Inside Love Is Blind’s Brutal Conditions on Set

With actors and writers on strike, reality TV stars are the next group to challenge Hollywood's status quo. Love is Blind castmembers told us they were psychologically manipulated, funneled alcohol and paid $7.14/hr. They’re suing Netflix and fighting to change the industry.
Nick and Jeremy formed the UCAN Foundation to support unscripted castmembers by connecting them to legal and mental health resources.
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[@ritamartins927]

I love that we’re seeing a wave of workers demanding their rights across industries worldwide

[@michaeljames5936]

I'll love it, when they win. The Studio bosses in Hollywood, have very, very deep pockets and you have heard it from their own mouths- they are determined to leave the writers and actors homeless, rather than lose an industrial conflict. I'm sure plenty of other corporations would be prepared to chip in, if it meant a body-blow to organised labour. The general increase in Union membership and in particular public esteem is great, but our enemies are terrible and utterly ruthless. "The workers united, will never be defeated" I hope.

[@Temeika_B]

Once we were able to have little trinkets such as mini-mansions, luxury vehicles, and goods,we got distracted and felt like we had access to what "rich" people had. However, there was one resource we forgot about-time. We look the part, but we we've lost the time to access our new found goods, and our health is going down the drain with it. Now we are starting to take an inventory and we don't like it.

[@racheeerach]

Who is getting these mini mansions and luxury vehicles??? People don’t generally have either, nor do they have time.

[@srishtibansal0612]

what about people who are still signing up for this show after seeing this?

[@ritamartins927]

What about them? I suppose people come in with very different expectations @@srishtibansal0612

[@GrantSR]

Remember, reality TV shows was the networks' response to the previous writers' strike. This just shows just how evil they have ALWAYS been.

[@Alex-ki1yr]

😅

[@tappydani9378]

That makes so much sense in hindsight…

[@connectingthedots100]

Except that's nonsense. The first reality TV show was big brother and it had nothing to do with a US writers strike, since it was Dutch as in the Netherlands. And the format took off. Also, there were a lot of predecessor Shows like the dating game.

[@mrbanana6464]

@@connectingthedots100All it takes is to see how the number of reality shows produced during the strike skyrocketed to disprove your “theory”

[@ZolaClyde]

@@connectingthedots100 Oh, you sweet summer child. The 1st reality show was PBS’s An American Family which aired 1973. But it was MTV’s The Real World, 1st aired in 1992, that really kicked things off with reality tv as it is today. I remember what a huge deal that show was, I hated it. Big Brother 1st aired in 1998. But it wasn’t until Survivor 1st aired in 2000 that the horrible genre really caught fire. The Real World was 31 years ago; Big Brother, 25 yrs ago; Survivor, 23 yrs ago. There were ZERO strikes involved.

[@rachelm1063]

I think the unfair treatment of reality tv stars is so transparent just from watching reality tv. Cast members are coerced into behaving in ways they wouldn’t normally, on television through sleep deprivation, alcohol, and producer manipulation. I’m proud they are finally standing up for themselves. Cast members should be protected emotionally through this process, and compensated fairly.

[@mollyk3768]

Not to mention editing 😕

[@cgill914]

Totally agree. I always think about how I would act in those circumstances and I think I wouldn’t want to know. Looks horrible.

[@dg5175]

True. I do think there were a few cast members who had a bad character to begin with. The show just exploited it for ratings.

[@ruled_by_pluto]

they're also edited to look like they're saying things they never said.

[@anotherinternetidiot6300]

I agree. I also wonder if any of the participants looked into these allegations before signing up. I think the storyline manipulation is pretty expected (although not cool), but the restraint of basic needs is absolutely insane

[@hayli8080]

12ish years ago I met a woman who directed reality TV shows and she gave me an example of how they would get people on TV to fight each other. She had a can of coke in her hand and was like “it would be like if I told you to hold onto this coke and don’t let anyone take it away from you or else we’ll kick you off the show, then went and told your boyfriend that he needs to get that can of coke from you or else we’ll kick him off the show.” She explained it like it was an interesting technique and not a sociopathic way of making money. She was probably the richest person I’ve ever had a conversation with.

[@ericabelcher8760]

Smh🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[@sydzim7751]

Being rich sometimes you were just the only one willing to do the awful shit no one else could stomach

[@onlyjordyn]

Sounds like Squid Games 😳

[@__-vb3ht]

I remember catching a bit of a famous unscripted show where the host straight up said that it's a problem these two contestants have become best friends. They need to become more competitive if they want to stay in the game for a while, which is why they are breaking them up. And then they told each of them lies and forced them to betray each other and framed it all as teaching them self reliance. All of this was open and explicit. It cemented my hate for shows like this

[@razenburn]

Reality TV "actors" unionising is such a crazy thought but I'm glad they're doing it. The fact that the entire genre was born to compensate for a union strike, well, I don't know if that counts as irony but it's definitely not lost on me.

