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Buzz Feed
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Wild Confessions From Former Reality TV Stars
A while back, I rounded up the most shocking experiences from BuzzFeed Community members who've ever appeared on or auditioned for a reality show to share their most shocking experiences. In the comments, people shared even more! Here are 16 of their top responses: "I used to transcribe some reality TV shows, typically romance ones. The couples were genuine, and even the feelings seemed real, but the lines were fed to them and twisted their emotions to be what the production companies wanted. I was paid to transcribe everything I heard, so I'd transcribe them saying one thing when the cameras weren't rolling, and then transcribe the conversation with the production team where they were prompted to word their feelings in an often manipulated way. Then I'd transcribe them repeating the lines they'd been fed back to the rolling camera. Sometimes they'd express a degree of frustration at having to use words that didn't match their true feelings. I was never a big fan of the genre, but it put me off reality TV for life." —cakecheese "Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell filmed at a restaurant I worked at. That's how we got the new hire executive chef we needed. The restaurant had two swinging doors, one to go in and one to go out. They had my coworker fill a tray of drinks and intentionally spill them when someone came in the opposite way through 'the only swinging door' in the restaurant. My coworker played her part masterfully. 😂" —smokinace "I've tried out for American Idol and The Voice. I was a karaoke DJ for 10 years. I've been asked to sing for military awards ceremonies and private parties (nothing big), but I've been told I'm a good singer, so I should try out. I went in for The Voice. They took one look at me, gave me three seconds to sing, and said bye. They didn't give anyone a real chance unless they were already interested in you." —mizmanet "I saw the American Idol audition experience in person. They have casting judges before you get to TV, and they deliberately filter out good singers to film the bad ones or stupid-looking costumes for entertainment." —panda_13 "When I auditioned for American Idol, I could hear hundreds of beautiful voices that continuously got rejected. The only people I saw picked were either dressed crazily (a guy dressed in full tinfoil while holding a toothbrush as tall as him) or people who acted wildly (a girl danced her way up to a producer like Shakira in slow motion). They did make it onto the show though, so...." —helenmelon16 "I know a couple who broke up and went to court because he wanted the ring back, and she was keeping it. They were contacted by a court TV show asking them if they wanted to be on. I imagine they have low-level employees just scrolling through state online filings of court cases looking for anything juicy." —hans___ "I can confirm. I took an ex to small claims court about 10 years ago and got a letter from one of those judge shows. I didn't do it, but my mom wanted me to since it was one of the judges she used to watch." —flyerboy6 "I worked on…we'll call it a controversial UK morning talk show, which is no longer in production. We absolutely used to seek out stories in this manner, and even worse tactics. 😬" —britneypeedonaladybug "This girl I went to high school with tried out for The Real World in like 2008. She was pretty, popular, and dramatic and had three pet tigers, so I don't know why they passed on her. Now she's married to a famous rapper and is an influencer with more than a million IG followers." —beaniebaby99 "I took the test for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Couple of things: I didn't realize you take the test first but have to stay through at least two show tapings to get your results, so I guess that's how they get at least part of their studio audience. The other thing that struck me was how hard the test questions were versus how easy the show questions were. It was curious to me how some of the contestants even made it on the show when they were missing so many of the questions. If they could pass that test in the first place, the show shoulda been a piece of cake! 🤷🏽♀️" —sthumphrey24 "A girl I worked with was runner-up on The Bachelor. It was before it was a launching pad for social media careers, so she kept her real job and has a reasonable online presence. She actually came off as more mellow on the show than she is in person, which is probably the best outcome you can hope for." —beaniebaby99 "Why anyone would be on a reality TV show is beyond me. There was a couple in my friend's neighborhood who were on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They had four kids with disabilities, so the house was built accordingly. Afterwards, the property taxes soared, and they couldn't afford to live there. They sold it and moved elsewhere. The construction was supposedly pretty half-baked, too." —demoncopperhead "My friend was scouted for My Strange Addiction because she makes a living through teaching and working with taxidermy. They wanted to portray her as some sort of dead animal addict who compulsively messed with the corpses. It was not the case at all. She had and has a normal life outside of her work and is perfectly healthy." —problematik "Went to a taping of Whose Line Is It Anyway?. Ruined the show for me. They did multiple takes of a lot of it, with some jokes repeated, and others slightly tweaked." —mustaaaaard "I had a friend go on Tattoo Fixers. He was shown the designs before he actually went on the show, so he knew what he was going to get. The 'reveal' part was filmed a few weeks later after it'd healed, so he had to fake a surprised look." —doublekmama And finally: "I was on Trading Spaces while I was volunteering for the Ronald McDonald House. Doug was the designer. He chose to renovate the day room as a thank you because his nephew had cancer, and his parents had stayed in one while he was in treatment. It was really sweet and turned out gorgeous." —bestunicorn88 If you've ever been on a reality show, what was your experience like? Tell us all about it in the comments or in the anonymous comments box below!
