It's not reality TV without scandal. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at explosive scandals that rocked the reality TV genre.
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00:00 "It has come to my attention that you have broken the rules."
00:04 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're looking at
00:06 explosive scandals that rocked the reality TV genre.
00:10 "I really did not want to hurt you."
00:11 "You didn't want to hurt me, but then you continue to do something repeatedly
00:14 over and over and over and over and over."
00:17 For this list, we're looking at controversies that happened on or off screen.
00:21 #30. Erika Jayne Embezzlement Scandal - The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
00:27 In November 2020, singer and Beverly Hills housewife Erika Jayne announced that she
00:31 and her husband Tom Girardi were separating. But the real bombshell dropped the next month.
00:36 Allegations arose that the divorcing couple embezzled from a charity fund
00:40 set up to support people affected by a 2018 plane crash.
00:43 "The victims, if you know our names, um, do you know anything about us?"
00:50 "Not really, to be perfectly honest."
00:53 However, the legal charges, moral implications, and ensuing legal battle became a main plot point
00:59 on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which saw the housewives taking sides.
01:03 In 2020, Jayne was dismissed from the embezzlement lawsuit
01:07 and scored a major win in court against fraud charges.
01:11 The case was also the subject of two Hulu documentaries.
01:14 "The lawsuit against her in Illinois dismissed. The reality star appearing to claim victory on
01:20 Instagram, thanking her supporters, writing, 'Thank you to my friends that know me. It's a marathon.'"
01:26 Number 29. Frenchie Davis' Intimate Photos - American Idol
01:30 Coming off a juggernaut of a first season,
01:33 this singing competition was one of the most popular shows in America. On American Idol,
01:38 hopeful pop star's dreams came true with the simple phrase, "You're going to Hollywood."
01:42 Well, Hollywood was the end of the story for season two contestant Frenchie Davis.
01:46 "Uh, Hollywood, yes. Definitely."
01:49 "Amazing from the first note to the very last. Brilliant. Hollywood."
01:54 "See you in Hollywood."
01:56 She disclosed that she had taken revealing pictures a few years before,
02:00 but the website they were featured on was defunct. The producers waited several months
02:04 to disqualify her mid-season. "They knowingly allowed me to advance in the competition
02:09 in two weeks before I was to perform."
02:13 Given the program's popularity at the time, Davis' talent was immediately missed.
02:18 She would later appear on The Voice, where she made it to the semi-final round.
02:22 Number 28. Keith Michael's Disqualification - Project Runway
02:33 Bravo's fashion design competition was just beginning to gain a following in its third season,
02:37 when contestant Keith Michael was suddenly disqualified. The brash designer was accused
02:42 of having a pattern book in his hotel room, which was explicitly against the rules.
02:47 Word spread among the designers very quickly. After being confronted by his fellow competitors,
02:52 Michael left the hotel, and mentor Tim Gunn stepped in to confirm he had been disqualified.
02:57 "We have very clear and concise rules for our designers on Project Runway."
03:02 "We're gonna have to ask you to leave."
03:05 This, plus his leaving the production site to use the internet were cited as the reason.
03:09 Michael denied any wrongdoing, and even denied the rule was made clear to him.
03:14 Number 27. Dog Uses a Racial Slur - Dog the Bounty Hunter
03:19 For eight seasons, viewers watched Dwayne Chapman hunt down fleeing fugitives from the law.
03:24 Because of the potential for dangerous situations, the show had many close calls
03:28 and scary moments over the years. However, it was Dwayne's mouth that got him in trouble.
03:34 "The accusations are serious and scathing. Dog's daughter claiming he is racist,
03:39 homophobic, and was unfaithful to her late mother Beth."
03:43 In 2007, the National Enquirer leaked a tape featuring Chapman repeatedly using a racial
03:48 slur to describe his son's girlfriend. Chapman, whose son leaked the conversation, faced a media
03:54 firestorm as a result. Dog the Bounty Hunter was put on hiatus in the middle of its fourth season.
03:59 "I'm a good man. I would have never done that."
04:02 However, the program returned the next year, and continued for several more seasons.
04:08 Number 26. Amber Portwood's Arrests - Teen Mom
04:11 MTV viewers followed this original 16 and pregnant cast member from her teen pregnancy
04:16 to motherhood. The show highlighted her tempestuous relationship with her child's
04:20 father Gary Shirley. In 2010, fans were shocked to watch her physically assault Shirley on camera.
04:26 "The case against Amber Portwood now goes to the district attorney. If convicted,
04:30 she faces up to three years in jail and $10,000 in fines."
