Colombian reality television show “Protagonistas de nuestra tele” has been hit with accusations from devoted viewers that the show isn’t so real after all.
Several inconsistencies in the so-called reality show on RCN have been pointed out by enraged viewers who say the personalities of characters on the show do not match up with who they are in real life. For example, Maria Angelica Salgado is presented as being a poor Afro-Colombian from Barranquilla who sells cocada (coconut sweets) on the street to support her family. On the contrary, viewers have found out through social networks that she is actually a well-known model and has several advertising contracts. Photos of Salgado show her visiting the United States and China.
Another contestant, Oscar Mejia, supposedly worked as an extra on the telenovela “Amor en custodia” on Caracol even though contestants on the reality show are supposed to have no previous television experience. Another contestant, Sebastian Mejia, also had previous acting experience on the show “Tu voz estereo.”
Photos also reveal a contestant and a judge from “Protagonistas” had met prior to the show, although contestants and judges from the show are not supposed to know one another.
Viewers have revealed several other contestants to have been models and actors and to have appeared in advertising campaigns and music videos. To protest, they have created groups on social networks to demand that RCN stop using underhand tactics when casting young people for the reality show. The TV channel has thus far not responded to any accusations of irregularities within the casting for the show.