Top 10 Reality Show Scandals That Made People MORE Famous

“Flavor of Love” (2006-08)

This raucous and rowdy dating show was VH1’s answer to “The Bachelor,” but it had twice as much drama. Much of it came from resident villain Tiffany Pollard, known by the moniker New York during her time on the show. Whether you loved her or loved to hate her, she made a huge impact. She had dust-ups with most of her fellow contestants, but one of her most infamous and controversial moments came courtesy of a competitor. When Brooke “Pumkin” Thompson was eliminated from the show, she spit on New York. The moment became an instant classic. Instead of dulling Pollard’s shine, it only cemented her legacy as a reality icon for all time.

“Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” (2012-17)

TLC’s “Toddlers & Tiaras” is easily one of the most controversial reality shows ever. However, it may have been overshadowed by one of its own spin-offs. After her appearance on the program, the rambunctious and meme-generating Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson was given a show of her own. “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” premiered to intense controversy, with critics and Internet users calling it everything from horrifying to a new low in TV. It didn’t stop people from tuning in, and it aired for 4 seasons. The Thompsons are hard to keep down. Their series would be canceled after some unsavory behind-the-scenes revelations surfaced during filming for its fifth season, only for the family to score a new show on another network.

“Dance Moms” (2011-19)

Abby Lee Miller’s treatment of her young dancers was a lightning rod for viewer outrage from the beginning. But it wasn’t just her harsh manner that shocked the audience. In 2012, Lifetime aired the aptly and disturbingly named “Topless Showgirls.” Suggestive, flesh-toned outfits marked the episode’s big competition number, which is supposed to emulate exactly what that title suggests. Unfortunately, even more viewers than usual tuned in. Lifetime has since pulled the notorious episode from circulation, but it didn’t exactly scare the audience away. “Dance Moms” aired for another seven seasons. It also wasn’t the last time the show would cause a scandal. Miller’s conviction and subsequent prison sentence for bankruptcy fraud would all be covered on camera.

“Jersey Shore” (2009-12)

MTV’s smash hit wasn’t always a sure thing. The series followed a group of young people, most with Italian-American background, sharing a house on the Shore as they partied hard and extolled the virtues of going to the gym, tanning, and doing laundry. But even before the bar fights and jail stints, the network’s advertisers got skittish after its series premiere. Mounting criticism over its representation of Italian-Americans and the cast’s juvenile antics led several sponsors to pull their ads during its primetime slot. Viewers must have been wondering what all the fuss was about. Between its premiere and its first season finale, “Jersey Shore” picked up over 3 million more viewers, and Snooki, The Situation, and DJ Pauly D became household names.

“Jon & Kate Plus 8” (2007-17)

Jon and Kate Gosselin attracted some raised eyebrows for their large brood and ethical questions about their children’s participation in the program. A series like this was uncharted territory. But things got even crazier in 2009 when the pair announced they were splitting up. Rumors of infidelity ran rampant, and custody battles played out publicly, requiring police intervention at one point. Jon Gosselin even tried to get the show canceled. The two were booking interviews everywhere to explain their side of things. Sadly, watching their marriage fall apart made their atypical family life even more intriguing to the public.

“The Real Housewives of New Jersey” (2009-)

Teresa Giudice has been the center of fan backlash since her infamous table flip in season 1. It was exactly this kind of volatile behavior that made her the queen bee of the Jersey Housewives. However, she couldn’t fight her way out of prison time. She and her husband Joe were charged with several felonies. Rather than hide away from the cameras, Giudice was open about her journey every step of the way and the media couldn’t get enough. Paparazzi followed her to every court date. Fans chimed in and awaited her return. Giudice served her time, and then returned to the show with a whole new storyline.

“The Bachelor” (2002-)

The former football player buckled under the pressure of his stint as season 23’s “Bachelor.” Colton Underwood even went so far as to jump a fence so the show’s camera crew couldn’t follow him. From then on, his behavior became more troubling. Underwood did find a potential wife on the show in contestant Cassie Randolph, but their relationship ended not long after. Randolph would later file a restraining order against him, citing harassment and invasion of privacy. Underwood’s subsequent coming out as gay in 2021 launched a whole new era of publicity, netting his own Netflix docuseries as a result.

“The Apprentice” (2004-17)

Few reality TV villains were as effective as Omarosa Manigault Newman was at getting people to root against her. She was unbothered by her fellow competitors on “The Apprentice,” but they were plenty bothered by her. In fact, most of America seemed bothered by her. Manigault Newman’s allegations that a fellow castmate made a racist remark toward her didn’t do much to endear her to anyone either. The team behind the show denied these claims. But if these antics did anything, they kept Omarosa on everyone’s radar, for better or worse. From the “House of Villains” to the literal White House, she’s still on our screens to this day.

“Vanderpump Rules” (2013-)

Viewers were sent through a whirlwind of emotions when longtime couple Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval’s relationship went down in flames. “Vanderpump Rules” was actually between seasons when the news of Sandoval’s affair with co-star and friend, Raquel Leviss, went public, and shooting resumed just to capture it. The entire world seemed to have an opinion. Celebrities stopped by Andy Cohen’s “Watch What Happens Live!” talk show just to weigh in. Hashtag #Scandoval proved that ten seasons in, this “Real Housewives” spin-off still has the power to grab headlines and attention. Ariana Madix came away looking the best, with many fans praising her for being able to make the best of a bad situation.

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

Since they arrived on the reality scene, the Kardashian family has faced criticism for being famous for being famous. It’s probably fair to say that without her leaked tape with Ray J, Kim Kardashian and her family might not have had the opportunity to spin their infamy into true fame. “Momager” Kris Jenner was completely upfront about the career opportunities this entire scandal opened up for them. The family made so much of the scandal that people have even accused them of conspiring to leak the original tape. Regardless, the Kardashians have become a lasting brand in reality TV and beyond.