The Dark Side of Reality TV
“Reality” TV shows are becoming commonplace in our society. And based on show ratings, it’s apparent that the general public has an insatiable interest in this growing trend in TV programming.
According to a recent article published on Truth.net, more people watched “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars” in the past two weeks than voted in the Presidential election in 2008, one of the most definitive elections so far in our lifetime. The article goes on to say, “the statistics surrounding reality TV suggest that we have checked out from reality and what really is.”
And here is a disturbing look at “what really is”: There have been more than 11 instances of former reality TV show contendors who have died by suicide. What’s more… their deaths have been directly linked to the emotional trauma resulting from their reality TV ventures.
Larry King tackles the issue in this shocking and informative segment:
I have included a few additional news stories about reality TV show suicides. The first, titled “Dangers of Reality Television,” examines the heart-breaking truth regarding what happened to these contestants after the shows aired:
Dangers of Reality Television
Psychologists speak about Reality TV show emotional trauma in this Wrap.com feature.
And this article profiles a case in which a young mother took her own life after a terrible encounter on the Nancy Grace show. Prior to appearing in court, the show’s creator/ host pleaded to silence cameras in the courtroom. Fortunately, the judge did not comply: CNN article
I should also mention that uncovering this information was not easy. Stories like those listed above very rarely make national headlines, and if they do, it’s for a very short period of time. After all, news about emotional trauma and suicides directly linked to reality TV would not promote a positive image for these ever-so-popular, revenue-generating shows. Could the media have anything to do with this highly newsworthy information being omitted from the general public? I’ll let you be the judge of that. I should also mention that Reality TV show contestants are required to sign iron-clad confidentiality agreements, which prevent them from telling their sides of the story.
I am very interested to hear your thoughts…
2 Comments
Picks Over Peas
Abby, Thanks so much for compiling this information. I had no idea there had been any suicides with reality TV participants, much less a trend as these articles/interviews suggest. And I'm sure it is in the media's best interest to keep all this info hush-hush. I appreciate that you are bringing this all to light. I don't watch TV and have always wondered what drives people to participate in or watch reality TV shows and now all this information makes me even more curious about that as well. Kelleen
Rhett Aultman
As an amateur video (and now television) producer, i can absolutely vouch for this– the camera is a machine that generates lies. That's just what it's engineered to do. I keep a straw poll of this. Every other amateur producer, and even the pros, I know…they all agree with that statement.
Therefore, no part of this comes as a surprise to me. When you enter the world of television, you enter unreality, and because you are in the company of people who know that it is a world of lies, you are in a world for which you are not emotionally prepared.