Reality TV Stars Bite Back. Sued for $1.0 Million by Producers
"The Big Loser" is already the name of a reality TV series, but
many other reality shows really do end up with big losers when
actors seeking their fifteen minutes of fame in Hollywood are
cancelled or disqualified from reality shows by the producers.
Often the losers on these shows come back to the set to stalk
and threaten the cast and crew, or sit at home firing off
libelous and slanderous internet blogs in an attempt to destroy
the reputation of the shows, producers and cast.
Dallas Tanner, producer, creator, and director of "Destination
X" an adventure reality show announced that their production
company had to get restraining orders and file civil and
criminal complaints against several members of the tv production
who were cancelled off their reality show. Tanner claims that
when he was directing and filming his show in Hawaii in
December, several cancelled members who were kicked off the
reality show and who did not make the cut to complete the
reality series, threatened the producer, threatened cast members
and even contacted a local violent gang in Hawaii attempting to
extort the producers. According to the attorneys representing
Tanner, several cast members attempted to extort and blackmail
the producers of the show by threatening to ruin the reputation
of Tanner and show by posting libelous and defamatory comments
on internet blogs unless Tanner agreed to bring two of the cast
members back on the show and pay them thousands of dollars.
According to criminal prosecution expert Michael Shapiro, the
several rejected cast members blackmailed and extorted Tanner,
threatening to destroy the reputation of show, walked off and
stole thousands of dollars in wardrobe from the show, and then
proceeded to post vicious and false internet blogs online
libeling the producers and directors. According to Shapiro, many
actors who are cancelled off of reality shows, or who have
contractural disputes with the producers often feel angry and
their anger has caused them to break the law. "Just because you
feel rejected or cheated, does not give you the right to break
criminal laws and threaten, extort and libel someone"-Shapiro
stated. According to Shapiro, unfortunately these threats and
even the posting of defamatory internet blogs can lead to severe
legal action being taken by producers to protect themselves,
their cast and their reputations. Under the circumstances, such
remedies for producers in the past have included obtaining
restraining orders against the spurned actors and losers of the
shows when they ignorantly break defamation and libel laws and
sometimes even can be arrested for extortion and blackmail in
certain cases. Shapiro feels his client Tanner's case is very
solid, as they have uncovered evidence that spurned members went
as far as breaking anti-terrorism laws when the disgruntled cast
contacted a notorious gang to go and threaten the cast and crew
while filming.
Shapiro stated" Hollywood courts are very aware of these sort
of cases and in the past have awarded millions of dollars to
Hollywood producers and directors who depend on positive
audience response for their shows, but who's sponsors and
audience can be misled by false, and misleading information
about the shows, the show's producers and the contents of the
show that is posted online by the losers on reality shows. In
the case of some reality shows, they have even had their
harassers arrested for black mail and extortion when former crew
members or associates threatened to destroy their reputation
unless they were paid off." Tanner stated " Sometimes people who
are failures and get rejection, turn all of that negative energy
in the wrong direction, unfortunately if they threaten me, our
cast or crew, we will take it very seriously and we will
prosecute". The producers are seeking damages in excess of $1.0
million from the scorned participants who were cancelled off the
show and from an outside former associate and employee of the
producers who violated libel and defamation law. Shapiro added
that an additional party or two who did not work on the show,
but acted outside of the production might be added to the
restraining order, defamation lawsuit and criminal complaint
pending an ongoing investigations. Shapiro's and his team is
heading up on behalf of Tanner, a complete investigation and
evidence is being turned over to both Superior court in Los
Angeles as well as the Local District Attorney's office for
further criminal prosecution.