After 14 successful seasons and 120 episodes, the survival reality series Naked and Afraid has undoubtedly amassed a cult following. The show puts viewers on the edge of their seats as they follow two strangers who are dropped off in extreme environments, with no clothes, no food, and no water, as they try to survive the harsh conditions. The participants are paired male to female, with each contestant getting only one survival item.
Indeed, the Discovery Channel show is nothing like we have seen before, as the participants are made to survive on their own for 21 days, fully aware that their only reward is their pride and sense of accomplishment. However, despite the daunting experiences witnessed on-screen, many former contestants have come out after the show to spill some tea on the integrity of how much "reality" this show brings to its viewers.
Updated on December 9, 2022: The Discovery Channel hit series Naked and Afraid is still going strong having, aired fourteen seasons as of April 2022. The show has become so popular that it has started making spin-offs, Naked and Afraid XL (which just wrapped its ninth season this fall) and Naked and Afraid of Love, a series that aired its first season last autumn.
As of right now, it seems as though Naked and Afraid and all of its spin-offs are awaiting renewal by Discovery, as they are sitting in the limbo of not being canceled, yet not being green-lit either.
8 Steven Lee Hall, Jr. and Jake Nodar - Sex Is The Last Thing On Your Mind
Many fans have wondered how possible it is for contestants to be naked and not be involved sexually. During an interview with People Magazine, Hall and Nodar confirmed that there weren't any hookups on the island. In Hall's words,
"You're dirty, you're hungry, and you're tired. Sex is really the last thing on your mind. So there were no hookups involving me. Maybe there are others that I'll see when I watch the show."
Nodar also added that "the show isn't all about sex" and joked that the show didn't at all help his dating life. Clearly, man's instincts are buried deep in survival first, ahead of any other thing.
7 Honora Bowen - Cast Is Allowed To Bring More Than One Personal Item
Usually, contestants are only allowed to bring one item to the show. But Bowen, a former participant, confessed that she, alongside her partner, brought more than one item each. Her partner came on board with four knives while she came along with a water filter and three knives. There was an objection from the production crew about her water filter, and they offered her a fire starter as a replacement instead.
6 Phaedra Brothers - Given Food Poisoning By The Crew
Fans may recall that on the show Brothers suffered from food poisoning and fell ill after drinking dirty water. However, that was not the case. When Brothers left the show, she revealed that she suffered food poisoning thanks to one of the crew members. She recalled,
"I told one of the Indian men who was a part of the crew that I had been eating only granola bars because I was afraid of getting sick from eating unsanitary food. He said that I needed to eat protein, and he made this really great chicken curry dish. Three hours after I went to bed, I woke up sick, sick, sick."
5 Stacey Lee Osorio - Producers Provide Female Casts With Hygiene Products
As a matter of concern, viewers of the show would constantly think about how female participants deal with certain hygiene issues while out in the wild. Well, as it turns out, they get some help from the show's producers. In an interview, former contestant Stacey Lee Osorio revealed,
"Yea, you pretty much just wear a tampon and try to be as discreet as possible. It's pretty uncomfortable and gross, but at least we get that one luxury. Thanks, Naked and Afraid."
4 Alison Teal - Show Doesn't Showcase All Contestants' Works
It appears a lot more exciting things might be going on behind the scenes, but viewers don't get to see all the details of contestants' works. In a Reddit post by one of the former contestants, Teal, she pointed out that she made a 40ft ladder and a fishing net, among other things. However, they weren't featured on the show.
3 Honora Bowen - Some Contestants Allowed To Take Drugs Or Supplements
Since leaving the show, Bowen has put Naked And Afraid on blast about her time on the show. One of her shocking confessions revealed that some contestants were allowed to use drugs or supplements. In an interview, she claimed that her partner Matt was allowed to take Adderall, but the producer claimed that the prescription was fake. However, she was denied her medication of salts and potassium for a kidney issue while on the show.
2 Alyssa Ballestero - Body Image Issue
The cast of Naked And Afraid is often portrayed as people who feel no insecurities about their bodies and are absolutely comfortable showing them off. However, that's not always the case. Contestants Alyssa Ballestero and Osorio spoke to People Magazine about the body image issues they faced. Ballestero said,
"I know this sounds ridiculous, but I'm a pretty shy person. I don't just take off my clothes for any reason. It was awkward, and the crew was like, "Oh, don't worry. We've seen it all before.' and I'm thinking, 'Yeah, but you haven't seen me before!'"
1 Blair Braverman - The First Day Is Somewhat Staged
In a post, Braverman, a former contestant, admitted that the first day of the show was usually staged.
According to her, she took off her clothes twice to get shots from different angles and followed a script that instructed her to go to a landmark, meet her partner and say whatever joke or earnest greeting they rehearsed. After that, they were given their sacks which disguised their microphone transmitters and a cartoonish map.
This isn't to say that all the show was staged in one way or the other. She also recalled how they were left entirely alone with cameras and how she and her partner used handheld cameras to record their experiences of being surrounded by hyenas in the middle of the night.