04:35 An argument over custody became a full-on verbal and physical assault,
04:39 with Portwood slapping and punching her ex right in front of the cameras.
04:43 MTV's decision to air the event was criticized and led to her arrest. It would be the first
04:49 in a long line of legal troubles for Portwood. Two years later, she dropped out of a rehab program
04:54 addressing substance use issues, and opted instead for a five-year prison sentence.
04:59 "The whole two and a half months I had been in rehab, every week that I went to court, I always
05:03 went, you know, alone or like my mom would come. And this was the first time that Gary actually
05:07 went with me, because I knew I was opting out that day. I knew I was going to prison."
05:11 25. Portia Williams Attacks Kenya Moore - The Real Housewives of Atlanta
05:17 Many Real Housewives fights threaten to come to blows. Mud has been flung, tables have been thrown,
05:23 and wine glasses have been tossed over the years. The season six reunion of The Real Housewives of
05:28 Atlanta brought things to a whole new level. A season-long feud between Kenya Moore and Portia
05:41 Williams erupted as the two traded barbs, and Williams stood up and dragged Moore across the
05:46 set by her hair. In the aftermath, Williams was arrested. Though she was demoted to a recurring
05:52 role in the next season, Williams wouldn't be fired. She and Moore would both retain regular
05:58 roles on the cast for many of the future seasons. 24. Russell Armstrong's Death - The Real
06:16 Housewives of Beverly Hills Taylor Armstrong's story of abuse at her husband's hand was about
06:30 as real as The Real Housewives had gotten up to that point. Season two of Bravo's latest Real
06:35 Housewives franchise was already shot and edited when Armstrong's husband Russell took his own life.
06:40 The network had a decision to make. The decision to re-edit and air the season anyway was criticized
06:46 and praised in different corners. Viewers weren't sure what the season would show of their marital
06:51 issues, but the show didn't shy away from Taylor's experience much at all. Scenes of her co-stars
07:06 confronting her about the abuse made it into the final edit. Whether it was ultimately exploitative
07:11 or illuminating depends on who you ask. 23. Rachel Kirkconnell's Racist Past - The Bachelor
07:20 When the 25th season of the long-running dating show premiered in 2021, Matt James made history
07:26 as the very first black bachelor. He ended the season by choosing 24-year-old Rachel Kirkconnell
07:31 as his partner. Then, the scandal erupted. A TikTok user's racist allegation led to an
07:44 unearthing of her past, which included the winner sharing right-wing conspiracy theories.
07:49 But the kicker was her participating in a college party with an Old South theme.
08:00 The fact that she had been chosen by the series' first black bachelor made the whole situation all
08:05 the more volatile. Even longtime host Chris Harrison left the show after defending Kirkconnell
08:10 in an interview. 22. Jen Shah's Arrest - The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
08:22 The snowflake-holding cast of Bravo's Utah-based franchise was caught up in an avalanche of drama
08:27 when a co-star flaked out just before they were set to go on vacation. Jen Shah fled the scene
08:32 mere minutes before the shoot was crawling with cops. She was then charged for her involvement
08:48 in a wire fraud scheme. Given her villainous nature on the show, Shah was always a magnet
08:53 for drama. But this was more than anyone expected. She would later be convicted and sentenced to
08:58 prison for her crimes. She's not the first or last Real Housewife to get in trouble with the law.
09:03 But the fact that so much of the drama played out on screen makes this one a reality scandal
09:07 to remember. 21. Anjali Disqualified
09:23 - America's Next Top Model Tyra Banks' modeling competition has had its fair share of unfortunate,
09:28 offensive, and downright cruel moments. But its All-Stars edition was clouded by controversy
09:34 when competitor Anjali Preston was disqualified for unspecified reasons in the finale episode.
09:49 The aired finale saw Lisa D'Amato being named the winner. Preston would later come forward
09:54 with the truth. Banks had originally awarded Preston the title in the 17th season,
09:58 only to take it away once producers learned Preston had worked as an escort.
10:03 This only came out when the contestants sued Banks, the producers, and the network.
10:15 Her lawsuit didn't go far, but it did add to contemporary reappraisals of the show's
10:20 harsh treatment of its rotating cast of young, impressionable, aspiring models.
