In 2025, model and former reality star Eva Marcille asked the crowd at the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans what reality television shows they were watching. She got some common responses. “Love Island,” “Love and Hip-Hop,” “The Real Housewives” and “Basketball Wives” are a few of the reality television shows mentioned.
Those reality television shows share many similarities. These programs bring millions of viewers the behind-the-scenes drama of a group of people living a niche lifestyle.
They are notable for their diverse casts and their influence on American culture. But they also stand out for the ways cast members of color are often portrayed negatively.
The reality of reality television
Britannica defines reality television as “a television genre encompassing a wide variety of purportedly unscripted programming.” Reality television covers many formats, from game shows and cooking competitions to dating and lifestyle shows.
Reality television is common, making up 57% of all television programming, according to a survey by ElectroIQ, an investigative technology company.
Although they are described as unscripted, reality television shows are still shaped by writers, producers and editors.
HowStuffWorks explains that editors and producers first collect raw, unscripted footage from cast members, then craft a narrative around their personalities and the story producers want to tell.
Ryan Stradel, a Writers Guild of America member, said, “Unscripted storytelling is often about working backward … crafting an inevitable occurrence into an emotional, humorous or provocative journey.”
Participant portrayal in reality television
Because conflict is prioritized, the worst moments involving a situation or participant often remain in the final edit.
These moments, often heightened by tense music and cliffhanger commercial breaks, can become fan favorites and help shape a reality television star’s reputation.
Reality television differs from scripted programming because its stars are real people who often have unrehearsed, vulnerable moments broadcast to millions.
A reputation can develop from moments on a show, no matter how brief a participant’s time on television was. Afterward, many participants struggle to find jobs or gain respect, and some have spoken openly about regretting their time on reality television.
Reality television editors also can reinforce stereotypes when deciding what to keep and what to omit. Stereotypes such as jocks, nerds and video vixens are used to reduce participants to formulaic caricatures that fit easily into a narrative.
Because Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) people are underrepresented on television, their portrayals are more likely to be scrutinized.
Negative stereotypes and BIPOC mental health
The portrayal of people of color in media can create a monolith out of a diverse group of people. Because reality television is presented as unscripted, those portrayals can push people of color into a few reductive boxes.
Scholars who study reality television have raised concerns that the genre can mainstream stereotypical ideas about race.
A 2008 Howard University study found that all 10 reality television shows it reviewed had at least one stereotypical Black character.
Another problem can arise when viewers identify with a reality television caricature. IIn the 1970s, essayist Kenneth Burke developed identification theory, which holds that people seek commonalities with others to establish connections.
Researchers have hypothesized that seeing negative images of people who look like them can harm viewers’ self-image.
Researchers at the Scholars Strategy Network found that prolonged television exposure was associated with lower self-esteem among Black boys and girls
Black people are underrepresented in white-dominated media and often poorly represented in Black-focused media.
Journalist Yomi Adegoke wrote, “Most [Black-focused] series unapologetically exacerbate the worst stereotypes that plague the Black community: toxic relationships, absent fathers, financial irresponsibility.”
Theses portrayals can create the illusion that all Black people face these struggles and that those struggles explain behavior shown on reality television.
Amaya Gentry has a bachelor’s degree in biology and has worked as a quality control chemist.