[@TheRoland444]

"What comes around goes around," excellent observation.

[@SwobyJ]

It is always whack-a-mole. We shouldn't discount the possibility of AI programmers/engineers/technicians/designers getting unionized in the future, for example. (Tech is going to be hard to get there, but once its labor force is in crisis, its going to be hard for owners to stop momentum no matter the globalization.)

[@Dave102693]

Will they join up with SAG?

[@craven5328]

​@Dave102693 Interesting thought. In general, I like the idea...but I can't figure out how it will work. Like, very few people get repeat gigs on reality shows. I image the vast majority of people are only "in the industry" for their one season. It might be hard to get any cohesion when the genre is so transient.

[@bilaljones3635]

​@@craven5328 They would need the stars of the biggest reality shows to buy in (the various Real Housewives, buying sunset, etc.). The biggest stars on multi-year contracts would be crucial.

[@h.g.warrender5529]

I noticed that they're always just pumping alcohol into the singles on Love is Blind. I remember one episode from Nick's "after the altar" season where they were showing the couples' itinerary for the day, and they had mimosas for breakfast, then a wine tasting, what looked like a few meals with alcohol, and a dinner party where everyone was taking multiple shots. Netflix is effectively drugging the cast members into compliance and drama to get the reactions they want for the story of their season.

[@rationalthinker9612]

No one is forcing that alcohol down their throats, there needs to be some level of accountability on their part

[@AliCat222]

​@@rationalthinker9612that's what I'm thinking too,they can't pour booze down your throat.

[@CyrilOfTheWind]

@@rationalthinker9612 Sure, but if you keep them from water and food for long enough you have created an environment where your options are drink or black out.

[@HansMuneEnBy]

You are purposefully avoiding the truth… if there was no demand to watch a bunch of people humiliate and traumatise themselves on TV… nobody would watch it. The people WANT to see the most cringiest and heart breaking stuff on their TV. It’s why they eagerly tune in…

[@olandir]

I mean this makes sense. Anytime these production companies (or any company) can get away with treating people like slaves, they will always do it. As he said, they view them as "raw resources" that they need to manipulate to get their final product. They will not hesitate to exploit them in every way possible for the purpose of profit.

[@josealfonsocontretas5724]

Don't forget the part that if they break, they can be easily replaced.

[@fatrat600284]

And the disgusting thing is people will defend the system that encourages this to happen.

[@rationalthinker9612]

Are you saying that the Hollywood industry if filled with utter scum bags? WHOA, imagine my shock!! That's what you get when you immerse yourself in an industry that is run and comprised of 99% liberal scum. There's no way in hell that would have happened in a conservative ran media company like the Daily Wire. Let this be a lesson to you, don't associate with liberal scum.

[@missyyy-]

Yeah I’m not really sure how anyone was surprised by this or caught off guard by the conditions on set. These shows are literal dumpster fires meant to entice viewers with drama- how did the cast expect they were getting such dramatic footage?

[@pinkstar9430]

I just finished washing LIB season 5 and that sounds exactly like what the producers did to Uche when Aliyah left the show and he was getting ready to proposed to her and the producers didn’t disclose ANY of it to him. So when he went to the pod the following day or whatnot he was talking to an empty couch lmao. He was livid! And took all of his anger out on Aliyah over the phone. It was satisfying watching him face karma. 😅 however it’s manipulative of the producers to let situations rock and hope for the worse to happen to their cast.

[@sosalty701]

My daughter suffered mental health issues after we appeared on the Tyra Banks Show. They manipulated the kids as well as the parents to get the maximum shock value at our expense.

[@dklee.01]

:( i am so sorry this happened to her and to your family. tyra is…not my favorite human.

[@STasugx]

Tyra’s abuse of her guests was so apparent. The way in which she condescendingly spoke to and patronized her guests….

[@jenm1]

tyra sucks

[@jimmyrade7815]

Tyra Banks is terrible

[@grilledsleaze]

Ugh Tyra is an evil witch 🤢

[@spencerjames9417]

Ahh yes “you signed up for this” The go-to response from idiots when they have to think critically about the concept of exploitation

[@Sofiaode18]

For real. Not everyone has the luxury to be self-employed.

[@pjrodriguez386]

"think critically about the concept of exploitation" will be stealing this thanks x

[@stephaniebaker4024]

@@grreeeeeedepriving them of basic needs is it ok. People in prison have it better than this crap .

[@whyplaypiano2844]

@@grreeeeee There is a HUGE difference between being minorly exploited for entertainment, and not getting daily food, water, and enough sleep, on a set that you aren't even allowed to leave unless you want to be sued 50 grand.

[@prismwing]

​@@grreeeeeeThe same way you're oblivious to the general concept of people simply not forseeing the same things as you are. It's pretty ironic huh?

