The Discovery and History Channels produce some of the best programming on television. We are talking about Pawn Stars, Naked and Afraid, American Pickers, Alaskan Bush People, Monster Garage, and Swamp People, to mention a few. And, while these reality TV series have piqued our interest, you won’t believe some of the scandals surrounding their cast and crew. Not only are the scandals upsetting, but they have caused cancellations and cast changes. You won’t believe the secrets from some of your favorite shows!
Secrets And Scandals Hidden By Discovery & History Channel
Alaskan Bush People Are Not Alaskan Residents
Alaskan Bush People is enjoyable, but after years of following the Brown family, viewers began to wonder if the show was real or manufactured. This was heightened after Bam Bam and Billy pleaded guilty to second-degree deception for claiming to be Alaska citizens while living abroad in 2015. The Alaskan Permanent Fund Division provides full-time residents with money as an incentive to stay in Alaska. They were sentenced to a month in jail and had to pay thousands of dollars in fines and restitution, according to the Juneau Empire.
Alaskan Bush People Are Not Alaskan Residents
Richard Wasn’t Licensed to Sell Weapons
When a series revolves around a family of gun makers who run Gunspoke Guns, and the patriarch of the family, Richard Wyatt, does not have a permit to sell guns, it is not a good sign. However, it was released after the show had already been canceled. Wyatt lost his Federal Firearms License in 2012 for violating federal regulations and laws, but he continued to sell firearms through a conspiracy with other gun dealers. To keep his business running, he had customers purchase their firearms at Gunspoke and then pick them up at other locations, according to The Denver Post.
Richard Wasn’t Licensed to Sell Weapons
Richard Wyatt Didn’t Report $1.1 Million in Income
Richard Wyatt of American Guns has been involved in other legal issues as well. A federal jury convicted the Discovery Channel reality TV star in 2017 of ten felony counts of conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion. According to The Denver Post, Wyatt received a 78-month jail sentence for conspiracy, distributing weapons without a license, and failing to disclose $1.1 million in income to the IRS.
Richard Wyatt Didn’t Report $1.1 Million In Income
“American Guns” Had Criminal Clients
If illicit gun sales and tax avoidance weren’t enough, American Guns was also accused of facilitating the sale of stolen firearms. During the end of the first season, a guy named Wylie Newton had a stolen 1849.44-caliber Colt Dragoon appraised on the show for $40,000. The gun was actually taken from a firearms museum in New Mexico, according to Fox31 Denver! Newton almost got away with it, but the man from whom the rifle was stolen was watching TV and recognized the firearm and called the police.
“American Guns” Had Criminal Clients
Hayden Family Was Arrested
Sons of Guns, another show about a family selling firearms, was unexpectedly cancelled in 2014 after Will Hayden faced accusations. However, Stephanie Hayden-Ford and Kris Ford were charged after the show was canceled, making this not the only arrest in the family. According to US Weekly, the Sons of Guns performers were detained after reportedly beating Hayden’s 9-year-old son. Ford was accused of assaulting the youngster, and Hayden was arrested for being present during the event.
Hayden Family Was Arrested
“Sons of Guns” Producers Caused Security Scare
Shortly after the show’s first season began, two members of the Sons of Guns production team sparked a security panic at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport by leaving a rented truck laden with fireworks and weaponry outside one of the terminals unattended. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth claimed that they were looking for a third member of their group. Who would leave a truck filled with bombs and guns unguarded outside an airport? Of course, authorities became involved.
“Sons Of Guns” Producers Caused Security Scare
The Scare Happened on 9/11
What’s worse than causing a security concern is that it occurred on September 11, 2011, ten years after the 9/11 attacks. Anyway, it closed a portion of the airport for two hours while airport security and the FBI questioned the driver. The Discovery Channel later issued a statement to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, describing it as a “colossal error in judgment by a member of our staff”.
