These Reality TV Shows That Are Completely Fake

Fake Reality

Reality TV shows are loved all around the world. They are known for being captivating with all of their drama, and it’s true, they are extremely entertaining!

But their name can be deceiving. The truth is, reality TV isn’t all that realistic. Let’s look at a few well-known reality shows that have a lot more secrets than you think.

Love Island

The thought of gorgeous singles being tossed on a tropical island seems like television gold — and it is, in terms of viewing.

But sadly, there is not a lot of truth about this show. Even the arguments are scripted! The producers film several takes and choose the one that feels the most authentic.

The Apprentice

It comes as no surprise that this show is a fraud.

The contestants were not always people in business and they would always be aware of the fact that they were going to get fired before it happened. The show also did not offer any real prizes, just bragging rights. Ridiculous!

Cupcake Wars

Certain aspects of this show might be true, but there are still some that weren’t quite as real.

The contestants knew what the surprise ingredients were beforehand so that they were able to prepare appropriate recipes! Knowing that takes away from this show.

Fixer Upper

There are a lot of surprising disclosures in this one. First, like with most house programs, the homebuyers have already bought the property before taping, thus they don’t really choose between the three houses.

People have to buy the items which they would like to keep, as the decor provided by Gaines is not included. Rumors are also circulating that Chip does not work outside of the cameras…

Say Yes To The Dress

First, the shop is much smaller than the cameras make it appear. Second, producers will vet the on-camera brides beforehand as well as feed the outspoken members of the bride’s entourage lines that will make the visit more dramatic.

The brides in the background that are not on camera only have 30-minute appointments then they have to leave – which is about enough time to try on one dress, maybe two.

Jersey Shore

Despite the stars of the show being friends in real life, locals have witnessed what happens behind the scenes and shared the details with the world.

Almost everything in this show is preplanned. One witness claimed that they saw the cast rehearse a walkabout! Even their conversations and expressions are rehearsed beforehand.

Storage Wars

Don’t be fooled! This one is just as fake as the rest on this list.

When David Hester was sacked from the show, he exposed it. He stated that everything in the lockers was fabricated. Producers even coordinated the auctions and interviews. The buyers don’t stand to gain or lose anything besides being on camera.

Ghost Hunters

It does not matter whether a person believes in the existence of ghosts or not, it’s just that this specific show is not as authentic as you would like to believe.

During a candid interview, a former case manager of the show exposed the show and stated that the events on the show were bogus.

The Voice

There have been numerous accounts revealing the truth of The Voice,

Each contestant on the show is cast long beforehand, and their type of music and songs are predetermined by the producers. The contestants also rarely get time with their judge! It is also said that voting in the show is a waste of time as it does not do anything.

Cake Boss

Apparently, Buddy Valastro is not as the cameras portray him! It is also said that real business is taken care of by the regular staff, not the staff that’s on TV…

If you thought that was bad, wait until you find out that a portion of the weddings they make cakes for isn’t even real. Depressing, isn’t it?

Project Runway

We wanted to believe this one was real.

However, previous contestants have told the world that the judging isn’t authentic – and therefore not fair at all. The producers tweak the show (and the contestants) to make everything as dramatic and sensationalized as possible.

Undercover Boss

People love the idea of a boss going undercover to really see how their business works.

But UCB is all shine and zero substance. Everything is scripted. Even the promises the bosses make (like cars or raises for their unfortunate workers) are not kept.

Duck Dynasty

The Louisiana family that made “duck call” tools quickly turned into a major hit – mostly from the eclectic personalities of the family members.

But staff have said that all dramatic moments are created by producers. Even the BEEPs that are thrown in are often covering benign language and not any profanity.

South Beach Tow

Viewers love the shenanigans of this show.

But pulling doors off of cars, or falling off a parking structure to emerge unhurt and nab a violator moments later? It’s clearly fake.

Hardcore Pawn

Hardcore Pawn focuses on the Gold family pawn business in Detroit. The show features an array of strange characters who come into the store on a daily basis. The arguments that ensue often seem unbelievable… and that’s because they are.   

A few people from the show have confessed that their “fights” with family members are staged – which makes sense when you notice that Les, Seth, and Ashley seem to be yelled at by a random customer on every episode.

The Jerry Springer Show

Well, who can really be surprised by this one? The Jerry Springer Show has been an outrageous TV mainstay for so many years – known for its outlandish guests and outspoken host.

From the wacky guests, insane storylines, the producers who egg everyone on, to the bloodthirsty crowd, nothing you see on this show is entirely truthful. 

Long Island Medium

Although Theresa Caputo has made a decent living by using her otherworldly skills to connect people with their late loved ones, things are not as they seem.

Caputo has been in the spotlight for more than her strange talents – she’s also been at the center of many scandals. It’s been said Caputo hasn’t gotten information about the clients and audience members in her show by supernatural means – rather, the information has been gleaned from questionnaires, background checks, and social media.

Naked And Afraid

Naked And Afraid is a notorious show in which the participants are transported to an exotic location, stripped, and made to live off the land. 

But a few former participants have confessed that the show isn’t everything it claims to be. Apparently, the show is heavily produced, and the contestants are provided with amenities off-camera.

Basketball Wives

This show follows famous women married to celebrity basketball players. However, a few previous participants in the show have confessed that the entire thing is scripted and staged. 

Tanya Young, a former participant, backs this claim up, saying that the producers pitted the women against each other to make the show more dramatic.

The Hills

Although this show had everything the audience craved – drama, backstabbing, teenage angst, and more – it’s actually highly scripted and staged. 

Spencer Pratt once said that he and Heidi Montag had to shoot the scene of her finding out she was “pregnant” more than fifteen times. 

Last Comic Standing

Last Comic Standing’s premise was to find untapped comedic talent and give the comedians exposure or a cash prize for appearing on the show. However, what the judges and contestants didn’t know was that the producers contributed to the vote.

The show is known for angry reactions from the judges when they found out who won and the producers editing good performances to make them look bad.

Breaking Amish

Unfortunately, Breaking Amish wasn’t everything it seemed to be – the show’s whole premise was actually based on a lie.

Jezebel said that the official documents for the Amish participants who were breaking away from their community for the “first time” showed that they had actually left the Amish community years before the show.

Britain’s Got Talent

Britain’s Got Talent is a mega talent show that showcases everything from magicians to dancers. Nevertheless, one small dog almost destroyed the show.

In 2015, the dog act called “Jules and Matisse” won the competition, but it had been rigged. The cat was out of the bag when viewers noticed that the producers had swapped a similar-looking dog for the showrunner because the real pup was too scared to do high-wire stunts.

Restaurant Stakeout

In this show, Restaurant Stakeout’s Willie Degel installs hidden cameras in restaurants that aren’t making a profit in order to see where the problems are. 

The show’s drama relies on catching employees slacking off or treating customers badly so Degel can confront them in a dramatic fashion. However, one restaurant owner who participated admits the show is totally fake.