Is 'Naked and Afraid' Real? The Truth About Discovery's "Naked and Afraid"

Since 2013, viewers have been exposed to the harsh realities of nature on the show "Naked and Afraid," yet some people have questioned the authenticity of the show. Reality TV has a reputation for exaggerating and creating over-the-top scenarios, and "Naked and Afraid" is no different, as the show often features dramatic backstories and tension between partners. As some former contestants have discussed the way they were portrayed on the show, it has raised the question if the show is actually real.
 

#1. Former contestants have said some eyebrow raising things about their time on the show

Source: Distractify

People who are familiar with the show "Naked and Afraid" will likely recognize contestant Alison Teal from Season 1. In an AMA on Reddit, Teal mentioned that a lot of what she did wasn't featured in the show, but it could have been for the sake of viewers. Teal said, "I asked myself why certain things weren't included, such as the 40-foot ladder I constructed, or the fishing net I created. But then I realized it might not make for the most exciting viewing to watch someone make a fishing net for five days."

Source: The Independent

Not showcasing every survivalist's skillset isn't surprising, considering it's a television show. However, an article published in Channel Guide Magazine dives further into the show's behind-the-scenes nature. Phaedra Brothers was a Season 3 competitor who made it through all 21 days. However, she started the show in a pretty bad state after eating some bad food and contracting food poisoning. Months later, when the show aired, her illness was depicted as drinking bad water and sold to viewers as poor decision-making on her part. When the episode aired, Brothers attempted to reach out to producers to rectify the false storyline but to no avail. In a quote published by Channel Guide, Magazine Brothers said, "They [the producers] decide the storyline. But in that particular incidence, I think they thought it would be a better, more dramatic story, but it wasn't the truth."
There are certainly some reality TV truths viewers think are fake, but this change in the storyline in "Naked and Afraid" is something that brings the show's credibility into question. If an illness can be written into the episodes as a side effect of days and nights fully immersed in nature, what else can?

#2. What is fake in Naked and Afraid?

Source: Variety

It is the need to hunt for food. On the show, it does seem that the participants are made to fend off for themselves without outside help. However, the truth is that it's relatively easy for them to find food to eat. According to several reports, contestants claim that they managed to steal food from crew members. This included salt, chocolate, and even some Campari. Meanwhile, another contestant managed to steal several packets of “Emergen-C.”
The Storylines, Such As The One About Drinking Dirty Water is also fake. On the show, it looked like contestant Phaedra Brothers drank some dirty water and got ill as a result. In reality, Brothers was suffering from food poisoning. And it was because of food provided by the crew. As Brothers recalled to Channel Guide magazine, “I told one of the Indian men who was a part of the crew, that I had been eating only granola bars because I was afraid of getting sick from eating unsanitary food. He said that I needed to eat protein and he made this really great chicken curry dish.”
Related: Who Is Janis on ‘Naked and Afraid’? Everything You Don’t Know About Her

#3. The show's executive producer insists that it's completely real

Source: WKYC

While viewers and former participants continue to bring the show's true colors further into the light, or at least speculate about them, "Naked and Afraid" executive producer Denis Contis insists the show is authentic. In an article published in Wall Street Journal, Contis said, "There is no manipulation, no element of scripted reality. It's the ultimate survival show. [Contestants] were placed in this location, where and how they survived and if they traveled at all, that was up to them."
The contestants on "Naked and Afraid" aren't just randomly selected. Most of them carry skill sets that make their likelihood of lasting 21 days in the wilderness higher than the average Joe. However, this doesn't mean that behind the scenes, things aren't adjusted or pushed in the direction that would better suit a reality television show. In the end, reality television should always be taken lightly and at Entertainment value. The "Naked and Afraid" real-or-fake discourse is hardly the biggest scandal to ever hit Discovery Channel, and it certainly shouldn't make anyone feel qualified to survive in some of the world's harshest locations for weeks at a time. You never know when the truth has been traded in for more exciting reality TV.
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