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Anne Burrell's cause of death revealed: Food Network star died by suicide
Food Network icon Anne Burrell, the spiky-haired powerhouse behind Worst Cooks in America died by suicide. The New York City medical examiner determined the cause of death, as cited by reports, to be acute intoxication caused due to a combination of diphenhydramine, cetirizine, ethanol, and amphetamine—essentially antihistamines, alcohol, and ADHD meds. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On June 17, Burrell was found unresponsive in the shower of her Brooklyn home. A 911 caller initially reported what looked like a cardiac arrest, and EMS arrived to pronounce her dead on the scene. Dozens of pills were found nearby. Just a day earlier, she had performed in an improv show at Second City New York, completely in high spirits, according to sources as cited by reports. Friends said she was 'typical fun, outgoing Anne,' and shock rippled through her inner circle when the news broke. Anne had built a two-decade-plus legacy on television. She began her career cooking in top New York restaurants and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. She made her TV debut as a sous-chef to Mario Batali on Iron Chef America, then went on to host popular shows like Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, Chef Wanted, Chopped, and of course Worst Cooks in America, where she taught kitchen novices how to cook like pros across 27 seasons. She also authored two cookbooks—Cook Like a Rock Star and Own Your Kitchen—both landing on bestseller lists. Fans knew her for her energetic, down-to-earth teaching style that made home cooking feel accessible, even fun. When news of her passing emerged, colleagues and fans around the world poured out heartfelt tributes. The Food Network released a statement calling her 'a remarkable person and culinary talent' who brought joy, learning, and realness to screens and studios. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Burrell is survived by her husband Stuart Claxton, stepson Javier, her mother Marlene, and siblings Jane and Ben. Her final season of Worst Cooks in America is set to air posthumously on July 28, 2025. Disclaimer: The information regarding Anne Burrell's cause of death is based on official reports from the medical examiner and credible news sources. This article discusses suicide as determined by those findings. If you are suicidal or in emotional distress, consider using the helpline numbers. Tele MANAS is a comprehensive mental health care service provided by the Indian government. Toll free numbers: 14416, 18008914416
Indian Express
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Food Network chef Anne Burrell died by suicide after mixing alcohol with prescription drugs; was found unresponsive in her bathroom: Report
Food Network chef Anne Burrell, who was found unresponsive at her Brooklyn home on June 17, reportedly died by suicide. According to the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's report obtained by TMZ, she consumed a lethal mix of alcohol and prescription drugs that ultimately led to her death. The news has left fans and the culinary industry in shock. While the substances found in her system are typically prescription-based, it's strongly advised not to mix them due to their potentially dangerous, unpredictable effects. The 55-year-old's sudden exit from Worst Cooks in America had already raised concern, with fans questioning her abrupt removal. Also read: Anne Burrell, Food Network chef, found dead at 55 after sudden exit from Worst Cooks in America On June 17, the fire department rushed to Anne's home after a 911 call reported cardiac arrest. Her body was found 'unresponsive' lying on the bathroom floor. Paramedics tried to revive her, but she was pronounced dead on the spot. What shocked fans even more was that just five days earlier, the chef had shared a life update on social media, smiling and strolling through NYC. According to the official report, Anne had taken diphenhydramine and cetirizine (both allergy meds), ethanol (alcohol), and amphetamine, a stimulant usually prescribed for ADHD. Experts say each of these, taken alone and in the right dose, is generally safe. But mixed together, especially with alcohol, they can turn unpredictable and fatal. Anne's death was first confirmed by her family and rep, who called her 'a beloved wife, daughter, sister, stepmom, and friend,' and said her smile lit up every room she walked into, that her warmth and spirit won't be forgotten. Anne was married to Stuart Claxton (a Univision ad executive she married in 2021). She used to live with her step-son Javier, her mother, Marlene, her sister Jane, Jane's kids Isabella, Amelia, and Nicolas, and her brother Ben. Also read: Hulk Hogan Death Live Updates: Jake Paul, Varun Dhawan, JD Vance, Kane, Triple H, Donald Trump mourn demise of WWE legend Anne rose to fame as a sous-chef on Iron Chef America, following which she signed up for her own show Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which ran for nine seasons. Born in Cazenovia, New York, in 1969, Anne, who grew up watching her mother cook and was heavily influenced by Julia Child, pursued her passion in cooking and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996 and then flew to Italy to master European cuisine. In her career, she hosted and appeared on multiple cooking shows including Chopped, Chef Wanted, Food Network Star, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Beat Bobby Flay. But she's best known for Worst Cooks in America, where she coached clueless home cooks with her signature style for 27 seasons. Her final TV appearance will air on July 28 with the newest season of Worst Cooks in America on Food Network, streaming the next day on HBO Max.
