For a network called “The Learning Channel”, TLC has since become a bit of a cesspool when it comes to reality TV. There are shows about child beauty pageants, controlling stage parents, Amish fishes-out-of-water, polygamous marriages, and so on. Almost all of the shows take an approach of, “Whoa, look at these weirdos living their weirdo lives. Isn’t that interesting? We’re so much better than them.”
The clever editing and selectivity allows TLC to air the show they want, even if it’s not the “reality” of their reality TV programming. My Strange Addiction is no different. Rather than take an objective look at their subjects, TLC picked odd behaviors and made them out to be more dangerous or anti-social than they actually were. In the six seasons that the show aired, we found 15 secrets the network tried to bury.
15 Spurring A Fame Addiction
Trisha Paytas is most recognizable for her controversial YouTube channel, but back in 2010, she was best known for her tanning addiction when she appeared in the pilot episode of the TLC show. Rather than deal with her tanning, My Strange Addiction gave Paytas a bigger platform and fueled her desire for fame at any cost.
14 Targeting A Younger Demographic
My Strange Addiction has been called “exploitative”, but what happens when they go after children? The spinoff show, My Kid’s Obsession, focused on minors who had a habit of collecting odd things (fans, cockroaches) and put them in front of a camera, regardless of any humiliation they might suffer once filming wrapped.
13 Nasty Nail Harassment
Yani Williams was filmed by TLC for her extremely long finger- and toenails (which made her a Guinness World Record holder with their combined length of nearly 19 feet), but the online harassment was something else. In an interview with the Houston Press, Williams said people called her “nasty” and “the ugliest person in the world”.
12 The Urine Therapy User Wasn’t Addicted
Like most subjects on MSA, Carrie, the woman who was supposedly “addicted” to urine therapy wasn’t exactly hooked on the stuff. Abiding by the controversial alternative medicine, Carrie was filmed guzzling the stuff like she was an alcoholic rather than utilizing it for a specific medical purpose. She also alleges that her urine therapy is currently curing her cancer.
11 A Puppet Scammer
Playing TLC like a fiddle, April Bucker, the woman who was supposedly addicted to her puppets, may have been the one pulling the strings all along. A longtime friend of Bucker told Gawker that she had “scammed TLC into believing that she has this addiction when in fact this is a typical and sad attempt on her part to get fame, fortune, and above all, attention.”
10 The Living Dolls Didn’t Know What They Signed Up For
To add a little local color to their “living doll” episode, TLC decided to film some young girls who weren’t living dolls at all! The women pictured above simply enjoyed the Lolita fashions typical of the Harajuku culture in Japan. They believed that the episode would be about that style, rather than positioning them as freaks who wanted to become living dolls.
9 Husband's Ashes
There’s no right way to grieve, but Casie, the widow on the TLC show, certainly chose an interesting way of doing it. In addition to carrying her late husband’s ashes with her everywhere she went, Casie began to eat her husband’s cremated remains. So, is what Casie’s doing qualify as cannibalism? Technically, yes, since she’s eating human remains, even if they’re in a powdered form!
8 The Death Of A Justin Bieber Lookalike
Numerous shows have been created that focus on people who want to look like their famous idols, and Toby Sheldon was no different. He spent $100k to look like Justin Bieber, and appeared on numerous shows to describe his journey, including My Strange Addiction. Unfortunately, Toby’s pursuit ended in 2015 when he was found deceased in a Motel 6 room.
7 Are They Even Addictions?
The question that plagues a show named My Strange Addiction means that there’s scrutiny as to whether these behaviors are actually addictions, rather than hobbies or quirks. Few of the episodes depict behaviors that are disruptive and qualifying of the term “addiction”, while others appear symptomatic of larger mental issues, rather than only one odd habit.
6 Misrepresenting Subjects
Furries are considered a mysterious and freakish subset of society, and Lauren’s portrayal on the show compounded that stereotype. According to a Reddit post made by Lauren, despite occasionally wearing her fur suit in public (not everyday, as stated by the show) she lives a normal life with a job, friends, and boyfriend. According to her, TLC “took what information [she] gave and ran with it.”