10:24 20. Tristan Thompson Cheats on Khloe Kardashian - Keeping Up With The Kardashians
10:30 There's no good time to find out your boyfriend is cheating on you, but days before having his
10:34 child is probably one of the worst times. The entire Kardashian family was on camera when
10:40 news broke that Khloe's boyfriend, Cleveland Cavaliers player Tristan Thompson, had been
10:44 spotted kissing another woman in public. First reported in April 2018, the scandal rocked the
10:54 family and would become a main storyline on the show's 15th season. And then again in its 16th
11:00 season, because Kardashian and Thompson's relationship would take yet another hit when
11:03 similar revelations came out the next year. Good thing the Kardashians are no strangers to a media
11:09 frenzy. 19. Rosalind's Affair With A Crew Member - The Bachelor
11:24 This dating show has seen more than its fair share of controversial contestants,
11:34 but none quite like Rosalind Papa. The single mom appeared on Bachelor Jake Pavelka's season
11:40 and was thought to be a frontrunner. But only two episodes in, host Chris Harrison sent her
11:46 packing. The reason? She allegedly had an off-camera affair with a crew member.
11:51 19. The Bachelor - The Bachelor
12:07 The staffer was fired, and while Rosalind tried to reason with Harrison,
12:11 the host simply wasn't having it.
12:14 Though the other women reported seeing inappropriate behavior, Rosalind still denies
12:19 they were anything more than friends. But, as we all know, there's his side, her side, and the truth.
12:25 18. Farrah Abraham's Tape - Teen Mom
12:31 Farrah Abraham's tape, Teen Mom, was a huge hit. It was the first time in a decade that
12:36 she had a role in a TV show. In fact, she was the first woman to be cast in a TV show.
12:41 In 2013, the teen mom star circulated on the internet in a less than wholesome way.
12:47 Rumors had it that she filmed a raunchy tape with compromising positions.
12:52 It was later revealed that the adult film star who was involved with Abraham was actually hired
12:57 by her to film the video. Essentially, she allegedly had a relationship with the actor,
13:03 who was also hired by her to film the video. Essentially, she allegedly planned the leak
13:07 herself in order to appeal to the adult film industry.
13:10 Rumors also surfaced that Abraham had tried to leak a homemade tape prior.
13:16 Adult film companies passed on the opportunity to distribute it, but she was purportedly later
13:21 offered a chance to make that tape with Vivid Entertainment.
13:30 MTV eventually fired her from Teen Mom OG over the ordeal.
13:35 Number 17. Catfishing - Sister Wives
13:38 Sister Wives star Mary Brown divorced her husband and found herself in a new romance with a complete
13:46 stranger she met on Twitter. Her internet lover was a man named Sam, and the two dated for six
13:52 months, during which they exchanged steamy messages and professed their love for each other.
13:57 However, Brown immediately called off the relationship when it was revealed that she
14:11 was actually being catfished by a woman named Jackie Overton. Brown's catfish subsequently
14:16 leaked a ton of private conversations between the two. Overton ended up being arrested due to three
14:23 outstanding warrants.
14:24 Number 16. Jillian Michaels Supplement Scandals - The Biggest Loser
14:29 In 2013, Biggest Loser viewers were shocked when it turned out that trainer Jillian Michaels gave
14:42 caffeine supplements to her team members to boost their performance. These supplements were given
14:50 without a doctor's permission, which resulted in a four-pound penalty. All results from the
14:56 previous week were also declared invalid. However, Michaels defended herself, saying that her team
15:02 didn't have an unfair advantage. The only regret she has over the incident is that her professional
15:08 opinion ultimately hurt her team members. Michaels also believed that the judges were looking to
15:13 punish her team in order to bring back popular contestant Ruben Studdard. So was it a ploy or
15:19 a doping scandal? Number 15. Jeffrey Paschal's Past - 90 Day Fiancé
15:24 90 Day Fiancé fans were not impressed when they discovered Jeffrey Paschal's dark persona.
15:33 He may seem sweet, but the truth was Paschal was arrested in 2019 for kidnapping and domestic
15:39 assault on his former fiancé. Viewers urged TLC to axe him, and the network reportedly refused to
15:46 let him come back for the reunion episode. In his Instagram post, Paschal defended himself,
15:51 saying it's his past, his life, and his choice. He added that he can never go back, and wouldn't
15:58 want to have it any different way. However, we're pretty sure he was singing a different tune when
16:06 he was convicted of the crime in October 2021 and subsequently sentenced to 18 years in prison.
16:13 Number 14. Phil Robertson's Homophobic Remarks - Duck Dynasty
16:18 Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson came under fire after a controversial GQ interview.
16:23 He was quick to point out that he believes a relationship between same-sex people is sinful.
16:28 His son Alan defended his views, and went as far as comparing his dad to John the Baptist.
16:35 He added that the public outcry hasn't changed who they are as a family.
