Bad People

77. Ambushed: Can reality TV humiliation break us?

On the 6th of March 1995 Scott Amedure reveals his growing sexual attraction to a friend in front of a large studio audience. Behind the scenes, Jonathan Schmitz is waiting to meet a secret admirer. Jonathan is led on stage of the Jenny Jones Show and each man is revealed to the other. Scott’s face lights up but Jonathan’s expression is inscrutable, and the crowd erupts with laughter around them. Just three days after filming, Jonathan Schmitz shot his friend Scott in the chest, killing him there and then. But was Schmitz fully culpable? What happens when shame becomes public?
 
On this episode of Bad People Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen question the duty of care producers have to contestants, the line between entertainment and exploitation, and the consequences of public humiliation on a national scale. CREDITS
Presenters: Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen
Producer: Laura Northedge
Assistant Producer: Hannah Ward
Editor: Anna Lacey
Music: Matt Chandler
Academic Consultant for The Open University: Dr Sarah LaurenceCommissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins
Commissioning Assistant Producer: Adam Eland#BadPeople_BBC

Criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw makes a return to the series with a new co-host: journalist Amber Haque. Each episode tells the story of a true crime and explains why people do bad things. Murder, blackmail, fraud and much more. Listen every Thursday. Bad People is a BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Sounds.