The Scare Happened On 9 11
Cody Lundin Filed Defamation Lawsuit Against “Dual Survival”
One of the co-hosts of Dual Survival, a show about survival specialists in harsh circumstances, had to deal with his own difficult situation. Co-host Joe Teti allegedly made violent threats against Cody Lundin, prompting Discovery to fire him. He alleged that producers subsequently edited behind-the-scenes footage to make him appear mentally unstable, which led to his departure from the show. However, after reviewing the episode, a judge determined that some scenes were “completely factually accurate while others were only substantially true,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Cody Lundin Filed Defamation Lawsuit Against “Dual Survival”
Alleged Threats Made by Joe Teti Against Cody Lundin
So, how did Dual Survival’s Cody Lundin allege Joe Teti threatened him? While producers made it appear that Lundin was unstable, Lundin claimed Teti brandished an ice axe around and threatened to bury him on a mountain in Norway, according to Fox News. And those aren’t the only threats he claimed. Lundin said Teti threatened to impale him with a spear while shooting in Hawaii. He even claimed Teti showed him images of persons he killed as a CIA agent.
Joe Teti’s Alleged Threats Against Cody Lundin
“Naked and Afraid” is Scripted
Naked and Afraid, a show about a man and a woman who are pushed to survive in the jungle without anything, has sparked numerous issues, with many people assuming it is a hoax. One report from Season 3 participant Honora Bowen is particularly compelling. In her blog, she believes she was told to fight participant Matt Strutzel to make things more exciting, and that producers advised her on what to say about her history. She failed to complete the task owing to excessive heat exhaustion, which she pretended to have in order to leave the show.
“Naked And Afraid” Is Scripted
Fans Were Not Impressed with Count’s Kustoms
Counting Cars, a Pawn Stars spinoff, covers the activities at Count’s Kustoms, an automobile restoration and customizing business founded by Danny Koker, a vehicle expert on Pawn Stars. While the show has aired for ten seasons and counting, viewers who visited the shop were unimpressed. One TripAdvisor customer wrote, “I was not impressed with this shop at all. It’s just a warehouse containing some of the cars and bikes they’ve worked on, plus a pricey souvenir shop. It took less than 15 minutes to walk through.
Fans Were Not Impressed With Count’s Kustoms
“American Pickers” Only Shows Best Items
American Pickers follows antique and collectible pickers Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz as they travel around the United States hunting for objects to “pick”. While they discover gems and precious artifacts on the show, there are suspicions that we only see a portion of what they sift through. The majority of what they discover is unlikely to be shown on film. Producers sort through the things and select the best ones to exhibit, such as Yoda prototypes, a $9,500 elephant’s head, and a $21,000 Von Dutch XAVW motorcycle.
“American Pickers” Only Shows Best Items
Items are Pre-Selected
Pawn Stars, which follows Rick Harrison and his family, who own and operate a pawn shop in Las Vegas, has been alleged to filter what appears on the show, similar to American Pickers. On-screen, Harrison looks to be pleasant with everyone and discovers wonderful artifacts with intriguing stories, but it’s unclear whether he actually discovered the objects on the show. Many people assume the producers beforehand purchased the pricey things and then placed them on set.
Items Are Pre Selected
Restorations Aren’t Always Perfect
Another spin-off of Pawn Stars is American Restorations, which follows a group of professionals that restore American historical items to their original condition. The show aired for seven seasons, and while many of the results were amazing, fans spotted a few flaws during that time. One mistake occurred in an episode titled “Secret Fan”. A viewer noticed that the wheels on the refurbished go-kart were fitted incorrectly, causing it to wobble while traveling. Others have found chipped paint in restorations.
Restorations Aren’t Always Perfect
“American Pickers” is Fake
As previously stated, it is suspected that many of the collections on American Pickers have been pre-selected and planted in the shop for the sake of good TV, but there is also speculation that the talks are not quite as depicted on-screen. Many people who have sold items on the show have spoken out about how Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz behave differently than how they are portrayed on the show, and buyers and sellers frequently agree on a price before the cameras roll.
“American Pickers” Is Fake
Man Wasn’t Eaten Alive
When a show teases for months that a guy will be eaten alive and then fails to deliver on that promise, fans are bound to be upset. That’s exactly what happened in the Discovery Channel special Eaten Alive with Paul Rosolie. He came face to face with a 20-foot anaconda, but was eventually saved. Rosolie became terrified as the snake wrapped its mouth around his head and crushed his arm, so he called off the entire operation and experts rushed in to help him. Unsurprisingly, fans were disappointed because they expected more grisly action from a title like Eaten Alive.