16:39 A&E decided to call off the initial suspension of Duck Dynasty,
16:43 and cited that the family apologized for the statements.
16:46 Number 13. Kim and Chris' Marriage and Split - Keeping Up With The Kardashians
16:52 All eyes were on this Kardashian sister when she married basketball player Chris Humphries
16:57 on August 20, 2011. Only 72 days later, Kim caused a whole new media frenzy when she filed
17:04 for divorce. What followed was a high-profile split perfect for the tabloids, with Humphries
17:11 asking for an annulment on the basis of fraud rather than a divorce. Some news outlets even
17:17 accused Kardashian of using the marriage as a publicity stunt. After a long and public legal
17:22 battle, Kim and Chris finalized their divorce in June 2013.
17:27 Number 12. Corey Clark and Paula Abdul - American Idol
17:31 This hit singing competition has had a fair amount of drama over the years,
17:43 like any good reality show, but a contestant having an affair with a judge is something else
17:48 entirely. The show's second season had an elimination bombshell - Corey Clark was disqualified
17:55 after making it to the top nine. Reason? Well, officially, it was due to Clark's failure to
18:01 disclose an arrest record. But it also may reportedly have had to do with his shocking
18:06 relationship with Paula Abdul. Although Abdul never confirmed the relationship, Clark became
18:17 very open about his experiences over the years, and even ended up suing E! Television Network
18:22 for an allegedly unfair portrayal of his character.
18:25 Number 11. Alleged Misconduct on Set - Bachelor in Paradise
18:34 Things frequently get messy on the set of any Bachelor show - it's par for the course.
18:38 But the fourth season of Bachelor in Paradise threatened to get a little too real.
18:43 Production halted when reports of severe intoxication and intimate misconduct were
18:47 leveled against contestant Demario Jackson. Both of the contestants involved, Jackson and
19:02 Corinne Olympias, were removed from the season, which continued to film. Though the details of
19:07 the incident remain vague, an investigation concluded that no misconduct actually occurred.
19:12 Rumors swirled, inviting criticism and speculation that affected both contestants for months after
19:18 the news broke. Number 10. The Pretty Woman Costume - Toddlers and Tiaras
19:35 In season four of this often-criticized TLC series, three-year-old Paisley was dressed as Julia
19:41 Roberts' character Vivian Ward from Pretty Woman. Even in an industry frequently accused of
19:47 sexualizing girls, this was controversial, prompting other pageant moms to accuse Paisley's
19:52 mother Wendy Dickey of going too far. In her defense, Dickey stated that she thought it would
20:01 be funny rather than provocative. Despite the backlash, this pageant princess, now a teenager,
20:07 has moved on to small roles in TV and movies. In a series rife with controversy, this remains one of
20:14 the most talked-about moments. Number 9. Teresa and Joe Go to Prison - The Real Housewives of
20:20 New Jersey The Real Housewives franchise is all about the drama. Just ask Kenya and Portia. While
20:27 Portia was arrested and released for assault, Jersey housewife Teresa Giudice wasn't so lucky.
20:32 In March 2014, Teresa and her husband Joe pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges.
20:38 "The Giudices allegedly submitted false and fraudulent mortgage and other loan applications
20:43 from 2001 to 2008." That October, Teresa was sentenced to 15 months in jail, while Joe was
20:50 sentenced to 41 months. After 11 months in prison, Teresa was released in December 2015.
20:57 After being released in 2019, Joe returned to his native Italy rather than await a deportation
21:03 decision. As this reality couple proves, all that glitters is not gold. "You do grow and you learn
21:11 from your experiences and that's obviously what happened to me." Number 8. Abby Lee Miller Goes
21:17 to Jail - Dance Moms Abby Lee Miller was known for her brutal treatment on Dance Moms.
21:27 "She deserves nothing!" But no one expected she'd end up in actual prison. And no, it wasn't for
21:34 screaming at kids or fighting with moms. Miller allegedly had employees sneak more than $120,000
21:41 after a trip to Australia. She was also charged with bankruptcy fraud. It turned out she was
21:47 concealing more than $700,000 from the proceedings. She ended up serving 8 months in prison
21:54 and continued to film Dance Moms after she was released. In Miller's words,
21:58 her incarceration only made her tougher. "I thought she was coming out of jail nicer."
