Weird Rules TLC Stars Have To Follow
Lifestyle - News
By ROSEMARY WOJTKOWSKI
This story contains a brief mention of sexual assault.
CONTENT WARNING
must give up privacy
When you are on reality TV, there is little privacy; Sandy Malone from "Wedding Island" said producers are "ALWAYS listening. Even when they're not filming, they're taping every word that comes out of your mouth." You can “NEVER believe anyone who tells you they won't use something they're filming," she explained.
behave on social media
Engaging with social media fans is encouraged to boost an online following, but as a TLC cast member, proper social media etiquette is crucial. Posting on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook could potentially lead to accidentally revealing spoilers for an upcoming episode or even a future scandal.
follow a script
Many elements of reality shows are written by producers to make episodes more enticing, and a lot of the time, this technique works. Courtney Wright, a former bridesmaid on "Say Yes to the Dress," confirmed her experience on the show wasn't what it seemed when it aired: "It's staged," she said. "It's real, but it's staged."
romances observed
To avoid any potential scandals, TLC producers monitor the off-camera relationships of their stars closely. Mama June of "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" received immense backlash when news broke that she was dating Mark Anthony McDaniel, a registered sex offender, and TLC ultimately canceled the show.
child stars not paid
A pageant organizer for "Toddlers & Tiaras" admitted many pageant kids are not compensated. Eden Wood, one of the most famous faces of the series, was allegedly not even paid. "If anyone should have been paid, little Eden [...] should have been," Eden's mother said. "But with us, it was just a 'you scratch our back, we'll scratch yours' deal."