Man Wasn’t Eaten Alive
PETA Condemned “Eaten Alive”
It’s no surprise that Eaten Alive made headlines following the incident with the snake, and even PETA condemned the conduct. PETA accused the Discovery Channel of animal cruelty, despite Rosolie’s claim that the act was intended to raise awareness about the preservation of the Amazon. PETA further claimed that the “snake was tormented and suffered for the sake of ratings” or “Shame on this pseudo ‘wildlife expert’ for tormenting this animal, and shame on the Discovery Channel for giving him the incentive to do so.”
PETA Condemned “Eaten Alive”
Mama June’s Boyfriend
Fans were shocked when TLC, which is owned by Discovery, abruptly canceled Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, a show about Alana Thompson’s family, after two seasons. The reason for the cancellation was even more surprising. According to CNN, Mama June was dating Mark Anthony McDaniel, who was sentenced to ten years in prison for child molestation. Mama June denied dating him, but the child McDaniel mistreated was her daughter. An entire season’s worth of episodes remained unaired.
Mama June’s Boyfriend
Chickadee Sued Mama June
Even after Here Comes Honey Boo Boo had concluded, the sitcom continued to create headlines. In addition to Mama June allegedly dating a child molester, Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell sued her mother for reportedly withholding $300,000 in show revenues owed to her and her two-year-old daughter, Entertainment Tonight said. According to the site, the family was paid $22,500 every episode, and Mama June asked TLC to pay the Cardwells’ half of the money directly into her account.
Chickadee Sued Mama June
Cast of “Mountain Men” Living Modern Life
When a show portrays people who live off the grid in the wilderness away from modern life, yet some of the cast members use modern technology, audiences are left feeling misled. Such was the case with the Mountain Men. Not only does cast member Jason Hawk own an online company that sells handcrafted knives, but Nancy and Tom Oar have cable. These things show that the cast isn’t completely off the grid.
Cast Of “Mountain Men” Living Modern Life
Casual Encounters May Be Staged
We indicated that Pawn Stars and American Pickers are thought to be staged. It is claimed that this is also true for casual encounters, which producers may arrange. People believe that many of the sellers are pre-selected and then scheduled to come on the shows, giving the cast time to learn about the products and speak with specialists before they appear in the shop. However, this has yet to be confirmed.
Casual Encounters May Be Staged
Danny Koker Voiced Questionable Views
Danny Koker of Counting Cars isn’t afraid to express his opinions outside of the shop, even if they aren’t the most popular. In addition to voicing his political views throughout the presidential campaign, he spoke with Good Morning America about how ineffective ecologically friendly vehicles are. “Prius, I have no use for…” I could care less. I’d be pleased if it gets four miles per gallon and has 800 horsepower. “Let’s burn this stuff and have a good time,” Koker said.
Danny Koker Voiced Questionable Views
Pawn Stars Lose Money
The pricing conversations are one of the most popular aspects of Pawn Stars among fans. While we’re not sure if everything is scripted, we enjoy watching the cast interact with the consumers. Most of the time, the cast gets the best bargains, but there are instances when they make stupid decisions and get taken advantage of. Sometimes they lose money because the objects are stolen or faked, and other times they just do not sell and wind up at auction. Rick Harrison told NPR that “it’s the cost of doing business.”
Pawn Stars Lose Money
Chumlee’s Legal Problems
Pawn Stars fans understand how vital Austin “Chumlee” Russel is to the show. He takes a really personable approach to his job, which is greatly appreciated. Despite his placid demeanor, he has gotten himself into legal difficulties. Back in 2016, police raided his home and discovered illicit firearms and drugs. He pleaded guilty to avoid jail time and completed probation, allowing him to continue starring in the show, according to Deadline.
Chumlee’s Legal Problems
Getting Stopped by Police
Fans of Moonshiners began to question how the group was never apprehended by police despite the show’s focus on illegal moonshine production and dramatization of dodging the law. Throughout the show, the cast was frequently halted by the authorities and ended up walking or driving away. Apparently, no one was arrested because “You have to catch them in the process of making it,” Dolores Gavin, the show’s executive producer, told the New York Daily News.
