The Most Shocking Reality TV Moments That Will Leave You Speechless
Discover the most unforgettable reality TV moments of the year! From explosive drama on Claim to Fame and The Kardashians to heartwarming connections on Love Is Blind and The Bachelor, relive the wildest and most captivating highlights from your favorite reality shows
To commemorate We's inaugural Reality TV Stars of the Year edition, we're compiling the instances from 2023 that left us astonished.
With Scandoval dominating the year, it was an obvious choice to grant Ariana Madix the coveted No. 1 position and include the sensational three-part Vanderpump Rules reunion on our compilation.
"I can't even express in words how it feels to be chosen as We's Reality Star of the Year," Madix reveals in our cover story. "It's one of the most mind-blowing and amazing things that could ever occur."
Take a look back at the top 23 moments of the year by scrolling through:
Credit: Michael Becker/FOX
Us Weekly's Top 23 Reality TV Moments of the Year
In honor of We’s first-ever Reality TV Stars of the Year issue, we’re rounding up the moments that had Us shook in 2023.
Ariana Madix claimed the top spot as the year of Scandoval, making it undeniable to name her No. 1. Moreover, the mind-blowing three-part Vanderpump Rules reunion secured its place on the list.
In our cover story, Madix expresses her indescribable emotions about being named We's Reality Star of the Year. She describes it as one of the wildest and most amazing things that could ever occur.
Scroll through to look back at the top 23 moments of the year:
Credit: ABC/John Fleenor
Claim to Fame
Tom Hanks’ niece Carly Reeves screams she “should have more camera time” after she’s eliminated first.
Credit: YouTube
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Anetra leaps over an Exorcist-walking Marcia Marcia Marcia on the runway, cementing one of the most iconic lip syncs in Drag Race herstory.
Credit: Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Netflix
Love Is Blind
Season 4 contestant Zack Goytowski marries his second choice in the pods, Bliss Poureetezadi, after getting engaged to Irina Solomonova.
Credit: Netflix
Outlast
Alpha Team’s Jill Ashock, Amber Asay and Justin Court sabotage the Bravo Team by destroying their camp.
Credit: Courtesy of Lucilla D'Agostino/Instagram
The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Teresa Giudice gets married in 1,500 bobby pins and seven pounds of hair — without Joe and Melissa Gorga present.
Credit: Hulu
The Kardashians
Kim and Kourtney’s feud over Dolce & Gabbana takes a nasty turn, with Kim revealing the family’s “not Kourtney” group text.
Credit: Euan Cherry/Peacock
The Traitors
Kate Chastain sabotages a mission by dumping hundreds of dollars in prize money off the side of a Scottish mountain.
Credit: Clifton Prescod/Bravo
Summer House
Danielle Olivera trash-talks her way through BFF Lindsay Hubbard’s engagement party — only for Carl Radke to call off the wedding months later.
Credit: Stephanie Diani/Bravo(2)
Southern Charm
Austen Kroll and Taylor Ann Green break guy/girl code by hooking up behind their exes Olivia Flowers and Shep Rose’s backs.
Credit: Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for MTV
Jersey Shore: Family Vacation
After 11 years away from the MTV cameras, Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola makes her return to the franchise, complete with endless references to “The Note.”
Credit: Netflix
The Ultimatum: Queer Love
Vanessa Papa loses partner Xander Boger after treating the show like nothing but an audition for an acting career.
Credit: Netflix
Selling the OC
After insisting they were strictly friends for two seasons, Alex Hall and Tyler Stanaland make out in a hot tub.
Credit: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Universal Pictures
The Real Housewives of Miami
Lisa and Lenny Hochstein’s messy divorce kicks off with Lenny telling his friend his plans to leave Lisa in a hot mic moment.
Credit: Chris Haston/NBC
Below Deck
After struggling with health issues, Captain Lee returns to finish off season 10 and his tenure on a high note.
Credit: Brook Rushton/FOX
Stars on Mars
Ariel Winter and Lance Armstrong make time to argue about rules for transgender athletes while competing on William Shatner’s fake “Mars.”
Credit: Nicole Weingart/Bravo
Vanderpump Rules
Scandoval comes to a close with an explosive three-part reunion, complete with uncensored episodes on Peacock, sparking a new trend for Bravo reunions.
Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images
The Bachelor
Zach Shallcross breaks his own rule not to have sex in the fantasy suite by sleeping with Gabi Elnicki … then proposes to Kaity Biggar.
Credit: Pete Dadds/ FOX
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test
Tara Reid gets caught trying to sneak in packs of cigarettes on season 2, which includes an absurd cast of Brian Austin Green, JoJo Siwa, Tom Sandoval and more.
Credit: Michael Becker/FOX
The Masked Singer
Showbiz icon Dick Van Dyke, 97, is revealed to be the Gnome, making viewers cry and prompting Van Dyke to joke, "I think some people thought I was dead.”
Credit: Robert Voets/CBS
Survivor
Bruce Perreault makes a triumphant return to season 45 after he was medically evacuated from Survivor 44 for a head injury.
Credit: True Photography
MILF Manor
TLC introduces a new reality TV series featuring single women aged 40 to 60 who are in search of love, but with a controversial twist – they will be dating men in their 20s who happen to be their own sons.
Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless
American Idol
The tears are brought in the season 21 finale as James Blunt joins winner Iam Tongi to perform "Monsters," a heartfelt tribute to Tongi's late father.
Credit: © 2022, Discovery, Inc. All Rights Reserved
90 Day Fiance
Gino and Jasmine nearly call it quits after an intense fight where Jasmine admitted to cheating on Gino with her ex-boyfriend just months before his arrival in Panama.
