Netflix released Bling Empire season 1, and the show follows wealthy Asians and Asian-Americans living in Los Angeles. The show features love triangles, drama, and outrageous situations that make for great entertainment, but some viewers wonder if this yet another reality show that has very little to do with reality?

These days, reality TV being outed as possibly fake isn’t news. Even shows like Catfish (which is about catching people who pretend to be who they aren’t) have turned out to be less than truthful sometimes. Some show's script and rehearse characters’ interactions in advance, and producers may use their influence to change how participants treat each other. Certain shows may hire actors to fill roles. By now, most people consider at least a few of their favorite reality shows to be fiction. However, the makers of these shows refuse to acknowledge the scripted elements.

Related: What Fans Can Expect From Netflix’s Bling Empire

Fans are starting to question the authenticity of Bling Empire after one particularly outrageous episode. During an outdoor party at heiress Anna Shay’s house, Kim Lee and Guy Tang snooped around inside. Finding a sex toy, they decided to throw it out the window, into the middle of the festivities. This caused chaos and drama to ensue. While people expect cast members on reality shows to do crazy things, fans of Bling Empire didn’t believe the scene was organic. Executive producer Jeff Jenkins declared in an interview with Oprah Magazine that the moment was “1000% real.” Fans weren’t convinced, noting that cameramen are always ready with well-framed shots from multiple angles, which is the sort of production value that movies and TV shows utilize to meticulously choreograph scripted action.

kane from bling empire

Jenkins admitted that some introductions were made between the show’s participants before filming and that non-wealthy aspiring model Kevin Kreider was a completely new addition to the group. Jenkins says that after seeing the movie Crazy Rich Asians, he reached out to longtime friends Anna Shay and Christine Chiu to document their interactions. If Shay and Chiu were already leading such theatrical and drama-packed lives, how could their friend Jenkins be unaware of it? Outrageous behavior isn’t an easy secret to keep, especially when many of the Bling Empire antics happen in public. To be fair, sometimes it’s the stars of a show that fake their own reality drama.

A certain amount of the blame belongs to the cameras. People feel pressure to entertain when a camera is pointed at them. Reality show participants usually want as much camera time as possible, which means they need to be the loudest and most extravagant people in scenes. There’s a reason why people will agree to be on a show even when they know they are being portrayed as a reality TV villain, and that reason is fame.

The simple fact is that no one’s life is a continuous storyline with well-timed highs and lows, and the perfect zinger at the ready. Like most reality TV, Bling Empire raises questions about truth.

Next: Bling Empire: How Rich The Cast Members Are

Source: Oprah Magazine