[@Durtal_]

"You signed up for this" is a terrible thing to say to someone who went through something difficult. It makes them shut down, and stop expressing their feelings.

[@disappearintothesea]

Right. It’s such a cheapshot to say that to someone. I mean a lot of people sign up to be teachers and cops but they didn’t sign up to get shot at.

[@psychicbyinternet]

Classic victim blaming.

[@bumbledee3346]

yesssss i feel like its a way for them to shut out any reason to try to help push for change, in short theyre not bothered abt what you went thru :/

[@anotherinternetidiot6300]

​@@disappearintotheseaI agree except the cop part; police sign up knowing that being shot at is part of the job. Teachers on the other hand - the USA needs to start caring more about kids than theirs guns. Such a shame. I really feel for the teachers. USA already offers poor education, and all of this gun violence isn't helping.

[@tmbrad1288]

At least they get clout after the show

[@anessa1303]

That alcohol part disturbed me so much. I didn’t understand why they were drinking so much! What if you’re an AA?!

[@juliabuonincontro8617]

They probably screen for that and only put you on the show if you’re ok to drink

[@anessa1303]

@@juliabuonincontro8617 yeah make sense 😊 tnx

[@anessa1303]

@@juliabuonincontro8617 I know my comment is a bit naive and that’s how tv is. They are looking for more drama to get higher rates but I just find it so uncomfortable to watch grown ups, drunk on television and making a fool of themselves.

[@lordfreerealestate8302]

This show employed cult tactics, honestly. Reality TV is very exploitative (watch Shiny Happy People) and I'm glad I don't watch or support it.

[@fathampton]

Alone is the worst one. Literally starving people to death and risking them being eaten by bears! Down with alone!

[@arcanondrum6543]

@@fathampton I've been near bears. The Grizzly gets bigger/stronger than the Black Bear but they're all like Sharks. Shy unless they're bothered, looking for food that is not you.

[@arcanondrum6543]

This is where I, a Progressive since I learned what a turd Reagan was while he was still President, depart from hopping on the side of Reality Show Contestants. A few minutes of watching "Reality Television" is all the evidence that most intelligent, non-narcissistic people should need.

[@adamkalb1]

Plenty of KZbin channels starring kids are also just as exploitative, if not more. You have seen many stories about such family channels by now. The rise of Elsagate, the termination or investigation of DaddyOfFive and EightPassengers. This year alone, Timeworks taught me about Happy Lives, which is also known as FamilyGamesTV. That channel got terminated on 9 April 2023, and all of the videos were deleted on 14 July 2023.

[@kkchic2565]

@@fathamptonalone is survival and wilderness experts choosing to go into these situations and they can leave safely at anytime & get paid for everyday they are on the island. It’s a little different! But this love is blind stuff is crazzzzy

[@Dysiode]

Holy shit. It's not surprising to me that this happens, it's surprising to me that ALL THE STAFF IN THE PRODUCTIONS LET IT HAPPEN. The unionized crews? They know better. They know they're facilitating the abuse of these people. This is the literal Milgram experiment in real life, except the "subject" is actually being tortured. Edit: I can't IMAGINE not having any knowledge of the passage of time for that long. I visited The Forum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas where it's designed to appear as perpetual twilight, and by the time I was starting on my way out I was starting to get panic, once I ended up taking the other fork from the one I came in I was full on "I MUST get outside and see what time it is" and nearly ran to reach an exit. I'm all but certain I would claw someone to pieces if I were in their situation.

[@EvolutionWendy]

Oh, I understand. It's disorienting being cut off from natural light, food, water... and that people do it is dehumanizing and degrading to both perpetrator and victim

[@jenm1]

The people in unions aren't always leftists. They just take advantage of the situation

[@ruled_by_pluto]

i did reality tv for one day as background and it was over 12 hours in a studio where they provided no coffee, one tiny meal, no water, only one bathroom break, and wouldn't let us go outside for fresh air...by the end, i could barely stay awake, and i had to fall asleep on set and get myself kicked off in order to go home...i would never do that again...i had pain from not going to the bathroom for so long that was really severe. luckily i was able to sleep it off because it was the kind of pain you would go to an emergency room for if it continued. felt like kidney pain... definitely feel for these people and i have no doubt they are being exploited and pushed to their limits in order to save money and create drama that comes from irritated and hungry people being stuck in a room together..

[@SwobyJ]

"Sex House" -The Onion

[@karlburmeister1552]

I'd have pissed on a camera.

[@andyokus5735]

I'd kick the shit out of those people. I'd give 'em a taste of " Cartel Candy "

[@jenm1]

I didn't know how accurate that was until these exposes started coming out lol@@SwobyJ

[@newworldlord643]

I would've peed on the floor. Period

[@FallopianDismay]

Labor is rising! Solidarity with these folks!

