By now, we should all know that reality TV often has little to do with actual reality. That’s why it’s often considered trashy television. A lot of juicy moments are staged; people act surprised when they have known for a while what’s going to happen; and the audition to get on a famous show is often a long and daunting process. If you don’t believe it, there’s a Reddit thread that totally backs up these claims.
But despite all of this, many reality shows are still unbelievably addictive and incredibly entertaining to watch. Even (and maybe especially) when things go horribly wrong. Episodes of The Bachelor, Survivor, and The Biggest Loser look fairly enjoyable from afar, but contestants often face difficult experiences on set. Plus, the public scrutiny and desire to succeed leave devastating effects on the participants’ psyche.
From contestants being forced to film for long hours to people risking their lives to produce reality shows, these behind-the-scenes stories from reality TV are pretty grim. You won’t believe the tales.
Back in 2013, a season of Koh-Lanta, the French version of Survivor, was canceled after one of the contestants died on the initial day of filming. According to The Hollywood Reporter, 25-year-old contestant Gerald Babin suffered from fatal cardiac arrest. Babin had leaped from a boat, then competed in a challenge involving tug of war.
Shortly afterward, he developed painful arm cramps and required professional care. En route to a nearby medical facility, Babin experienced multiple episodes of cardiac arrest and passed away prior to arriving at the hospital.
But the horror story doesn’t end there. The doctor who was supervising the contestants killed himself following Babin’s death. Production of the show later resumed, and Koh-Lanta remained on the air.