The original 2003 series Joe Millionaire was based on a prank in which a group of gold-digging women were promised a millionaire heir, but Evan Marriott was actually a construction worker.
But according to several former contestants interviewed on a recent episode of Vice’s “Dark Side of Reality TV,” what was meant to be a shocking twist on the Fox show ended up not bothering them as much as other aspects of it, like how they were treated poorly and unfairly portrayed on the show.
“I apologize for my involvement in this and especially if it ended badly, that I was the person who convinced them to go through with this. I did not do it to hurt or deceive anyone. I was just doing my job,” casting producer Dawn George said.
“Joe Millionaire” winners Zola Sabrina and Evan Marriott appeared on the show.
Courtesy of 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection
Several contestants from the show’s first season — Allison Ball, Amanda Garcia, Melissa Michael and winner Zola Sabrina — recalled that their placement on the show was elusive and uncertain from the start. All they were told was that the show they were applying to was called “The Big Choice” and that if they made it, they’d be whisked away to Europe to meet single men and have a chance to find romance. The contestants gathered at the chateau and were introduced to Marriott, who told them he’d made them millions before literally galloping in on horseback, which Garcia found odd.
“When it was announced that he had inherited all this money, I thought that was odd,” Garcia said. “Why would he announce something like that?”
At first, the women were going ahead. They wanted to fall in love, but they soon became disillusioned with their fairy-tale life. It all started with something small, like being introduced to a psychologist, who made them understand that their troubles would not be kept secret.
The contestants of “Joe Millionaire” stand in front of their chateau.
Courtesy of 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection
A formal ball was held, but it felt like it was set up to get the ladies arguing: Despite being instructed to bring formal dresses, the 20 women were given 30 minutes to decide who would wear one of 20 dresses provided by the production team.
“They have all our sizes,” Ball said, “so if they wanted us to look good, they could have assigned us a dress in our size, or we could have chosen from 100. But instead, there were just 20.”
She recalled that when Michael had convinced the women to go in four at a time, the company psychologist put a stop to the plan and said they would all go in at once.
After production moved to Paris, participants said they felt more isolated, unable to even leave their hotels for morning runs, and were suspicious that the show could not be trusted.
Alison Ball talks about “Joe Millionaire.”
Courtesy of VICE TV
At one point, another contestant gave Michael a note because what the contestants talked about was not private.
“The note said that when I was on an outing with Evan, cameramen were setting up an interview with me and[contestant Sarah Causer]heard them in my room and were talking about my underwear,” Michael said, “and they were talking about sexual acts. It was extremely inappropriate and violating.”
“Joe Millionaire” contestant Melissa Michael chimes in.
Courtesy of VICE TV
While she and the other woman continued to write notes, an assistant producer came in and told them they weren’t allowed to take notes, she said. They demanded to know how the producer knew they were taking notes and discovered a camera hidden under a nightstand. Michael, who had even given the production company her money and passports, said she was told people would lose their jobs because of her complaint.
As Ball pointed out, they were “kind of prisoners of the process” by signing the contract.
All the while, the reason they were there, so-called Millionaire Joe, was far away.
‘Joe Millionaire’ winner Zola Sabrina appears in new documentary.
Courtesy of VICE TV
“The weird thing was… I had no idea if he liked me or not,” Sabrina said. “He never said, ‘I love you so much, I want to get to know you outside of this.’ He never said that, and I never said that to him.”
“Evan and I never dated,” she said, but the two shared the $1 million prize.
“Joe Millionaire” didn’t end with love. Fox
The women said they were grateful for the friendships they had made, but were extremely unhappy that they had been labeled as women on the show who were only in it for the money. They only found out the show would be called “Joe Millionaire” on the train back to the airport.
Michael said he did receive a call from someone claiming to be the show’s editor, who said he was sorry but couldn’t talk about it.
“It felt a bit crude, like they were making fun of us,” Garcia said. “I was disappointed that they tried to base the premise of the show on the women being in it for the money, which was not what we wanted. It was disappointing and manipulative.”
Participants also faced backlash but were forced to remain silent due to non-disclosure agreements.
“It was bullying and it didn’t stop,” Michael said. “I couldn’t defend myself, I couldn’t give my side of the story. I just had to sit there and take it.”
Former contestants were stunned to see that “Joe Millionaire,” which originally aired for two seasons, was rebooted in 2022 as “Joe Millionaire: For Rich or Poor,” with women competing for two bachelors, only one of whom was actually a millionaire.
“Don’t you think there will be more progress in 20 years?” Garcia asked.
Dark Side of Reality TV airs every Tuesday at 9pm ET/PT on Vice, and upcoming episodes will focus on shows like The Surreal Life, Survivor, and more.
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