[@MaraCares]

I can't believe there is no oversight for this. I used to work for an Institutional Review Board - a committee responsible for ensuring the ethical treatment of research study participants. This is a requirement for all published research that involves human "subjects." So why does this televised social "experiment" not have anyone overseeing the informed consent and ethical treatment of its participants? That's a rhetorical question, but I find this infuriating.

[@katherinedelacruz9876]

I always think the same thing. I studied anthropology and had to take ethics courses of how to interview and do participant observation of cultural groups and there were soooo many guidelines to stop exploitation so it’s baffling that this is somehow legal!

[@amethystdream8251]

I obviously don't have the ultimate answer to this, but I thought I might say: ethics wasn't factored into the economic systems we operate under, and people do what they do to get their needs and desires met. I suppose that's how you end up with the knowledge of what good ethics are without the implementation of it. If good ethics were incentivized more, people would follow the reward. And then what do we do when the definition of good ethics is subjective?

[@olenka4035]

I used to be on a reality tv show as a child and they mentally abused us so they could put cameras in our face when we’d be having panic attacks. A lot of this is true and I’m so happy to see something being done about it

[@gingermurray7820]

When he said you don't see daylight, I immediately felt my body start to feel claustrophobic and anxious. Had to pause the video to remind myself that I was not also in that situation... But ugh, I feel for these people. I actually stopped watching LIB after this season because I had thought it would be different than the other reality shows. But I could see the distress of the people, and have always wondered, "Why don't they bring in a therapist? And actually help these relationships succeed, if that's what they really want?"

[@Rubbishandpancakes]

Oh Jesus just stop. People are always looking for a reason to have anxiety or BS KZbin video about a reality show. Grow up. Not every feeling you have is a disorder and requires medicine. My god. I would be embarrassed to be on here talking about distressed I was over HEARING no daylight. 🙄🙄🙄

[@stephneycadwell1614]

@@Rubbishandpancakes what is your purpose here? this type of video calls for empathy, so i guess im wondering how you got here with a comment and mindset like that. yuck

[@morgo966]

The last few seasons honestly felt like these people were being drugged because of how emotional some got in the pods. I get that some truly want help to be matched but on a realty show isn't it. Most people who go on these are aspiring actors (as these casting shows are jobs for their portfolio) If you are seeking fame and fortune you sign up for a show. If you are seeking love, just call a professional match maker that's how I see it.

[@yourgodismean4526]

Wow. I knew there was a lot of exploitation going on, but I had no idea how bad. I’ve never been able to stand “reality” tv for basically this reason. It just all seems so gross

[@missyblissy90]

Do producers not understand that there is a large audience that wants feel good stories? Love is blind is such an awesome concept, they dont need to do this to incite drama. We want to get to know the 'cast' and see them fall in love.

[@paper4501]

This is exactly what I think. Did you watch season 4 of Love Is Blind? Tiffany and Brett were the best story - the least amount of drama, but genuinely a sweet story to watch - and apparently, they're still together. The drama is fun to watch, but the producers seem to underestimate how much people enjoy watching other people in general. We don't need forced drama; drama is inevitable in life - just let it be.

[@a_d_a_m]

It’s almost as if being compelling and dramatic on camera in a production environment, without actually being abused or traumatized or manipulated, is like… a craft… a skill that is normally done by professionals. Oh but if such professionals existed, they’d surely be paid fairly, and wouldn’t need to strike to be able to afford to stay in the business. oh well!

[@bazhumke4040]

this comment is too gold haha

[@ammooneymooney6711]

I didn't watch this show, but the offer still stands, if the rich billionaires and top execs want to star in a reality show where they have to live off the lowest wage that they pay their employees, I'd be down to watch it.

[@reallyWyrd]

I wouldn't want to watch it because I already know the billionaires would cheat. A lot. They would never sign one of these contracts because it would cut them off from their source of power.

[@psychicbyinternet]

And make them work retail jobs. Honestly I'd love to see this with all the toxic reality hosts - Gordon Ramsey, Dr. Phil, Maury, Ellen, Simon Cowell, etc all sleeping in one room in bunk beds Squid Game style.

[@WanderingExistence]

This is the problem with the dehumanization and commodification of people and the planet under capitalism. Capitalism doesn't care about people, it treats them like objects. In fact, wage labor is renting yourself via "self ownership" as if you were a piece of property. Employment is literally renting out another human being as if they're property. The employer-employee relationship is a very insidious dynamic. Employment is a rental contract, like if you rented capital (say, a chainsaw from Home Depot), you pay rent for the "time preference" (basically the cost of time) for a piece of property. Capitalism is based on a principle of self ownership, which sounds empowering, until you realize that most people don't own capital goods other than themselves, and must rent out the authority over themselves as pieces of "human capital". This is a process of dehumanization where human beings are valued for their return on investment as capital goods. This is why, at the very least, capitalism needs unions and safety nets (or abolishment), or else the system won't value people for their human value. Importantly we must also think about our sick, elderly, and disabled people, as they can't provide competitive economic return for the investor class to value. We must figure out a way to change this economic system if we wish to value each other.

