The following article references sexual abuse and child abuse.
Thus came the modern-day TV titan known as TLC.
Throughout the years, TLC continued to push the boundaries of reality television.
From exploitation to double-dealing, TLC has seen no shortage of call-outs from its former reality stars.
Their chaotic, kid-centric lives turned the couple into pop cultural sensations.
The couple’s divorce was documented on the show in 2009, but the drama didn’t end there.
In fact, Jon Gosselin’s bitter relationship with his ex-wife and with TLC raged on.
In 2015, the eldest child, Josh Duggar, admitted to molesting five young girls as a teenager.
In light of the news, TLC axed “19 Kids and Counting.”
As the Duggar empire crumbled, family alliances broke apart, too.
And evidently, she wasn’t the only sibling who lacked agency.
Because of the contracts, Jill was obligated to give birth on camera against her own wishes.
Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, eventually hired an attorney to help recover some compensation.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available.
Visit theRape, Abuse & Incest National internet websiteor contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
However, the show must go on.
The pair fell in love on a dating site and moved swiftly to obtain the K-1 visa.
However, things got complicated once Lahtinen arrived in the United States.
For one thing, the aspiring model seemed unsupportive of Abelard’s music career.
To make matters worse, they constantly quarreled over their clashing interests, lifestyles, and values.
Despite their differences, the couple said “I do” in 2019.
Abelard also blamed deceptive editing for portraying the pair as incompatible.
As of July 2023, the lovebirds are reportedly still together.
The boisterous tot stole the show and became an instant meme.
Although Shannon denied the allegations,TLC canceled “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.
However, Shannon believed that the web link had other motives.
In an interview withTMZ, the reality star blasted TLC for creating a double standard.
Despite the drama with TLC, Mama June didn’t stay out of the spotlight for long.
In 2017, “Mama June: From Not to Hot” premiered on We TV.
As of this writing, the series is in its sixth season.
A romance blossomed, and Smith soon followed Martson to the United States.
As documented by TLC, the barber shop’s owner was the one who spilled the beans.
“To my knowledge, they got paid to do that,” the reality star said.
“They got paid $500 each to do that.”
Ultimately, the problematic pair divorced in 2021.
As for Smith, the reality star told In Touch that he regrets participating in the show.
TLC portrayed the Willis family as a quirky yet wholesome bunch.
However, the reality was far more sinister.
Behind the scenes, Toby Willis was a sadistic man who tormented his family.
In 2017, the disgraced reality star pleaded guilty to four counts of child rape.
One of the victims was his own daughter, Jessica Willis.
In her 2022 memoir, Jessica revealed that Toby molested her repeatedly throughout childhood.
She also criticized the data pipe for exploiting the Willis kids.
“It’s really disturbing to see what we sometimes platform,” Willis told the publication.
“We need to ask, what is the level of responsibility that we all have?
My dad was making money off of us.
There were children involved who did not have a choice.
It was love at first sight when the pair met on a yacht in Croatia.
TLC chronicled their journey, from securing the K-1 visa to walking down the aisle.
Like many couples on the show, Jessen and Custodio sparked plenty of controversy.
The couple ultimately divorced in 2022, and Custodio moved on to a new relationship.
Jessen’s storyline began airing in 2019 and he wasn’t pleased with what he saw.
I have a lot of lawyers.”
In an Instagram Live, Jessen questioned his decision to appear on the television show.
The reality star concluded that TLC’s editing unfairly demonized his family.
“We’re all upset about the harshness for which we were portrayed,” Jessen stated.
“It hurts our feelings.”
Gwendlyn Brown of Sister Wives
It’s no secret that reality television is chock-full of sensationalized material.
However, “Sister Wives” star Gwendlyn Brown felt TLC crossed a line regarding her personal life.
In an episode that aired in 2017, producers asked Gwendlyn to discuss her sexual orientation.
She speculated, “They’re like, ‘Oh, we have another queer.
We’re gonna exploit that.
We’re gonna make ourselves famous.”
According to Gwendlyn, producers also asked intrusive questions about her autism while filming the scene.
Looking back on the situation, Gwendlyn stated, “It did feel weird.”
Their relationship was stormy from the outset, and the pair eventually parted ways.
However, Reardanz has remained in the public eye.
An avid Instagrammer, Reardanz uses the platform to share updates about her life and travels.
In an Instagram Q&A, Reardanz shaded the show for its dubious editing.
Reardanz also criticized the show for portraying her as “dumb and desperate.”
The reality star called out TLC again in 2020.
She also decried the show’s filming schedule, which consisted of grueling 13-hour days.
That’s what happened in 2014 when Priscilla Kelly spoke out about her experience.
In Kelly’s episode, the then-fourteen-year-old throws a lavish party in the hopes of meeting her future husband.
But according to Kelly, things were not what they seemed in the series.
In a since-deleted Facebook post, Kelly said that most of the show was fabricated including the weddings themselves.
“Basically fake marriages fake engagements” (viaIn Touch).
“It’s all made up for TLC TV ratings.”
Despite her shady interaction with TLC, Kelly continued pursuing an entertainment career.
These days, she’s a pro wrestler who goes by the ring name of Gigi Dolin.
Eric, an American man, connected with Leida, an Indonesian woman, through a personal ad.
According to Leida, some disgruntled fans went as far as sending them death threats.
“We put our lives in danger.
We put our lives on the frontline.
This is not fair,” Leida sobbed in the since-deleted video (viaPeople).
“This is not worth it at all.
We are never going to do this again.”
The reality star vowed to share her side of the story when her contract with TLC expired.
“I’m a human, too,” she stated.
“I didn’t sign up for this.
We didn’t know they’re going to portray us that bad.”
Lisa Ebberson is one of the cast members to speak out against “My 600-lb Life.”
Ebberson suffered a tragic string of events during her 2022 episode.
“Before they came along, me and Randy were on a diet,” she said.
“We cut out all pasta, potatoes, chips, and anything fattening.
They stuck this plate in front of me and I broke down crying.
I’ve never seen so much food in front of me in my life.”
Ebberson also alleged that producers refused to leave her house after filming concluded.
After falling in love online, Dos Santos Lima traveled from her home country of Brazil to marry Johnson.
However, the relationship began crumbling soon after she arrived in America.
TLC documented their troubled marriage, which ended after just seven months.
“I accepted this from the same internet that has aired some felons and adult entertainers.
The hypocrisy is mind-blowing … Shame on you, TLC and Sharp Entertainment.”
