Top 10 Reality TV Moments of 2023: From Tom Sandoval's 'cheating' scandal to Lisa Barlow's 'hot mic' moment
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: `Tis the season! It's the perfect time to have a recap of the 2023 top Reality TV Moments. 2023 was quite a dramatic year for reality television with multiple shocking dramas which still stun the viewers.
Raquel Leviss' affair with Tom Sandoval and makeout session with Tom Schwartz was the scandalous drama featured during the jaw-dropping 'Vanderpump Rules' three-part reunion which still has the viewers hooked to it.
Besides the scandal that's still buzzing around in the reality TV world, we couldn't help but cringe over a slate of scenes hailed from another popular show 'Married At First Sight'.
From 'Real Housewives' drama to the first 'Golden Bachelor' winner, have a look back at some of the wildest moments of reality television shows.
1. 'Vanderpump Rules' star Tom Sandoval's cheating scandal
Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss' affair broke the internet which premiered during the 'Vanderpump Rules' Season 10 finale. Sandoval's cheating scandal broke his nine-year relationship with Ariana Madix.
During the finale, Madix explained to her friends Katie Maloney and Scheana Shay how she found out about Sandoval, cheating on her with their costar Leviss, while also revealing that the affair had been going on for seven months, rather than six.
She revealed that she attended one of Sandoval's shows and was handed his phone after it fell out of his pocket. Madix's intuition led her to look through it, and what she found on the phone was visual evidence that Sandoval was having a sexual affair with her friend Leviss.
Additionally, more drama and revelations unfolded during the 'Vanderpump Rules' Season 10 explosive three-part reunion.
2. 'Married At First Sight' groom gets jilted at the altar for the first time in the franchise
'Married At First Sight' Season 17 has been quite a dramatic ride with some of the most shocking moments. During the premiere of the Lifetime show, Michael Shiakallis was left heartbroken after the 'runaway bride' ditched him at the altar.
Michael was waiting to meet his bride for the first time at the altar. He was quite nervous and also hopeful to get a 'great match'.
He was amazed as he watched his 'beautiful' bride make her way down the aisle until she said, 'I don't think I can do this'. Notably, the Lifetime producers kept the Runaway bride's identity a secret which sparked speculations that the scene was scripted.
3. 'The Kardashians' star Kim and Kourtney Kardashian's feud over Dolce & Gabbana
Kardashian sibling Kim and Kourtney's nasty feud over Dolce & Gabbana was ignited in 'The Kardashians' Season 4 after the former revealed the family's 'not Kourtney' group text.
For unaware, Kourtney partnered with the fashion brand for her lavish Italian wedding to Travis Barker in May 2022. However, Kim soon established a partnership with Dolce & Gabbana and allegedly made Kourtney's brand all about herself.
The feud re-ignited in the latest season after Kourtney shared a heated phone call with Kim, which happened three days before their family's trip to Cabo San Lucas. The call started calm until Kourtney expressed her desire to not be around her family.
4. 'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test' star Tara Reid sneaks cigarettes
Tara Reid had a rocky journey in 'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test'. The actress tried to sneak in a pack of cigarettes after the group's first task and was reprimanded for it.
She was caught red-handed while attempting to sneak in and had to hand over two packs of cigarettes. However, Reid was surprised to find a third in her pocket and claimed she 'didn't know it was in there.'
Reid has been candid about her struggles with addiction through the years. In 2008, she went to rehab and completed a 60-day program.
5. 'RHONJ' stars Joe and Melissa Gorga skip Teresa Giudice's wedding
'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' star Teresa Giudice had a stunning wedding with her husband Luis 'Louie' Ruelas in August 2022. However, fans finally got to see inside their big day on the Bravo show in May 2023.
Notably, Teresa's brother and her sister-in-law Joe and Melissa Gorga didn't attend the wedding. Meanwhile, during the 'RHONJ' Season 13 finale, fans got to know about the reason Joe and Melissa ditched the wedding.
Teresa revealed that it all started with the rumour that Melissa was caught hooking up with a man who was not her husband in the backseat of a car. Teresa called Joe to inform him about Melissa's alleged affair.
However, Melissa got to know about Teresa's revelation and she confronted her for accusing her of alleged cheating. Since then, Teresa and Melissa's relationship has gone only worse.
6. 'Golden Bachelor' star Gerry Turner announces his wedding to Theresa Nist
ABC debuted the 'The Bachelor' spinoff show 'Golden Bachelor' with a stirring plot filled with drama, heartbreaks, and romances. However, in the first-ever season finale of 'The Golden Bachelor', Gerry Turner shockingly chose Theresa Nist over fan-favourite Leslie Fhima.
Before Jerry could propose to Theresa, he first had to call it quits with Leslie. On their final night together, he confessed to Leslie that he had fallen in love with Theresa which left her heartbroken as she was sure that the bachelor would choose her.
Meanwhile, after Gerry and Theresa's engagement, he announced that he would soon marry Theresa which will be televised live on ABC.
7. 'RHOSLC' Season 4 star Lisa Barlow's 'hot mic' feud with Whitney Rose
During 'RHOSLC' Season 4 Episode 12, Whitney Rose attended Meredith Marks' business launch party despite grieving the loss of her best friend, Shari, who had passed away following a long battle with cancer.
Whitney was disappointed when her close friend, Lisa, arrived and immediately gave Heather Gay a present instead of consoling her. However, when Whitney brought the issue up, Lisa claimed that she didn't know what to say because she wasn't sure how Whitney grieved.
Whitney was very disappointed with Lisa and she abruptly left the party. Lisa followed Whitney but she had already left prompting her to furiously ask the cameras to stop filming and take her microphone away.
8. '1000-lb Sisters' Tammy Slaton fits into the front seat of a car
Tammy Slaton has shockingly dropped around 300 pounds. Meanwhile, in '1000-lb Sisters' Season 5, Tammy was finally able to sit in the front seat of a car for the first time in over two decades.
In 1000-lb Sisters' Season 5 Episode 2, Tammy's brother Chris Combs announced that he was going to try to put the reality star in the front seat. Tammy was concerned that she wouldn't be able to fit in between the door and the console in the car.
Meanwhile, in a confessional, Tammy admitted that she hadn't sat in the front seat of a car since she was 15 or 16 years old. With the help of her sibling, Tammy finally sat in the front seat of the car after 20 years.
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9. 'Sister Wives' Season 18 star Christine Brown introduces her husband David Woolley
'Sister Wives' Season 18 featured the end of Kody Brown's polygamy marriage. However, Kody's ex-wife, Christine Brown introduced her new husband David Woolley during the Tell-All special episode.
Christine got married to David on 7 October 2023 after they publicly revealed their relationship on Valentine's Day. However, David reflected on his first meeting with Christine on the TLC show.
David revealed that his daughter thought someone was catfishing him by pretending to be Christine. However, after David met Christine in person he instantly sparked romance and decided that she was 'the one.'
10. June Shannon marries Justin Stroud in 'Mama June: Family Crisis'
In 'Mama June: Family Crisis' Season 6, Mama June Shannon married her longtime beau Justin Stroud in an intimate oceanfront ceremony at SpringHill Suites in Panama City, Florida.
The fairytale wedding was attended by June's whole family, including her daughter, Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson, Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird, Jessica 'Chubbs' Shannon and Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell as well as June's grandchildren Stella, Sylus and Bentley Efird.
The wedding was the first time June's family had all been together since 2014. Meanwhile, during the WETv show's finale episode June's daughter Anna also revealed her cancer diagnosis to her family.
Unfortunately, Anna has recently lost the battle to cancer on November 9, 2023.