[@MirrorSurfer]

Couldn't have been said better than this.

[@AmandaTroutman]

+1

[@TheRusschannel]

YEP, no regulation and no monopoly "safe guards in place"... we are screwed

[@EvolutionWendy]

This is so insightful I see Work/ labor in a new light thank you it's so true, this idea of the peoples time is worth a lot-or a little- is very wrong and dehumanizing, we're all people, our time is our most precious... our time alive is the highest value we truly have, someone should not say "Oh your time is worth so little, oh, your time is worth 1 million," it's not right. We are all equal as humans in certain ways.

[@rebelyellmeh]

This is exactly why I’m a proud swerf

[@alexaavg]

I love when actors come out on what REALLY happens behind reality TV shows

[@CapnSnackbeard]

They ought to call the show "Alone" "Gawking at Desperate People Starving and Torturing Themselves Hoping They Make Some Money." Maybe it was already taken?

[@cliveklg7739]

Isn't that the acronym for Survivor?

[@JordannEdwards]

Sounds like a parody... hmm...

[@kathrynanne6332]

They had no idea how terribly they would be treated, or how much it would affect them emotionally. So they didn’t “sign up for it.”

[@robert2690]

“You signed for it” For what? To be exploited?

[@SharienGaming]

im pretty sure no sane court of law accpets signing for being tortured... you cant sign away constitutional rights... and a private entity confiscating government issued identification documents smells like something a sane government should crack down on hard....

[@nataliejohnson1467]

Precisely

[@newworldlord643]

Remember TIFFANY fell asleep on BRET ?? Now we know why. Inhuman working conditions. I can remember a scene where i was like OMG TIFFANY LOOK SOOOOOOOO SLEEP DEPRIVED!!!

[@IntuitiveHealingLife]

I’ve been thinking for long time why the shows like love is blind, bachelor etc are not produced in the way that it’s helping the couples. They could have coaching or therapy on the side and the show could be about uncovering the psychology and attachment styles and be more educational and actually help the couple to stay together. Of course the people would still have issues and problems even without inducing so much outside pressure. I think it would be so interesting still.

[@AliCat222]

Because they care about making a show not the actual love part.Its about content they don't actually care if people find love or not

[@IntuitiveHealingLife]

Yes, sure. In my country MAFS producers seems to be on the couples side, its less drama driven and seems more genuine of all the reality tv. I think the level of reality shows in general portraits the awareness and maturity of the society..and keeps the viewers being limited instead helping to expand and inspire. @@AliCat222

[@cognitive-botanical-therapy]

So, I appreciate your compassionate take. However, married at first sight does exactly that and still manages to traumatize/abuse participants. There have been multiple lawsuits about MaFS. 😢

[@IntuitiveHealingLife]

@@cognitive-botanical-therapy yes, in your country. In my country at least it seems they are in constant contact with the therapists etc. and haven’t heard any abuse. It’s much more down to earth and just normal people attending to the program as well. But yeah we are only 5 million in Finland so things are different than in US.

[@daniellemoxey9940]

So glad to hear they started this. These people put their lives on pause to make these shows and deserve better‼️

[@jordanmcgrory2171]

Traumatising and abusing the cast is kind of inherent to the reality TV model. You don't get the kind of over the top reactions on which reality TV thrives out of people who are well. I don't think you can unionise your way out of this, the industry just has to stop.

[@karlburmeister1552]

Exactly why I don't watch this crap.

[@psychicbyinternet]

I don't know if that's true. I think you could make ethical reality TV. They'd just have to be more creative with the writing and concepts and actually be willing to spend money on living wages/benefits and treating the actors well which is a fate worse than death for someone eyeing their 20th yacht. I think it would probably be more boring but also maybe wholesome because it wouldn't just be constant drama and maybe the people would actually be allowed to get along and develop meaningful relationships and no one would have any trauma (boring!). I'd love to see an ethical version of Masterchef where you can actually learn about cooking while watching it. That would absolutely be interesting without fake drama. It's still people coming up with recipes in a small time frame and competing for the best recipe which is always interesting. Unfortunately you can't learn about cooking from that show because they just make up BS about food in order to propel drama and a good amount of the "knowledge" you learn is just lies.

[@WelfareChrist]

Damn this channel has just been knocking it out of the park recently

[@TonyFed]

The idea that “there is no ethical consumption under capitalism” (and the inverse, “there is no ethical production under capitalism”) is particularly salient here. Proud of these guys for having the courage to speak truth to power.

[@dearyvettetn4489]

There was a fictional reality TV show drama call UnReal on Hulu that really focused on the cast member manipulation and also the messiness of the production staff. I thought that there had to be some truth to it, but just spiced up bit for ratings. This this video shows that it’s more than just spiced up, it’s downright heinous. And this fictional drama came out in 2015. Producers have had time to perfect their torture techniques. There a special place in hell for them and the network.

