15 months in jail,
40:07while Joe was sentenced to 41 months.
40:10After 11 months in prison, Teresa was released in December 2015.
40:14After being released in 2019,
40:17Joe returned to his native Italy rather than await a deportation decision.
40:21As this reality couple proves,
40:24all that glitters is not gold.
40:26You do grow and you learn from your experiences
40:29and that's obviously what happened to me.
40:32Number 8.
40:33Abby Lee Miller Goes to Jail.
40:35Dance Moms.
40:36Get your finger out of my face!
40:40Abby Lee Miller was known for her brutal treatment on Dance Moms.
40:44She deserves nothing!
40:46But no one expected she'd end up in actual prison.
40:50And no, it wasn't for screaming at kids or fighting with moms.
40:54Miller allegedly had employees sneak more than $120,000
40:58after a trip to Australia.
41:01She was also charged with bankruptcy fraud.
41:04It turned out she was concealing more than $700,000 from the proceedings.
41:09She ended up serving 8 months in prison
41:11and continued to film Dance Moms after she was released.
41:14In Miller's words,
41:16her incarceration only made her tougher.
41:19I thought she was coming out of jail nicer.
41:20But we're talking about Abby Lee Miller.
41:22Number 7.
41:23Mama June's New Boyfriend.
41:25Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.
41:27Not so long ago,
41:28Honey Boo Boo and her family were TLC staples.
41:33Mama!
41:34All that came to an end in 2014, however,
41:38when Mama June reportedly started dating Mark McDaniel.
41:42McDaniel is a convicted criminal.
41:44Even worse,
41:45it came to light that one of his victims was Honey Boo Boo's older sister, Anna.
41:49I finally realized, you know, hey, it's getting way too far.
41:53Stuff's starting to hurt.
41:54You know, teachers are realizing, you know, something's wrong with Anna.
41:57Unsurprisingly, TLC axed the series.
42:00While no longer working with TLC,
42:02Mama June continues to live as a reality star,
42:05with her series Mama June Family Crisis airing on WeTV, an AMC Network's channel.
42:10I've seen a lot of changes in her.
42:13She, like, walks from the house naked and stuff.
42:16She's just like...
42:18Number 6.
42:19Brooks airs fakes cancer.
42:21The Real Housewives of Orange County.
42:23He has not shown me anything that says he has cancer.
42:26If you saw Season 10 of The Real Housewives of Orange County,
42:31you know the scandal that surrounded Brooks airs.
42:34Most of the season focused on his health, while others questioned his diagnosis.
42:38First few days are bad, huh?
42:41Well, four days are pretty brutal.
42:42However, airs stood by the fact that he had cancer and was receiving treatment.
42:47He even said that his castmates just want to fabricate drama.
42:51However, a few months down the line,
42:53E! News reported that he was actually lying.
42:55After the hospital he claimed he went to confirmed they never treated him.
43:00I'm sure she was exhausted with that, Melanie, and I can't say that I blame her.
43:05Knowing he was finally caught,
43:06airs eventually admitted that he was, in fact, lying about his diagnosis.
43:11Wow.
43:13Number 5.
43:13John and Kate's Divorce.
43:15John and Kate Plus 8.
43:16With twins and sextuplets, the Gosselins were reality royalty.
43:21But in 2009, their show and picture-perfect family fell apart.
43:27We haven't really known where we were going,
43:30but we've been dealing with this for a long time.
43:34Kate filed for divorce after 10 years of marriage,
43:37launching a bitter custody battle.
43:40Rumors of John cheating circulated, but were never confirmed.
43:43Did I ever think I would be in this situation, in this position?
43:47Absolutely not.
43:48Ever.
43:49In 2018, John was awarded custody of children Hannah and Colin,
43:53after Kate had enrolled the latter in an inpatient facility.
43:58John went on The Dr. Oz Show in 2019 to voice some of his struggles post-divorce.
44:03It got to a point where I couldn't defend myself because Kate's show continued.
44:07Clearly, the divorce hasn't been easy, especially on the children.
44:12Only time will tell if this famous family ever makes amends.
