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Real World Cast Member Contract: MTV is Not Liable for Your STDs

By Cynthia Hsu, Esq. on August 05, 2011 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Ever wanted to know what's in a reality TV contract? Well, a glimpse into MTV's Real World contract, signed by its participants, seems to indicate that as a reality TV star, you're signing away a lot of your rights.

Maybe MTV and other networks need to have these kinds of contracts in place. After all, they probably want to make sure that they're able to (1) capture all those emotional breakdowns and slap fights on camera, and (2) not be liable for injuries that might occur during said slap fights.

And, there are some real gems in the contract terms.

According to the contract, not only are you stipulating that you don't have STDs, but also that some of your cast members may have them, according to the Village Voice.

Well, that's not too bad, right?

Maybe it is. According to the contract, if you contract AIDS or any other sexually transmitted disease during the filming, MTV is not responsible.

Also, producers will have the right to broadcast your life story and have total access to a whole lot of your personal information, reports Village Voice.

Still want to be a reality TV star?

Surely there are lots of would-be TV stars still lining up. They may want to ask, would courts look at this contract and void them for unconscionability? Unconscionable contracts are those that are extremely unfair to one side. Traditionally, only contracts that really shock a court's conscience will be deemed unconscionable.

It's generally pretty rare for courts to rule contracts unconscionable, so it's likely that while the terms of the Real World contract may seem a little one-sided, they would be deemed acceptable. Though, this rare glimpse into the world of reality TV contracts does make one wonder about what's contained in other contracts. Aren't you a little curious as to what Snooki and the gang over at Jersey Shore had to agree to before appearing on TV screens nationwide?

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