[@RichardDuncan-ju1xk]

Great show!

[@iheartgiraffe2054]

UnReal was created by someone who worked on The Bachelor, so definitely had some truth to it.

[@vgamador]

I can’t find it on Hulu 😭

[@jazzieblue5328]

This show was awesome and it's exactly what I was thinking about when they were talking about this.

[@kweenz600]

@@vgamadorit’s a Lifetime original show, you might find it on one of their streaming sites

[@kingkelz215]

Kudos to these participants for standing up for themselves in the face of such heinous mistreatment. I think you might have another story on your hands if you look into how mental health patients are treated at inpatient facilities and whether or not 1) the patients' stay exacerbates their mental health affliction, and 2) if nurses/doctors are incentivized to extend patients' stays to maximize profit. I can't say for certain that this story has legs, but I feel your inquisitive cadre very well could.

[@ashleeallen8875]

I did reality TV for 2 years. It does feel like no one could ever understand the amount of manipulation, unless they go through it themselves.

[@reallyWyrd]

Anyone who has been in a cult should be able to understand. Cults use similar tactics: controlling when you eat, controlling when you sleep, gaslighting, etc.

[@AliCat222]

What show where you on/worked with?

[@ashleeallen8875]

@@AliCat222 dance moms

[@GorgeousJewell_1029]

I dispise reality shows, especially where love is involved. 🤮😑

[@johnedwards4337]

They recently came out with a show where they show people deepfake porn of their spouse without telling them its a deepfake. These people are scumbags

[@justinwood2]

Why is there still a market for that garbage?

[@GorgeousJewell_1029]

@justinwood2 because people think that what they see on TV is real when they know it's fake.

[@hhaannnnaahh222]

​@@justinwood2because sadly it is entertaining in a way. but hopefully lifting this veil will change people's minds a bit.

[@embroideryxiong7768]

then why everyday u can't wait to come home from work and watch the show

[@courtneynicole767]

I've been watching season 12 of Married at First Sight and am appalled by the overt exploitation of some of the couples on that season. It's disgusting. They had me hating one cast member and then I found out that his behavior was only a reaction to the shenanigans the producers were playing off camera. It crazy how even were fooled by it sometimes.

[@kasia2750]

Oh, this show is especially fucked up in my humble opinion. I watched one season of polish edition and it was clear like sky, that they do exactly opossite to what they claiming - so called "experts" are not choosing the best match, they are choosing the perfect enemies, all for the sake of drama. This is so unethical, especially that the mariage is a starting point and they pushing people into drasticly mismatched and sometimes even borderline abusive relationship.

[@pilotlee4463]

just WAIT until the drag race girls start suing too

[@momain5483]

I think about this often. Some of the queens already talk about the abuse they endured so I can't even imagine the stuff that hasn't been said yet.

[@fernandaviveirospsi]

Do you know any tea?

[@tangimeme]

I hope all the Drag Race cast gets on board with this or something similar 'cause they get used terribly

[@msd7544]

I was so SHOCKED to learn that they don’t even get a wardrobe stipend!!! In what world is that not exploitation? The looks are at least half of what people tune in for! I honestly lost some respect for Ru when I learned that.

[@katherinedelacruz9876]

@@msd7544WAIT WHAT?!?! THEY DON’T GET MONEY FOR THE CLOTHES????

[@DiscoTimelordASD]

They are not covered for injuries either - despite all the crazy stunts they have to do.

[@DiscoTimelordASD]

​​@@katherinedelacruz9876They only bring 5 suitcases (if I remember right) and if they can sew an outfit quickly, then they might be okay. If they can't sew then they have to hope their outfits fit the theme.

[@jenniferlynne6571]

Willam has fought for years since her season which is why she’s blacklisted for better treatment for the cast. They spend 14 hr days in the work room and barely any food to eat, you only get to go outside if you smoke, and the contract since season 10 changed to add ridiculous clauses saying that they can’t be booked by other companies, they can’t release their own music unless it’s approved, they HAVE to do specific tours and nothing solo. If this contract had been that petty in earlier seasons Alaska wouldn’t have been able to make her music and Trixie wouldn’t have been able to start her own makeup line etc.

[@DarkPrincessOfLight]

Thank you for covering this ! I had no idea how unregulated and exploitive reality television can be! I hope each cast member of reality television is able to experience safer and more supportive working environments. Power to the people !

[@nickc3657]

What they’re doing to these cast members is just like what studios did to actors and starlets before Hollywood unions were established.

[@ryerye9019]

Sometimes you see people on reality TV go through a mental breakdown and walk off only to be counseled and convinced to stay on. I always wondered what sort of gaslighting, coercion and manipulation was happening off camera to keep this money maker going. The evils of labor exploitation.😢

[@Kyle496]

Not to put any blame on the actors but what can we really expect from a TV show format created to get around the last writers strike? It was literally designed to screw people over.