44:15This is so confusing than mine was.
44:17What are you doing?
44:20Number 4.
44:21Scandaval.
44:22Vanderpump Rules.
44:23Even people who had never seen Lisa Vanderpump's spinoff series
44:26seem to know exactly what Scandaval was.
44:28The whole fallout was caught by a camera crew,
44:31and the scandal that rocked Vanderpump Rules
44:33was the talk of the reality TV sphere for months.
44:36I don't know how it happened, it just, it happened.
44:40We became really good friends.
44:41Like, I was seeking something that I wasn't getting here.
44:44And that's selfish, that's really selfish.
44:46Selfish is the nicest word you could use.
44:49The breakdown of Tom Sandoval and Ariana Maddox's relationship
44:53after Sandoval's affair with co-star Raquel Levis went public
44:55was a real-life soap opera for the social media age.
44:59Everyone had an opinion.
45:00The scandal has yet to go away.
45:02If Tom Sandoval were sitting in front of you right now,
45:06what would you say to him?
45:11I curse the day you were born.
45:13Levis filed lawsuits against both Maddox and Sandoval
45:15nearly a year after it all went down.
45:18Number 3.
45:19Sherry Pye Disqualified.
45:21RuPaul's Drag Race.
45:22Season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race
45:24saw Willem Belli's mysterious disqualification.
45:26And while it may have set the standard for drag race controversy,
45:30there was something a lot darker to come.
45:31Season 12 was rocked by a scandal so damaging,
45:35the show had to be re-edited to all but remove one competitor.
45:38I hope you save room for dessert,
45:40because I brought pie.
45:42One of the season's finalists,
45:43Sherry Pye,
45:44was accused of inappropriate conduct by several men.
45:47Sherry Pye was subsequently edited down
45:49from the final cut of the episodes,
45:51which was a feat considering she made it to the top four.
45:54Though she was technically a finalist,
45:56Sherry was officially disqualified as the season began airing,
45:59and was left out of the show's virtual finale.
46:02It cast a dark shadow over a season that didn't need one,
46:05as it was the first to air during the COVID-19 pandemic.
46:08I don't want people to think that I don't take full responsibility
46:13for the pain that I've caused these people,
46:16especially these amazing relationships that I wish that I could fix.
46:22Number two,
46:23The Murder of Jasmine Fiore
46:25Real estate investor Ryan Jenkins reportedly placed third on this dating show,
46:31but only three episodes aired.
46:34The day before VH1 pulled the plug,
46:36Jenkins was charged with the murder of his wife, Jasmine Fiore.
46:39The model's body was found in a suitcase,
46:42and she could only be identified by the serial number on her breast implants.
46:47Jenkins, however, never lived to stand trial.
46:49On August 23rd, 2009,
46:52he was found after having taken his own life in a Canadian hotel.
46:56A tragic end to an all-too-real and horrific story.
47:00Before we continue,
47:02be sure to subscribe to our channel
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47:12make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
47:16Number one,
47:17The Josh Duggar Scandal
47:1919 Kids and Counting
47:21In 2015,
47:23the eldest Duggar son Josh was in the news
47:25after the Ashley Madison leak
47:27revealed he was paying for the controversial service.
47:30Duggar released a statement
47:31admitting to being unfaithful to his wife
47:34and having a substance use disorder.
47:36However,
47:37it doesn't stop there.
47:38Way back in 2002,
47:40a 33-page police report
47:42described Duggar behaving inappropriately with minors
47:45while they were asleep in the Duggar family home.
47:48In 2003,
47:50two more incidents were reported.
47:52And in 2019,
47:53the police raided his business
47:55and discovered an office
47:56where he searched the dark web
47:58for illegal images and videos.
48:00He was sent to prison in 2021
48:02and could face upwards of 20 years.
48:06You know,
48:06I didn't know what to do.
48:07I knew we needed help.
48:09And I was just praying that
48:10God would give the help
48:12and the wisdom that we needed
48:13to know how to take the next step.
48:15What moments did we miss?
48:17Tell us in the comments.