5 Most Famous Reality Show Rivalries: Biggest TV Feuds Of All Time
A recent study has revealed the most searched reality show rivalries in television history and the top spot will likely surprise you.
Reality TV took over Hollywood in the early 2000s and dominated a third of the most-watched programs between 2009 and 2010. Since then, the genre has seen a drop in popularity. Between 2022 and 2023, reality shows were only 12% of the most-watched shows on TV, according to data from Statista.
Despite this, celebrities from these shows remain among the most popular — the Kardashians or the casts of Bravo's uber-popular 'Housewives' franchises.
In fact, the "real" conflicts and chaos that happen in these shows — some from several years back — continue to keep fans entertained.
A new study by Vegas Gems discovered the most searched for rivalries from well-known reality TV shows. Experts analyzed the average monthly search volumes of iconic feuds across the US and taking the top spot is a recent fight between "Vanderpump Rules" cast members.
1. Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval
The most famous reality TV rivalry is Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval, with 6,188 searches on average every month.
The longtime couple shocked fans after news of their breakup made headlines in March 2023. The split happened after Madix discovered that Sandoval had been cheating on her with co-star, Raquel Leviss.
Sandoval later apologized to Madix, admitting on an Instagram post that he had "made mistakes."
"My biggest regret is that I dishonored Ariana," he wrote.
In January, Madix sued Sandoval over the sale of their shared Los Angeles home.
2. Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie
'The Simple Life' co-stars take the second spot with an average of 2,975 monthly searches.
The reality show ran for five seasons between 2003 and 2007. The series followed then-BFFs Hilton and Richie as they tried living, well, a simple life, working at low-paying jobs and completing menial tasks.
However, in 2005, Hilton announced that they were "no longer friends" after Richie reportedly screened the hotel heiress's leaked sex tape during a party she threw to celebrate her friend's 'Saturday Night Live' hosting gig.
The feud led to the initial cancellation of the reality show in 2005 after season three.
E! later took over the rights to the show and was able to film and screen seasons four and five before the end of the series.
Today, the two celebrities are both moms and wives and has since reconciled as friends. In fact, in a birthday greeting on Instagram, Hilton said she was "grateful" for their "lifetime of friendship."
3. Bethany Frankel and Jill Zarin
TV feud lists aren't complete without a 'Real Housewives' rivalry and Bethenny Frankel and Jill Zarin from 'The Real Housewives of New York City' take the third spot with 2,638 average monthly searches.
The close friends started feuding during 'RHONY' season 3 after Frankel accused Zarin of being jealous of her success. The latter fired back, accusing the Skinnygirl CEO of not supporting her husband who was undergoing treatment for cancer.
Over a decade after their falling out, the two had a chance meeting on a flight in June 2022 and seemingly mended their relationship.
A year later, the two sat down for a one-on-one on Frankel's "Just B" podcast to talk about their friendship.
4. Kim Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian
Remember that physical altercation between sisters Kim and Kourtney? Their sibing rivalry takes the fourth spot on this list with 1,133 searches per month.
From being the "least exciting to look at" to accusations of copying styles and holiday decors, to allegedly sabotaging the other's wedding — the sisters have fought about almost everything. However, their biggest and most memorable argument would be when Kim and Kourtney threw punches in 2020 during season 18 of 'Keeping Up with The Kardashians.'
In the episode, Kim implied that she and Khloe had better work ethic than her other sisters and that they would rise from their "deathbeds" to deal with family or business matters, unlike Kourtney, Kylie or Kendall.
Kourtney took offense to her comment, telling her younger sister, "You act like I don't do s**t. You have this narrative in your mind."
The eldest Kardashian threw a bottle at Kanye West's ex-wife and all hell broke loose. Slaps and scratches were thrown and Khloe was left to clean off the walls. The feud forced filming to be halted for a week until things simmered down.
Needless to say, the Kardashian-Jenner clan are all on good terms with each other now.
5. Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga
Another "Real Housewives" feud makes it to the list, involving sisters-in-law Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga of "RHONJ."
With 1,090 monthly searches on average, the feud had been brewing for some time and finally met its explosive conclusion on "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" season 13 finale.
It started when Teresa allegedly spoke with her brother, Melissa's husband Joe Gorga, about rumors swirling that Melissa cheated on him.
Melissa claimed it was Teresa and her husband, Louie, who told Joe but that the latter didn't believe the hearsay.
"How dare you tell my husband that I would cheat on him!" Melissa said during her confessional. "Joe doesn't believe it. It's bulls**t."
The rumors led to a tense confrontation between the couples that almost resulted in a physical fight between Joe and Louie.
The Gorgas skipped Teresa and Joe's wedding in August 2022, and the ladies of "RHONJ" are still not on speaking terms.