Getting Stopped By Police
Losing Competition License
Any street racer that participates on Street Outlaws understands that being on the show is tremendous press and attracts a lot of new viewers. Even the prospect of losing their licenses is insufficient to prevent the cast members from appearing on the show. In 2015, the National Hot Rod Association threatened to remove the competition licenses of the show’s participants because it depicts illegal street racing, which is unsafe and potentially fatal.
Losing Competition License
Fans Were Misled About the Moonshiners
Apparently, the cast of Moonshiners did not get away with illegal alcohol production. The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control informed The Associated Press that viewers were deceived by the show. According to spokeswoman Kathleen Shaw, the show led viewers to assume that the state tolerated illegal booze manufacturing, and they would not have participated in the documentary if they had known this. In fact, no illegal alcohol was being manufactured. They agreed to appear on a show that “documents the history of moonshine and moonshine investigations in Virginia”.
Fans Were Misled About The Moonshiners
Jesse James’ Life Off-Screen
Before becoming recognized for associating with Hollywood A-listers, Jesse James participated in Monster Garage, a film about a bunch of mechanics who alter vehicles into various machines. He has become renowned as Sandra Bullock’s husband, who cheated on her and began dating fellow reality TV star Kat Von D. To The Daily Mail, the founder of West Coast Choppers apologized to her and admitted to cheating on her, calling it a “part of life”.
Jesse James’ Life Off Screen
Jesse James Broke the Law
Jesse James is known for his bad boy attitude, and according to the Discovery Channel website, his great-great-grandfather was a relative of the infamous Wild West outlaw Jesse James. This has not been proven. James, like his supposed relative, breached the law. According to People, the California Air Resources Board penalized him and his West Coast Choppers $271,250 for violating state clean-air standards with their custom bikes.
Jesse James Broke The Law
Monster Bikes Weren’t Certified
There’s more to the California Air Resources Board fining Jesse James, as People revealed—not only did they violate the state’s clean-air laws, but the monsters lacked state-certified exhaust and fuel system emissions equipment, causing them to emit hydrocarbon emissions ten times the legal limit. Wow! James and his colleagues sold the bikes between 1988 and 2005. This matches with the period Monster Garage was on television.
Monster Bikes Weren’t Certified
“MythBusters” Accidents
MythBusters, a show in which Hollywood special effects experts seek to disprove rumors, myths, and urban legends, has encountered a lot of problems throughout the course of its 19 seasons. There were several accidents and injuries, ranging from cannonballs into people’s homes to electric shocks and blown-out windows. The majority of the accidents involved the five co-hosts. Tory Bellici frequently got hit in the crotch or fell off bicycles and buildings, whereas Adam Savage fell and was surprised.
“MythBusters” Accidents
Damage from Cannons
One of the most serious MythBusters incidents occurred when the team misfired a cannon outside the bomb range, firing a shot into a California neighborhood. The cannonball passed through the front door of someone’s house, through the wall of an upstairs bedroom, and into a minivan parked on the street. Fortunately, no one was injured during the accident. We simply hope the family got reimbursed for the damage.
Damage From Cannons
Legal Battles of the “Swamp People”
A show depicting the daily lives of alligator hunters in Louisiana appears strange enough, but many of the hunters’ lives are even more bizarre off-screen. RJ Molinere, Jr., Jay Paul Molinere, Nick Payne, Chase Landry, and Randy Rivers Jr. have all had legal issues, but Joe Lafont’s was the most serious. Trapper Joe was arrested in 2012 for domestic violence after an argument with his fiancée, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Fox 8 reports that the same allegations were brought again in 2013 and 2015.
Legal Battles Of The “Swamp People”
Bear Grylls Was Attacked by a Man in a Bear Costume
In Man vs. Wild, Bear Grylls encounters tremendous challenges and fatal scenarios that are almost too dangerous to be real. In one nighttime episode, Grylls believed he was being chased by a bear, but it was actually a guy. According to Ron Hood, a survival expert who was on set during filming, it was a colleague dressed up as a fancy bear. Set images revealed later proved this to be correct.