Perth Now
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Anne Burrell's cause of death ‘ruled as suicide'
Food Network star Anne Burrell reportedly died by suicide. Five weeks after the celebrity chef was found unresponsive in her home aged 55, the TV star, best known for hosting Worst Cooks in America, is said to have died from 'acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine,' according to an official autopsy from the New York City medical examiner's office, which was cited by People on Thursday. (24.07.25) Diphenhydramine and cetirizine are antihistamines, ethanol is alcohol and amphetamine is a stimulant commonly prescribed for attention deficit disorders. People reported: 'Burrell died by suicide,' adding her family had 'declined' to comment on the finding. Emergency responders were called to the Manhattan apartment Anne shared with her husband, 63-year-old Stuart Claxton, in the early hours of Thursday morning. NYPD documents seen by The New York Times said she was found unconscious in the shower, surrounded by around 100 assorted pills, and pronounced dead at the scene. Stuart told authorities he had last seen Anne alive around 1am. He discovered her body between six and seven hours later. Emergency medical personnel attempted CPR but were unable to revive her. The medical examiner completed an autopsy in June, but toxicology results delayed a formal cause of death until this week. Anne had recently taken a break from television and was exploring new creative interests. Hours before her death, she had performed an improv comedy show at a club in Brooklyn. Earlier this year, she told 52-year-old actress Tori Spelling on a podcast she had enrolled in acting classes. 'I just started taking acting classes. I started yesterday, actually… It's like an improv for actors' class,' Anne said. She added: 'I got there and it's like eight people in the class. I'm the oldest one. Every other person has like, 'Oh, I have a master's in fine arts in theatre.'' Anne went on: 'I wonder if these delightful and super talented kids look at me and they're like, 'What's this old lady doing here?'' In a statement following her death, Anne's family said: 'Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend – her smile lit up every room she entered. Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. 'Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.' A Food Network spokesperson said about her passing: 'Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent – teaching, competing and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring.' Anne rose to national fame as a chef, cookbook author and television personality. In addition to Worst Cooks in America, she appeared on Chef Wanted, Chopped, Food Network Star, and House of Knives, which premiered earlier this year. She published two cookbooks: Cook Like a Rock Star and Own Your Kitchen: Recipes to Inspire and Empower. As well as her husband Stuart, Anne is survived by her mother Marlene, sister Jane, brother Ben, and stepchildren Isabella, Amelia and Nicolas.
Boston Globe
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Anne Burrell's cause of death ruled a suicide
Advertisement The police were investigating her death as a possible drug overdose, according to an internal document viewed by the New York Times that said she was 'discovered in the shower unconscious and unresponsive surrounded by approximately (100) assorted pills.' Get Winter Soup Club A six-week series featuring soup recipes and cozy vibes, plus side dishes and toppings, to get us all through the winter. Enter Email Sign Up As a mentor to rookie cooks on the show she hosted, 'Worst Cooks in America,' Burrell shared her exacting culinary techniques - and her exuberant personality. She got her start on the network as a sous chef on 'Iron Chef America' and went on in 2008 to host her own show, 'Secrets of a Restaurant Chef,' which ran for nine seasons. Over the decades, she appeared on a slew of shows including 'Chef Wanted,' 'Chopped' and 'Food Network Star.' Most recently, she appeared on the competitive cooking show 'House of Knives,' which debuted in March. Advertisement According to news reports, Burrell had recently taken up comedy improv. The night before she died, according to reports, she had performed at the Second City New York in Brooklyn alongside fellow students of its classes. Following her death, her family released a statement calling her 'a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend.' 'Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal,' it read. Burrell was born in New York and trained at the Culinary Institute of America and the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners. She worked at New York's Felidia restaurant, under the famed chef Lidia Bastianich, and got her start as a TV personality as a sous chef to Mario Batali on the 'Iron Chef' competition. (Batali was later accused of sexual harassment, and he and his former partner Joe Bastianich agreed in 2021 to pay a total of $600,000 to at least 20 women and men who said they were sexually harassed while they worked at Manhattan restaurants owned by the Batali-Bastianich group.) In 2021, she married Stuart Claxton, a marketing executive. Other survivors include her mother; a sister; and a stepson. In her 2013 cookbook, 'Own Your Kitchen: Recipes to Inspire & Empower,' Burrell wrote that she considered herself a cook at heart more than a TV personality. 'It doesn't matter how many shows I have or how many books I write, cooking is in my soul and if the shows and all the celebrity stuff disappeared tomorrow, I'd go right back into the kitchen and pick up my wooden spoon and start cooking,' she wrote. 'It's just who I am.' Advertisement
