DYING FOR Fame and Fortune
WHETHER it’s an X-rated threesome, a violent fight, a racist-fuelled meltdown or even faking the death of a loved one to get ahead in the show, humiliation and conflict is what gives reality shows their teeth. After all, ratings skyrocket when lives are shattered. What most don’t realise is that when the camera stops rolling a staggering number of reality stars don’t survive the onslaught. At least 38 celebrities around the world have died by suicide following links to reality TV shows. “These figures are horrendous. I have seen people broken after reality TV,” says Big Brother psychologist Emma Kenny. “People are going on these shows who aren’t strong enough to cope. They come out to millions of social media followers, trolls and hangers-on. Some are national hate figures. For a young person with a mental health condition, it’s a lethal combination.”
America’s Next Top Model
DESPITE being show that promises you a career on the international catwalk, not all young women find the lives they hoped for after appearing on . Former contestant was killed in a triple homicide, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a robbery spree, served five years and then was re-arrested for breaking her parole and multiple other was kicked off the show after it was revealed she had been working as an escort, became homeless and struggled with drug addiction and died in December of 2018 from breast cancer, fell into a cycle of alcoholism and drug addiction, too (but recovered and is now a wife, mom and entrepreneur) and committed suicide. The third contestant to have quit the show, had a history of depression and drug abuse at the time of her death at age 29.