Bear Grylls Was Attacked By A Man In A Bear Costume
History Channel Didn’t Solve Amelia Earhart’s Disappearance
Before presenting Amelia Earhart: The Lost Evidence, The History Channel should have conducted additional investigation. The program claimed to have solved the female pilot’s disappearance using a previously lost photograph as evidence. After the documentary aired, Japanese military history blogger Kota Yamano informed The Guardian that he uncovered the shot in a travel book, which was taken in a 1935 Japanese-language travelogue about the South Pacific islands. “I have never believed the theory that Earhart was captured by the Japanese military, so I decided to find out for myself,” he told reporters.
History Channel Didn’t Solve Amelia Earhart’s Disappearance
Producers Intervened in “Alone”
Alone is essentially The History Channel’s version of Naked and Afraid, with participants abandoned in remote areas and forced to devise survival strategies. However, production does meddle slightly. Larry Roberts, Season 2’s second-place winner, told Outdoor News that he had some communication with producers. “They checked on us on a frequent basis. We were supposed to carry a GPS tracker on us. They would check in with us at least once a night to make sure everything was fine.”
Producers Intervened In “Alone”
Contestants are Helped in “Naked and Afraid”
Speaking of Naked and Afraid, like Alone, candidates have confessed that they have had assistance from the crew, which rather negates the concept of living off the land for 21 days to fend for themselves. Kim Shelton, a contestant, was fed bread, rice, and baby food after becoming ill from eating a turtle’s liver on the show. After being ill, she was even hooked up to two IV drops to rehydrate, according to a program source. Even though it was required to preserve her life, the show did not inform viewers.
Contestants Are Helped In “Naked And Afraid”
“Naked and Afraid” Isn’t Scandalous
Despite the fact that the presentation displays a bunch of really fit naked people, it is not scandalous. The candidates are in the middle of nowhere, naked and terrified. Instead than attempting to form close relationships, they are obsessed with finding shelter and doing everything necessary to survive in the wilderness, such as avoiding freezing to death, staying away from wild animals, and finding food and water.
“Naked And Afraid” Isn’t Scandalous
One Million Moms Wanted “Naked and Afraid” Canceled
While Naked and Afraid is not about intimacy or pleasure, One Million Moms, a conservative family organization, wanted the show canceled because they thought the nudity was inappropriate. They went so far as to encourage their members and supporters to boycott the show when it premiered in 2013. “Discovery should be ashamed of airing nudity and calling it entertainment.” In fact, having the cast naked is the foundation for half of the play,” the organization stated in a press statement on its website. Naked and Afraid has aired for 13 seasons to far.
One Million Moms Wanted “Naked And Afraid” Canceled
Pawn Stars Rarely Make Appearances in the Shop
While Chumlee, Corey, Rick, and The Old Man have become household names thanks to Pawn Stars, if you visit Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, you’re unlikely to stumble into one of them. Prior to becoming popular for the show, they worked at the business on a regular basis. However, due to their hectic schedules, they are rarely seen on the shop floor. They occasionally make appearances to meet fans, sign autographs, and take pictures, although these are usually unannounced.
Pawn Stars Rarely Make Appearances In The Shop
Surprising Cast Changes in “Swamp People”
When it comes to television, the cast is often always changing, and this is especially true for reality shows. This was especially evident in Swamp People Season 7, when 12 cast members were abruptly removed following the hiring of a new producer. If it wasn’t stunning enough, the History Channel never explained why the cast changed. Fans did not learn about it until Season 7 premiered.
Surprising Cast Changes In “Swamp People”
Alligators are Already Dead
It’s always disappointing when a show fails to live up to its hype, especially when it’s in the name. Many people felt this way when watching Swamp People, which is intended to be about alligator hunting. Some believe that alligators are already dead before they are hunted. This is because the gators do not appear to be struggling much, and wrestling them makes the scene more thrilling for television. Fans also believe it is impossible for alligators to be that enormous all the time.
Alligators Are Already Dead
Shark Week Aired Fake Documentary
Shark Week is the longest-running cable television program event in history, airing since 1988! However, during Shark Week in 2013, The Discovery Channel ran a bogus documentary titled Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives, which drew widespread criticism. The documentary followed the return of a 70-foot prehistoric beast. Despite a quick caution indicating it was fiction, others believed it was true. “It was presented in such a way that you could very easily watch it and not know it was fictional,” a shark specialist told NPR. Even now, about 5 million people watch it!
Shark Week Aired Fake Documentary