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Inside the Biggest Reality TV Scandals From ‘The Kardashians,’ ‘The Bachelor’ and More
On unscripted television, anything can happen. Here are some incidents that got cast members in hot water.
‘The Golden Bachelor’
Everyone thought that retiree Gerry Turner was a sweetheart who was looking for love for the first time in years after losing his wife, high school sweetheart Toni, in 2017. Just one day before his finale aired, his ex – who used the name Carolyn – claimed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his story couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only did Gerry date Carolyn after his wife’s death, but he knew her before Toni passed. According to his ex, Gerry and Carolyn started dating just a month after Toni died, and stayed together for three years.
“When Carolyn and Gerry first started dating [in September 2017], my husband and I took them to an Iowa [Hawkeyes] football game,” Susan McCreary, a close friend of Carolyn’s, revealed of their early days together. “I thought, ‘This guy’s legit. This guy’s a really good guy for her.’”
She went on to say that she was “flabbergasted” upon hearing Gerry claim on the show that he hadn’t kissed anyone in six years, while Carolyn became bothered when hearing Gerry use same lines on The Golden Bachelor that he told her during their relationship.
‘Below Deck Down Under’
The ship’s captain and chief steward are being hailed as heroes after they broke down a door on the August 7 episode of the sailing show to save a crew member from sexual assault. Not only did a naked, drunk Luke Jones climb into his sleeping crewmate Margot Sisson’s bunk, that same episode, second steward Laura Bileskalne also got the ax after making repeated, unwanted advances toward Adam Korda. “Last night boundaries were crossed,” Captain Jason Chambers told a sobered-up Luke. “There was indecency.”
‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’
Two days before Khloé Kardashian gave birth to their first child, True, footage surfaced of Tristan Thompson kissing another woman. It later came out that he’d been unfaithful with at least five other women — even fathering a child! All this played out on not one but two reality series as Khloé continued to struggle in vain to save the relationship on The Kardashians. “No one understands that I’m not just a TV show,” the Revenge Body host said after the split. “Like, this is my life, and it, like, breaks my soul, and it’s happened so many times.”
‘Vanderpump Rules’
Scandoval! Fans were shocked — and producers scrambled to restart production — when it came to light that stars Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss had been carrying on an affair behind his live-in girlfriend Ariana Madix’s back. “I made mistakes, I was selfish and made reckless decisions that hurt somebody I love,” Tom later said. “No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly.” Too little, too late. After nine years, Ariana dumped him!
‘Big Brother’
Season 25 houseguest Luke Valentine wore out his welcome when he dropped a racial slur on the show’s live feed. “My reaction in the moment, being the only Black male in this house, I don’t know what to say,” contestant Jared Fields said after the incident. “Anything I do or say can come off aggressive.” He later told Luke, “That should have made you feel uncomfortable. Like, whoa, bro, what’d you just say.”
‘The Bachelor’
No rose for him! The dating show’s longtime host Chris Harrison was fired after he defended contestant Rachael Kirkconnell’s past racist actions — like attending an antebellum-themed party — in an interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay. Explaining that times have changed, Chris mused about the party, “Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018? Or is it a good look in 2021?” To which Lindsay, who is Black, replied, “It’s not a good look ever, because she’s celebrating the Old South. If I went to that party, what would I represent at that party?”
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