Top 10 Dr. Phil Guests Who Got Famous After the Show

Business owners Amy and Samy become notoriously viral thanks to a questionable display of behavior on “Kitchen Nightmares”. Considering their newfound status as the unlikable villains who pissed off Gordon Ramsay, they were the perfect interviewees for “Dr. Phil”. When they sat down to discuss a wave of backlash, the two were defensive rather than apologetic. They maintained that they were misrepresented on “Kitchen Nightmares” and were not the tip-stealing aggressors they were portrayed as. The interview ended with Amy claiming she wants to move forward, and she did so when she and Samy moved to Israel. Even with negative attention and complaints from customers, Amy continues to work on baking projects and promote her business on Instagram.

Before appearing on “Dr. Phil”, Christian Aaron was a YouTuber with a respectable following. That following would grow thanks to a controversy that surrounded the influencer both during and after his interview. While speaking with Dr. Phil, Aaron detailed his social media addiction and unhealthy obsession with what the world thought of him. His moment of infamy on the show preceded an identity theft accusation, which garnered the YouTuber even more media attention. Though Aaron has made headlines for less admirable reasons, he is still extremely active on his channel and has ventured into the fashion industry with a clothing line.

Nadya Suleman became better known as “Octomom” after she birthed octuplets. As if this feat wasn't incredible enough, the new mother of 8 already had 6 children at home. During her initial interview on “Dr. Phil”, the mom of 14 received criticism regarding her choices and capability as a parent. She was single and unemployed at the time, which begged the question: how could she sufficiently care for all her kids? Dr. Phil expressed that Suleman shouldn't be judged but rather supported. Fans wound up following his example. “Octomom” now has a large social media following and shares peaks into her family life with fans.

Despite doing exceptionally well in school and earning a scholarship, a student named Chantelly dropped out to pursue a rapping career. In doing so, she became Telly Zelly, the self-proclaimed female version of Drake who appeared on “Dr. Phil” with her disappointed mom. The aspiring artist’s unapologetic attitude was evident before she even started speaking. While Dr. Phil and viewers were shocked by Telly’s lifestyle change, she actually did go on to release music after the show. She was featured in Tocuhmoney Cease’s “Surgery” and released the single, “Leave Me Alone Luv” earlier this year. While she certainly isn’t on Drake’s level, she has made a name for herself.

Unlike others on this list, Michelle Knight became famous by no choice of her known. A survivor of the early 2000s Ariel Castro kidnappings, she was held prisoner for over a decade until escaping in 2013. When sitting down with Dr. Phil to discuss the unfathomable mental, physical, and emotional toll of what happened to her, Knight quickly gained widespread sympathy, concern, and admiration. After a string of intense interviews with the show’s host, the survivor made it her mission to help and champion others. In finding strength and moving on, she changed her name to Lily Rose Lee, and wrote two incredible books about her story. Lee now works as a vehement advocate and motivational speaker—not to mention a true role model.

Today, online profiles and catfishing are something we’re hyper-aware of. But, back in the early 2010s, the online scam wasn’t as widely known. Arguably the highest profile catfishing incident of the time was that of Manti Te'o, a football star who was in a relationship with Lennay Kekua—the persona deceptively created by Naya Tuiasosopo. Tuiasosopo not only fabricated a fake online persona, but actually led Te’o to believe that Lennay had passed away. The incredibly cruel ordeal earned Naya an interview with Dr. Phil, where an interrogation ensued. Naya recently received more attention with the release of Netflix’s “Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist”, a documentary in which the former catfish revealed she is transgender, regretful of her past actions, and trying to move forward.

Prior to her interview, Jessy Taylor was a social media personality and YouTuber with a decent Instagram following. She ended up on the talkshow after having had a viral breakdown when her account was deleted—the one thing she seemed to love more than anything. She explained to Dr. Phil that losing her Instagram made her feel like she was nothing, which prompted discussions of social media obsession. Nonetheless, the young singer’s meltdown and appearance on the show ignited a surge in her online fame. She now has a new Instagram and is super active on both YouTube and TikTok.

Fittingly dubbed a “spoiled Beverly Hills brat” by her mother, Nicolette Gray sat down with Dr. Phil to show the world just how entitled she was. Complaining about her insufficient allowance and poor parental guidance, she was instantly perceived as ungrateful and severely detached from reality. Just when we thought it couldn’t get worse, Gray began to cry when she was advised to get a job. Even though viewers were stunned by her behavior, the teenager still managed to gain traction as a vlogging YouTuber and influencer. She also launched a jewelry business. These endeavors seem to fund the lux lifestyle Gray felt she deserved, so we don’t expect to see her crying over having to get a job any time soon.

When talking about controversial guests, Ava Louise cannot be left out of the conversation. After going viral for licking a toilet at the start of the pandemic, Dr. Phil invited the shocking college student on his show, where she proved to be an even wilder personality. While explaining her desperate desire for Insta-fame, Louise argued that death is preferable to being ugly, which prompted Dr. Phil to advise the delusioned influencer to “get real”. Since opting not to take the host’s advice, Louise has continued to unapologetically be herself on social media. She is super active on Instagram and TikTok and isn't afraid to stir up controversy on podcasts. Louise has also seen success as a singer, with “Skinny Legend Anthem” becoming a TikTok phenomenon.

If there’s one guest we could never forget, it's Danielle Bregoli—the “car-stealing, knife-wielding, twerking, 13-year-old” who was interviewed with her fed-up mother. In her 2016 appearance, Bregoli delivered the phrase “catch me outside, how about that?” in her distinct accent, essentially challenging the whole studio audience to a fight after they laughed at her behavior. These words catapulted the troubled, aspiring rapper to fame, with her catchphrase going viral and inspiring her single, “Cash Me Outside”. Just a year after “Dr. Phil”, she became the youngest female rapper to make the Billboard Hot 100. A record deal, reality series, and makeup brand followed, making Bhad Bhabie a name known nationally, for better or for worse.