@venusauras via Twitter
The 2001 Big Brother Incident
Big Brother, one of the most popular reality television/game shows of the late 20th and 21st century, built its concept on surveillance. Like its namesake, the character “Big Brother” in George Orwell’s futuristic dystopia 1984, the show keeps its contestants in constant surveillance; however, it is we, the viewers, who have become “Big Brother.”
laurellea via Memes
The show, in addition to weekly episodes, gives viewers the option to watch 24/7 live feeds of its contestants. There’s something to be said of the environment that the TV industry has set up if people opt for that kind of excessive screen time, a $750,000 cash prize, and their most vulnerable moments being shared with millions of random audience members, devaluing privacy completely.
One of Big Brother’s most terrifying incidents was in season two when one of the contestants, Justin, held a knife to another contestant, Krista. The two had somewhat of a budding “showmance” in the episodes prior. This moment, which resulted in Justin’s expulsion from the program, happened during an intimate moment between the two. Justin proceeds to murmur threatening phrases to Krista in a poor attempt to be dangerously playful, and in the post-show interview, fails to realize the error of his ways.
bluecjj via Reddit
Even in a show dedicated to 24/7 surveillance, some individuals don’t care to be on their best behavior. They simply can’t help themselves, or they’re hoping for an extra five minutes of screen time. The producers’ and casting managers’ failure to successfully vet contestants, whether that is an intentional choice or not, suggests that the safety of their contestants is only second to good ol’ juicy television. Where does that leave the viewers? Well, putting money in the television show’s pockets each time they pick up the remote.
Sammi and Ronnie’s Jersey Shore Relationship
The not-so-powerful power couple from the infamous Jersey Shore reality TV show is probably the best example of a reality TV production team being a harmful bystander. Unlike in Big Brother, where Justin is immediately expelled from the production, both Sammi Giancola and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro are left to their own devices and have a six-season-long toxic relationship where both parties partake in verbal and emotional maltreatment toward one another.
LexiLouu1 via Reddit
Their most notable fight resulted in Sammi leaving the show for a handful of episodes in season three. What started as a verbal argument quickly turned physical in that Ronnie proceeded to damage Sammi’s belongings, including her clothes, glasses, furniture, and more. The producers failed to intervene and left the other housemates to deal with the fallout. This is only one of many tiffs the ex-couple gets into during the show’s run, many of which push Sammi and Ronnie to their emotional breaking points. Jersey Shore’s producers push for gut-wrenching drama, fail to step in when their “actors” pose real threats to other “actors” on the production, and we, as the viewers, continue watching because we simply can’t help ourselves.
Walking away from a toxic relationship is difficult enough without bringing money, fame, and lack of privacy into the mix. The promise of money and fame, no matter the mental cost, influences actors to keep coming back to the root of their unhealed trauma, often creating more trauma in the process. There’s little in life that people want more than financial comfort and fame, and reality TV takes advantage of that innate desire tenfold.
Love Island USA Contestant: “Hurricane Huda”
There’s nothing sensational about a “crash out” on television—especially if the person crashing out is clearly in a state of mental trouble. Love Island USA season seven kicked off this past month and, needless to say, it’s been a major hit. Watching people fall in love, out of love, argue, make up, and everything in between is the blueprint of reality TV. The cast is riddled with good-looking contestants who are promised love, fame, and, if they win, fortune. You know what they say about business and pleasure…
One of this season’s contestants, Huda Mustafa, is under fire for her poor behavior toward other contestants staying in the Fijian villa, including the man she is romantically interested in, Jeremiah Brown. Love Island contestants’ main objective is to find love, withstand the odds of temptation surrounded by beautiful people, and make it to the end as the season’s power couple. Huda immediately begins to intimidate other contestants in the villa to ensure she keeps Jeremiah for herself, and vilifies anyone who shows remote interest in him, or anyone he chooses to talk to outside of their couple.
Episode 13 was a major turning point in the show, where Huda goes on a verbal tirade about multiple contestants and weaponizes her emotions to further her romantic agenda. Toxic behavior aside, it is clear that Huda is not cut out to be a contestant, given that the show’s entire MO is to test temptation, a test that most contestants fail. Save for the fact that there are cameras everywhere, on at all times, never allowing Huda a private moment to collect herself. These clips can be misrepresented if the editing team wanted to sell a certain narrative, all thanks to the absence of any time-telling gadgets like clocks and usable phones. This is not to say that Huda isn’t engaging in toxic behavior (and Jeremiah, for that matter), but production isn’t exactly doing her any favors by keeping her on the show despite the glaring warning signs of someone in mental distress.
In the following episode, it looks like Huda is going to be sent home. She no longer has someone to “couple up” with, which puts her on the chopping block to be voted out by the other contestants (most of whom have expressed their dissatisfaction with her). As if it were an act by Venus herself, another contestant “saves” her from being sent home. This begs the question: Is this a move by production to keep their dramatic star on the show in the name of “good” reality TV? It’s not unlike reality TV producers to make any decision necessary that ensures their ratings remain as high as possible. Huda and her mental struggles are their money-maker, so why would they let her leave? Huda’s desperation for either love, fame, fortune, or all three makes it impossible for her to choose to leave. This is the cyclical nature of reality TV, and why the genre has become increasingly problematic.
Where do we draw the line between real people and actors portraying a certain character? Reality television can’t all be real—it is a production at the end of the day—but who are we to know the difference between real and fake? We’re witnessing actual crises happen in real time and can’t help but tune in for the next episode. Is there a way to make safe reality television that isn’t exploitative by nature? Or are we destined to live out Orwell’s nightmare?
