Top 10 Most Scandalous TV Showmances of All Time

“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” (2007-21)

The Kardashians have had their fair share of romance dramas. Khloé’s own relationship with Lamar Odom caused a media blitz on more than one occasion (xref). But it’s her long-standing relationship with NBA player Tristan Thompson that has captured the most headlines and attention. Thompson’s infidelity during her pregnancy was one thing. His affair with Jordyn Woods, a fellow “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” castmate and friend of Khloé’s half-sister, Kylie Jenner, sent shockwaves through the family and the show. Since then, the pair have been on-again, off-again, with their relationship still being closely watched by fans.

“Vanderpump Rules” (2013-)

At the start of this “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” spinoff, Stassi and Jax were the resident “it” couple. They broke up early in the show’s run, but they just couldn’t stay away from each other. They also couldn’t stop generating drama. Their time on the show was marked by blowups at birthday parties, casual flirting, and more than one accusation of infidelity. Even after they parted ways, their relationship reverberated through the cast. Taylor’s affair with Schroeder’s castmate and friend, Kristen Doute, led to an infamous blowup in the show’s second season. There would be plenty of scandalous “Vanderpump Rules” couples to come, but they were the first.

“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” (2007-21)

Things were rocky with this couple from the start. Rob Kardashian already put his family on bad terms with Chyna when he didn’t even tell them he’d proposed to her. The two got their own spin-off soon after, but it became clear that there was more to their fights than just standard marital bickering. The whole thing was just a slow car crash leading to an inevitable, catastrophic split. After Kardashian posted private pictures of her online, Chyna was granted a restraining order. She would also later sue for defamation.

“Love Is Blind” (2020-)

For every fairytale romance the participants find in the pods, there are dozens of disasters. But that’s what makes “Love Is Blind” so bingeable. Things started out pretty dramatic for this season-one couple from the get-go. Giannina Gibelli switched things up on her potential soulmate, Damian Powers, by proposing to him. It was probably the last time the two saw eye to eye on anything. After a season of bickering, Powers left her at the altar. Shockingly, the two ended up reconnecting after the show, but only for a little while.

“Jersey Shore” (2009-12)

When the gym, tan, and laundry-obsessed partiers hit the shores in season one, there was bound to be a romance or two between the castmates. Sparks flew between Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola almost immediately. But it wouldn’t be “Jersey Shore” without maximum drama. Their relationship was a rollercoaster, and that’s an understatement. Who can forget when Snooki and JWoww left Sammi that fateful note detailing everything Ron had been doing? The only thing stable about Giancola and Ortiz-Magro’s relationship was that you could always trust they’d break up again.

“The Bachelor” (2002-)

Former pro football player Colton Underwood clearly had a favorite going into the finale of season 23, but Cassie Randolph, the contestant who won his heart, had decided to leave. Tears were shed, souls were bared, and fences were jumped. A distraught Underwood’s now infamous escape from the production crew is easily one of the most dramatic moments in the history of the show. The two did end up together, but the drama continued. Underwood and Randolph broke up in 2020, and soon after, Randolph filed a restraining order against Underwood for stalking and allegedly installing a tracking device on her car. Underwood’s subsequent coming out grabbed more headlines some months later.

“The Hills” (2006-10)

When “Speidi” became a thing in the second season of “The Hills,” it marked a massive shift in the friendship between Heidi Montag and Lauren Conrad. Spencer Pratt’s brash behavior and rumor spreading didn’t earn him many allies. By the end of the series, the two had made a habit of alienating every single one of their castmates, including Pratt’s own sister, Stephanie. Though they revelled in their villain status, the two insist that the entire show was fake. Pratt and Montag have been married for over 20 years, and have two children.

“Jon & Kate Plus 8” (2007-17)

Some viewers chalked up their tense relationship to the stress of having eight children to look after. After a few seasons, though, Jon and Kate Gosselin’s marriage had clearly eroded beyond repair and they announced their separation on the show’s fifth season. TLC halted the series, but things only got crazier from there. A custody battle ensued and played out in a public forum. In 2009, the police were called over a verbal argument between the two, leading to a media frenzy. Years later, custody questions and resentments still linger, with some of their children choosing to distance themselves from one parent or the other.

“Teen Mom OG” (2009-21)

Amber Portwood and then-boyfriend Gary Shirley were introduced to millions on MTV’s “16 and Pregnant.” Their rocky relationship continued in front of the cameras of “Teen Mom,” where the two struggled with their new roles as young parents. In 2010, a fight between the two was broadcast for millions, and Portwood ended up with a domestic violence charge. She has since had multiple run-ins with the law. Portwood and Shirley’s breakup didn’t stop them from producing even more scandalous reality TV moments. Even as late as 2021, the two were still on “Teen Mom,” with their coparenting relationship being a constant source of friction.

“Vanderpump Rules” (2013-)

The explosive #Scandoval was 10 years in the making. For years, fans opined on the sometimes confusing relationship between Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval, but nothing could prepare them for the cheating scandal that rocked the show in 2023. Sandoval’s affair and later romance with Rachel Leviss made national headlines. The show, which was between seasons at the time the news broke, returned to production to capture the fallout. Sandoval and Leviss, who was Madix’s friend, were roasted for their affair on the show and off. Since then, the two have gone their separate ways, and Leviss even sued Sandoval and Madix for proliferating intimate footage of her. All this time later, the fallout is still being felt.



Which showmances did you follow? Let us know in the comments.