Men competed for the affections of Miriam Rivera and a £10,000 prize on the problematic show
Growing up in the UK often means growing up watching reality TV shows like "Geordie Shore," "Gogglebox," and "Come Dine With Me."
These programs have become a staple in many households. While they are undoubtedly entertaining, showcasing everything from drunken disagreements and tussles over the TV remote to food-related fallouts, they also have a darker side.
Thankfully, the most troubling aspects of this industry are largely a thing of the past.
Yet, some reality shows have had lasting real-life effects.
This is the focus of a new Channel 4 documentary titled "Miriam: Death Of A Reality Star."
The documentary examines the impactful life of Miriam Rivera, a transgender woman.
In 2004, Miriam joined a series on Sky1, hoping to find love among six male contestants who had been brought to Ibiza.
Miriam: Death Of A Reality Star explores a reality show from 2004. Channel 4
They competed for a chance to win over the Mexican model, a £10,000 prize, and a romantic yacht trip.
While the audience knew from the start that Miriam was a trans woman, the men competing did not.
The series finale of "There's Something About Miriam" is remembered as one of the most shocking and unethical surprises ever broadcast.
Take a look at this:
🔥🚨DEVELOPING: Here is the moment Miriam Rivera told contestants she was a transgender woman on 'cruel' reality show that pranks contestants into trying to date a transgender that they believe is a natural born woman. The show is titled “There's Something About Miriam” and has… pic.twitter.com/k4Th5WRBr2
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) May 1, 2024
In this episode, Miriam courageously revealed her gender identity to the group after choosing 23-year-old Tom Rooke as the winner.
She addressed the group, saying: "I tried to be honest with all of you as much as I can. Yes, I'm from Mexico, I'm a model and I'm 21. But, Tom, I really love spending time with you. I love men and I love being a woman. But I'm not a woman, I was born as a man."
The men reacted with laughter, shocking viewers, as Miriam disclosed her gender identity.
Friends of Miriam have claimed that her speech was scripted by the producers, who misunderstood the gravity of the situation and exploited it for viewership.
The new documentary delves into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of "There's Something About Miriam."
Crew members described the atmosphere as "incredibly uncomfortable" with "extremely volatile reactions."
The reality show saw Miriam, a transgender woman, reveal her gender identity to a group of men but tragically, the reaction wasn't a positive one. Channel 4
Tom expressed to the cameras that he felt deceived by Miriam and criticized her for "lying to everybody," subsequently using male pronouns to refer to her.
Crew member Leo McCrea shared his discomfort, saying: "It was so incredibly uncomfortable.
"It felt like all the air had been sucked out the room. And Tom, he was gasping, and looking around at all the deceit."
Viewers of the documentary have been stunned by the treatment of Miriam and the lack of support she received during and after the show.
A disturbing insight came from the psychiatrist brought on by the show, who revealed the neglect of Miriam's mental well-being: "I had been brought in ostensibly to look after the boys.
"No one had given a thought to how Miriam might feel. The reveal was her coming out to the world and as far as I was aware, Miriam hadn't been psych tested. How would she deal with rejection?
The men's reaction to Miriam being transgender was nothing short of disgusting. Channel 4
"Not just from who she picked, but everyone who thought trans people were freaks. They sold her a dream without anybody telling her what could go wrong. I thought, she's vulnerable, she's had a really really hard life, like a bird with a broken wing."
The exploitation for entertainment in "There's Something About Miriam" struck a chord with viewers, especially because Miriam had shared personal stories.
She talked about her first love's negative reaction upon learning she was born male, being outed at school, taking hormones since age 11, living as a woman from age 16, and her father's refusal to accept her identity.
After the show concluded, Tom rejected the £10,000 prize and initiated a legal case with other contestants.
They accused the producers of conspiracy to commit sexual assault, defamation, breach of contract, and causing psychological and emotional harm.
Miriam sadly died at the age of 38 in an apparent suicide. Channel 4
They settled for an undisclosed sum.
The series was broadcast the following year, and Miriam stepped away from public life.
Tragically, in 2019, she was found dead in an apparent suicide at her mother's apartment at just 38 years old.
Production executive Jo Josun also appears in the documentary, shockingly admitting: "I didn't feel anything. I'm in the business of making television shows.
"I didn't feel anything about the format that I felt was bad or wrong. I didn't feel that way, I really didn't. Do I think it went beyond any moral codes of conduct? No."