22:03 "But we're talking about Abby Lee Miller." Number 7. Mama June's New Boyfriend - Here Comes Honey
22:08 Boo Boo Not so long ago, Honey Boo Boo and her family were TLC staples. All that came to an end
22:19 in 2014, however, when Mama June reportedly started dating Mark McDaniel. McDaniel is a
22:25 convicted criminal. Even worse, it came to light that one of his victims was Honey Boo Boo's older
22:31 sister Anna. Unsurprisingly, TLC axed the series. While no longer working with TLC, Mama June
22:39 continues to live as a reality star, with her series Mama June from Not Too Hot airing on WeTV,
22:46 an AMC network's channel. Number 6. Brooks Ayers Fakes Cancer - The Real Housewives of Orange
23:00 County If you saw season 10 of The Real Housewives of Orange County, you know the scandal that
23:09 surrounded Brooks Ayers. Most of the season focused on his health, while others questioned
23:14 his diagnosis. However, Ayers stood by the fact that he had cancer and was receiving treatment.
23:24 He even said that his castmates just want to fabricate drama. However, a few months down
23:29 the line, E! News reported that he was actually lying, after the hospital he claimed he went to
23:35 confirmed they never treated him. Knowing he was finally caught,
23:44 Ayers eventually admitted that he was, in fact, lying about his diagnosis. Wow.
23:49 Number 5. Jon and Kate's Divorce - Jon and Kate +8 With twins and sextuplets, the Gosselins were
23:57 reality royalty. But in 2009, their show and picture-perfect family fell apart. Kate filed
24:12 for divorce after 10 years of marriage, launching a bitter custody battle. Rumors of Jon cheating
24:18 circulated, but were never confirmed. In 2018, Jon was awarded custody of children Hannah and Colin,
24:31 after Kate had enrolled the latter in an inpatient facility. Jon went on The Dr. Oz Show in 2019
24:38 to voice some of his struggles post-divorce. Clearly, the divorce hasn't been easy,
24:47 especially on the children. Only time will tell if this famous family ever makes amends.
24:52 Number 4. Scandal Ball - Vanderpump Rules Even people who had never seen Lisa Vanderpump's
25:03 spinoff series seemed to know exactly what Scandal Ball was. The whole fallout was caught
25:07 by a camera crew, and the scandal that rocked Vanderpump Rules was the talk of the reality
25:12 TV sphere for months. The breakdown of Tom Sandoval and Ariana Maddox's relationship
25:30 after Sandoval's affair with co-star Raquel Levis went public was a real-life soap opera
25:34 for the social media age. Everyone had an opinion. The scandal has yet to go away.
25:39 Levis filed lawsuits against both Maddox and Sandoval nearly a year after it all went down.
25:55 Number 3. Sherry Pye Disqualified - RuPaul's Drag Race
25:59 Season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race saw Willem Belay's mysterious disqualification.
26:04 And while it may have set the standard for drag race controversy, there was something a lot darker
26:08 to come. Season 12 was rocked by a scandal so damaging, the show had to be re-edited to all
26:14 but remove one competitor. One of the season's finalists, Sherry Pye, was accused of inappropriate
26:23 conduct by several men. Sherry Pye was subsequently edited down from the final cut of the episodes,
26:28 which was a feat considering she made it to the top four. It cast a dark shadow over a season that
26:34 didn't need one, as it was the first to air during the COVID-19 pandemic. Number 2.
26:53 The Murder of Jasmine Fiori - Megan Wants a Millionaire
26:57 Real estate investor Ryan Jenkins reportedly placed third on this dating show, but only three
27:02 episodes aired. The day before VH1 pulled the plug, Jenkins was charged with the murder of his wife,
27:08 Jasmine Fiori. The model's body was found in a suitcase, and she could only be identified by the
27:14 serial number on her breast implants. Jenkins, however, never lived to stand trial. On August
27:20 23, 2009, he was found after having taken his own life in a Canadian hotel. A tragic end to an all
27:28 too real and horrific story. Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the
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27:39 videos or all of them. If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch
27:43 on notifications. Number 1. The Josh Duggar Scandal - 19 Kids and Counting
27:51 In 2015, the eldest Duggar son Josh was in the news after the Ashley Madison leak revealed he
27:58 was paying for the controversial service. Duggar released a statement, admitting to being unfaithful
28:03 to his wife and having a substance use disorder. However, it doesn't stop there. Way back in 2002,
28:10 a 33-page police report described Duggar behaving inappropriately with minors while they were
28:16 asleep in the Duggar family home. In 2003, two more incidents were reported. And in 2019,
28:23 the police raided his business and discovered an office where he searched the dark web for
28:28 illegal images and videos. He was sent to prison in 2021 and could face upwards of 20 years.
28:36 What reality show shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments.
28:48 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,
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