Reality television is wild. While you may have met some of your favorite characters on reality TV, it has also brought along some of the craziest scandals. Many of these kooky people have embraced their persona, but others have tried to hide some of their more questionable actions from the public eye. In this day and age, with information at our fingertips, it is hard to keep secrets for very long. That said, these scandals have shocked fans and made headlines.
1. Teresa Giudice’s Fraudulent Lifestyle
Teresa Giudice is the queen of reality television. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star has recently taken to a new show, House of Villains. The famed reality TV villain attempted to keep her fraudulent activities undercover for years. Both Teresa and her husband Joe Giudice were charged with multiple counts of financial fraud. They were living a lavish lifestyle and it was eventually revealed that they couldn’t afford it without pulling the wool over someone’s eyes. Teresa actually spent some time behind bars as a result of their crimes. Her return to Real Housewives after serving her sentence was highly anticipated and controversial.
2. Kylie Jenner’s “Secret” Pregnancy
The Kardashian-Jenner clan is great for springing a pregnancy on fans from seemingly out of nowhere. Kylie Jenner’s pregnancy is the most famous for this. She never revealed she was pregnant. The reality TV star simply fell off the radar for a few months. When she returned, she had her baby girl, Stormi. Later, Kylie admitted that she wanted to step out of the spotlight and away from the constant scrutiny during her pregnancy.
3. Josh Duggar’s Hidden Dark Past
Josh Duggar from 19 Kids and Counting shocked the world when it came out that he molested several of his younger sisters and a family friend when he was a teenager. He shocked everyone again when it was revealed that he cheated on his wife using the Ashley Madison website. Then in April of 2021, he was arrested for possession of inappropriate photos of young children. The scandals surrounding Josh tarnished the once-wholesome image of the Duggar family.
4. Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag’s Fake Divorces
Many reality TV shows are known to stage some drama. One of the biggest schemes out there was Spencer Pratt and Heidi Motag’s fake divorces. The pair were featured on The Hills and they orchestrated a very public breakup in an attempt to boost media attention. They even went so far as to file for divorce, but it was later revealed that the whole thing was a publicity stunt. Ultimately, it led many people to start questioning the authenticity of “reality” TV.
5. Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino’s Tax Evasion
“The Situation” from Jersey Shore was living the high life until the IRS came along. It was discovered that Mike Sorrentino committed tax evasion. He failed to properly report his income while he was on the popular MTV show. The Jersey Shore star served eight months in prison after pleading guilty. He tried to keep the scandal under wraps, but it was impossible. However, he has since rebranded himself as a reformed man.
6. Luann de Lesseps’ Run-Ins with the Law
There is no shortage of scandal with the stars of Real Housewives. Luann de Lesseps of Real Housewives of New York City was arrested for disorderly intoxication, battery on an officer, and resisting arrest in 2017. These actions were a far cry from the persona she tried to play on the Bravo show. Although Luann tried to keep her arrest quiet, the news quickly leaked. She eventually apologized and went to rehab, but the whole ordeal is certainly one of the more memorable scandals from the Housewives franchise.
7. Mama June’s Controversial Life
Mama June Shannon is a controversial figure. At one point, she was pushing her daughter Alana Thompson to be on the show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and be in beauty pageants. However, there have been multiple scandals surrounding June. At one point, she was dating a man who had been convicted of molesting one of her daughters. Then, earlier this year, it was revealed that she’d been stealing from her daughter Alana while she was on television. It is known that June has also struggled with drug problems. Despite attempting to rebuild her public image, these scandals continue to plague her.
8. Tori Spelling’s Financial Woes
Tori Spelling is probably best known for her role in Beverly Hills, 90210. Later in her career, she also starred in the reality show Tori & Dean, which followed her and her husband Dean McDermott. Although Tori was brought up in a privileged home and has had a successful career, she has faced several public financial struggles. She and her now ex-husband Dean were accused of living beyond their means to live a lavish lifestyle on reality television. They attempted to hide their struggles from the public, but several creditors and lawsuits brought the issues to light. This scandal exposed the harsh realities of living beyond one’s means, even for reality stars.
9. Farrah Abraham’s Career Choices
Teen Mom is a controversial show all around and many of its alums have gone on to be arrested several times or do some questionable things for money. Farrah Abraham broke the internet when it was revealed that she had a career in the adult entertainment industry. While she initially tried to downplay her involvement, it was later revealed that she was an active participant in producing and selling the leaked tape. Eventually, this led her to be let go from the Teen Mom franchise. Her choices sparked debates about fame, exploitation, and the blurred lines between reality TV and personal boundaries.
Reality TV’s Hidden Scandals
Although reality television has the attention of many people, there is often a lot going on behind the scenes. It’s easy to forget that these stars have lives off-camera that people don’t see. While these stars attempted to keep their dirty laundry out of the spotlight, the truth was eventually revealed. When it comes down to it, fame comes with its own set of challenges and these stories give fans a peek behind the proverbial curtain.