Reality television has a long history of scandal and outrage. Photo / Getty
Reality television has a long history of scandal and outrage. Photo / Getty
Reality television took over our headlines last week as Natalia Kills, Willy Moon and a flatulent bachelorette hit the news. For some, it all became a bit too real.
But while New Zealand reeled from the reality check, elsewhere, reality television has been making headlines for years. So we decided to dig out some of the biggest reality TV scandals on record.
1. Megan Wants a Millionaire
Reality star Megan Hauserman
Rock of Love vixen Megan Hauserman became the star of Megan Wants a Millionaire - a show featuring 17 wealthy contestants all vying to make Megan their trophy wife. It came to light three episodes in that one contestant, Ryan Jenkins, was suspected of brutally killing his wife, model Jasmine Fiore. Jenkins was formally charged with murder, then on August 23, 2009, Jenkins was found dead of an apparent suicide. The next day, VH1 officially cancelled Megan Wants a Millionaire.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Taylor Armstrong. Photo / Getty
Taylor Armstrong from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills filed for divorce from husband, Russell Armstrong, and not long after found him hanged in his Los Angeles home. Pressures of appearing on a reality show - along with more than $1.5 million in debt - pushed the troubled businessman over the edge. "These couples join these shows, and end up spending all their money trying to sustain a lifestyle that's unrealistic and wasn't there prior to the show," Ronald Richards told ABCNews.com.
3. Real Housewives of New Jersey
Real Housewives of New Jersey stars Teresa and Joe Giudice. Photo / Getty
In July 2013, Real Housewives of New Jersey's Teresa and Joe Giudice were charged with conspiring to defraud lenders, illegally obtaining mortgages and other loans and hiding assets. They borrowed $5 million from banks from fraudulent documents. Teresa is currently facing 27 months in prison, while Joe is looking at 46 months in prison, plus the possibility of being deported back to Italy.
Famous trainer of The Biggest Loser Jillian Michaels was accused of cheating to advance her team's interests. Giving team members caffeine supplements without a doctor's permission resulted in a four-pound punishment for her team. "I stand by my opinion. A caffeine supplement is significantly healthier than unlimited amounts of coffee," Michaels said. "My only regret is that my team, they're the ones suffering the consequences of my professional opinion."
5. Girls of the Playboy Mansion
Holly Madison caused a scandal when she cheated on Hugh Hefner
Holly Madison starred alongside Hugh Hefner'' other two girlfriends - Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wikinson - in a reality TV show about life at the Playboy mansion. After two years of dating the Playboy magnate, Madison got tired of waiting for him to commit. She was caught having an affair with magician Criss Angel, ending her relationship with Hef.
6. American Idol
American Idol host Paula Abdul caused a scandal when it was revealed she had an affair with one of the contestants
Corey Clark was a second-season American Idol contestant booted from the show for failing to reveal a prior arrest. In 2005, Clark claimed he was expelled from the show for having an affair with judge Paula Abdul. He stated in an interview Abdul coached him on how to win and contends that the relationship turned sexual for about three months. Fox closed the case due to insufficient evidence.
The Lord of the Flies-inspired reality show took place in the New Mexico desert with 40 kids, ranging in age from 8-15, put on a ranch and told to fend for themselves for 40 days. Critics implored studio executives and local law enforcement officials to investigate the conditions the children were working in. The show debuted to average reviews and viewership and did not return for a second season, however, it will be forever remembered as one of the more bizarre experiments in reality TV.
8. The Bachelor USA
The Bachelor USA star Juan Pablo Galavis. Photo / Getty
Juan Pablo Galavis was cast as the star of The Bachelor and arguably became the most-hated star of the show so far. He gave out his last rose, but without a proposal and made derogatory remarks about the LGBT community. Winner Nikki Ferrell was hoping she was "the one" but, by the time the season was ending, Gavalis stated he was going to stop co-operating with the production team. "You go on thinking if there is the connection, you propose," he told People. "But I don't feel there's a need to propose to somebody if I don't feel 100 per cent. I didn't know Nikki. I want to know more, a lot more."