[@FeelinTangerine]

Great timing with the WGA/SAG/AFTRA stikes going on.

[@Dave102693]

Facts

[@funnzypink]

This explains why casts were being very dramatic about small little things! I had no idea!

[@notorioustori]

Ironically, the scripted show UnReal, about the production and behind the scenes drama of a fake reality show, gave a decent look at how shows and casts can be manipulated. Then hearing stories about other reality and/or competition shows, I'm never at all surprised by any horror story I hear anymore.

[@FlowertakesonKorea]

THIS IS AMAZING!!! I have been following love is blind since it aired in 2020 and was fascinated about what ACTUALLY went on behind the scenes as so much is cut out. I read in a recent post that the director states that whilst you in the pods you could get whatever food you liked. Stating the pods were full stocked. Sounds like a blatant lie to me. I'm based in South Korea where us foreign entertainers in tv are treated like true dirt. NO contracts , MINIMAL pay and treated like total puppets. It's AMAZING to see you guys taking a stand. My hope is that we can start doing the same here in Korea as the Korean entertainment industry gets bigger so will the exploitation and violations.

[@mgdpublic]

I KNEW it. I remember seeing how truly in love these people seemed to be in such a short time that it had to be cult member-inducing levels of psychological manipulation. I haven't watched the video yet but I guarantee they researched how cults work.

[@glennberg8300]

You are doing critical work that has already provided hope for those who have experienced emotional and physical abuse under this production system. Thank you for promoting awareness of this human rights issue.

[@KimraLuna]

It makes a lot more sense as to why the cast is so stressed and angry the whole time.

[@renee_soiree]

Thank you for spreading awareness!!

[@scarlettfrancesca]

Wow! This is heartbreaking and very important to be aware of. I had no idea this kind of behavior was happening behind the scenes. I'm happy to know that this organization exists! ❤

[@free2express08]

This video was a real eyeopener! Thank you.

[@electriksnake]

This is so so important 🙌🏽 thank you for covering this issue.

[@colorsofbird]

Thanks for sharing! I watched Love is Blind season 1 and I loved it, after a difficult breakup it kind of healed my heart a bit. But I had no idea the members went through such terrible things to produce the series. Last year I also joined myself a month-long campaign for a tech company, and I had so many expectations about how it would happen. It was very far from what I had imagined, and like the girl here I even ended having an anxiety crisis, which was terrifying (I never do those usually). It is good to know I was not alone then. All the best for the project! It is inspiring.

[@quartzofcourse]

Would love if reality TV actors unionized too.

[@gabbym333]

I'm really glad they're bringing this story to light

[@ElizabethGonzalez-uv6zn]

Thank you for bringing attention to this. Tbh, I watch these TV shows. I'm really sad to find out my favorite people on TV were treated this way.

[@TakenTook]

I haven't watched reality TV in over 20 years, but I remember the first series of _Big Brother_ here in the United States in 2000, before later versions of the series introduced various methods of forcing people to create alliances, and before being deliberately devious to undermine others became the obvious winning strategy. Toward the end of that first series when there were just a handful of houseguests left, they started to actually band together against Big Brother because they recognized they were being exploited, emotionally manipulated, and not given enough food. They became supportive of each other, and they were legitimately sad when each subsequent person was banished from the house. Watching this video makes me think that some of the ways they changed the game in later seasons was to make sure players were less likely to band together against the producers to advocate for better treatment.

[@jhor729]

took their wallets and passports!? fed them alcohol?!!

[@braydenroberts8190]

While starving them and denying water, perfect combo to ensure most of your cast is at least tipsy.

[@kathimarg8607]

Wow, thanks for sharing this and for standing up against that!

[@shreksvr123]

had no idea about this, thanks for sharing

[@gabajyte]

Honestly, I think a lot of people simply does not know or realise the extent of shit that people are put through in these. I support your movement, it is really needed

[@jsturm5hk8h]

Contracts are voidable if they are only one-sided. It is called an Unconsciousable Contract.

[@yosoyroman875]

Man, I blindly enjoyed this show for a time. This makes me..😢a little sick that I couldn’t see wrong doing. I’m glad people are fighting back

[@elizabethbarker5276]

So proud of you guys!

[@Bljohnson36]

Thank you for everything your doing and have yet to do!

[@dorcas8089]

One of my favorite tv shows ever is a show called unreal which is a show about the behind the scenes of a reality dating show like then bachelor. It talks about this exact topic & exposes the evil reality tv show industry & what goes on behind the scenes it is intense & really good. The show runner of unreal Sarah Gertrude Shapiro actually used to be a producer on the bachelor & brought her experiences to the show. I recommend watching the show & reading more articles about this topic.

[@psychicbyinternet]

Thanks for the suggestion, sounds interesting.

[@joshualastine7666]

I am an entertainment lawyer and this is something I really want to get behind. How do I get involved?

[@sadgirl.alyssa]

this is truly crazy wow… wow. thank you for speaking up about this

[@andrearace1168]

Wow! That's incredible that they had the bravery to speak out and to actually so something about it. I hope they continue to be successful in making the world a better place ❤️

[@mick7804]

This is so wild and then you can SEE how Netflix tried to show food and then cooking in this new season like seriously you can see how blatantly they’re trying to act as if now they’re feeding them…that’s terrible

[@coleengoodell7523]

It's absolutely no wonder that the few times I've watched these types of shows it was like watching a train wreck. The bottom line is that's exactly what the producers wanted. They wanted the drama of the emotional breakdowns, the alcohol induced mistakes, the illnesses that showed up due to the horrid conditions. I feel awful for what these people had to endure for "entertainment". Not OK.

[@juicyparsons]

this is such an important perspective, THANK YOU!

[@dewkissedherba]

wow absolutely incredible work. thank you so much for sharing this

[@maartjegoede9330]

I find it amazing they're trying to change this. Really like these two!

[@doubletakethe]

i hope more people see this is horrible im sorry for everyone that had to go through this

[@jameswall007]

So glad to see this!!❤️

[@WrittenWildlife]

Perfect! The timing with the strike is great 👍

[@CyeOutsider]

This has come to light in Australian tv too. One or two cases of reality tv stars have sued the show creators for essentially ruining their lives and subjecting them to public abuse and ridicule - manipulating footage to do it. Its awful. It should be investigated by WorkCover.

[@sunalwaysshinesonTVs]

Well, it's not just production houses that dont treat cast members like people. The viewers dont treat cast members like people either. Nice timing MPU! We all know production houses are gonna dial up the reality TV content in light of the current SAG-AFTRA strike. "Break the wheel" folks!

[@Tee256]

So true. The "fans" oof.

[@InformalInker]

you guys are amazing keep putting out videos!!! MPU!!!

[@jamzyy]

soo proud and glad you all are speaking out! They can't kill us all. We are more of us than there are of them.

[@sierrafarnum9689]

On Ultimatum: Queer Love, a cast member was arrested for physical abuse. There were documents and reports sent to the show makers, and a contestant only agreed to going to the reunion because she was promised her abusive ex wouldn't be there. Guess who was there? The ex.

[@jenniferwong2245]

Kudos to the folks bringing attention to this, and getting organized. Reality show participants are not generally a population that garners alot of public sympathy, but they are PEOPLE, and no doubt they consistently treated like less than by producers "designing" their shows. It's foul. A friend of mine here in Canada was a participant on a reality show and reported all of these same things, probably a decade ago -- denied water, food and bathroom breaks, and left to sit and wait for several hours alone in what were essentially closed isolation rooms (basically solitary confinement) before being filmed. She knew the hope was that she would become erratic and unregulated, or angry or upset, but she never gave them the satisfaction. Which is why she wasn't featured prominently on the show.

[@star4ever209]

I salute you, for standing up for yourself. It’s always easier said than done.

[@hallucinati]

Holy cow. Thank you for this perspective! ❤

[@darkwing3713]

Please do a story on CVS. They are trying to put other pharmacies out of business. I should have free choice of which pharmacy to use but they've take that away. No company should be both the insurer and the pharmacy.

[@Laquia]

When was this??? 😮

[@darkwing3713]

​@@Laquia Now. CVS Caremark is providing the drug coverage part for some health insurance companies. They also own Aetna. Now they put limits on how you can use a non-CVS pharmacy. Just proves that anti-trust laws are being totally ignored. The deaths from unaffordable health care is going to go way up.

[@schmitzkatzewupper]

I am from germany. I have stopped to watch television at the first episode of big brother.. and I miss the deep meaning of movies like 30 years before

[@tamikasantacruz]

So glad y’all are doing this. God bless you

[@realdanrusso]

great coverage!

[@vam9785]

7 dollars an hour …. And the producers are making millions

[@nonenone4204]

Finally someone is talking about it.

[@rhondaanthony1412]

Best of Luck! This is a great idea and your focus on human rights in reality tv is very much needed!

[@jessicaferrari3987]

Great job guys!! Courage and good values, to become pioneers of a new wave of workers' rights in this era. Total respect.

[@datopdawg01]

5:30 I have suspected for a long time that these reality show producers were engaging in their own form of union busting

[@MeredithAleighaWells]

I'm horrified but unfortunately not surprised. Many arts organizations do similar things on the tax front and abuse their artists on varying levels. I'm glad to see someone doing something for this group of people who are given little to no support and resources.

[@rosebeaukay5238]

I remember that scene with him coming back being so odd but he was just being protective ❤

[@socalmsofly]

I'm so glad they spoke out about this!