ForKid Nation, for example, one expense the prizes were a paltry $20,000 a pop.
“It’s giving citrus.
It’s giving lemon.
Actor Daniel Kyri was one of 40 ‘Kid Nation’ participants.courtesy VICE TV
Like, it’s giving fresh.”
He says he took several gulps.
“And then, a burning.
‘Kid Nation’ had town council leaders, including Daniel Kyri, wearing a red hat.Robert Voets/CBS via Getty
And fumes,” says Kyri, who was then 14.
“The fumes that kind of rise up.
It chokes off your oxygen so you could’t breathe.
‘Kid Nation’ participants recall terrible memories.courtesy VICE TV
Somebody grabs the bottle and she smells it, and she’s like, it’s bleach.”
He was treated by on-set paramedics.
What are you doing?"
‘Kid Nation’ cast members prepare a meal.Monty Brinton
(Officials laterdropped their investigation.)
But if he’d only known.
They didn’t have beds or even enough food for all of them to have three meals a day.
Their living quarters were filthy.
“But not really that bad, but kind of.”
Just 8, he ended up leaving the show because of the way he was treated.
“And one of the other kids came over and, like, got me undone.
And made sure was like, ‘Oh my god, are you okay?”
After six weeks of chaos, parents were reunited with their children.
It was somewhat jarring.
And I felt sick at my stomach."
Anjay Ajodha, who was 12 on the show, recalls similar reactions from other adults.
A lot of these children don’t have beds.'"
But Ron Cloer, at least, feels differently.
He says Olivia’s mom was a social worker when her girls filmedKid Nation.
“Her job is to protect children,” he notes.
And she couldn’t believe it."
Dark Side of Reality TVairs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Vice.
Future episodes focus on shows such asJoe MillionaireandThe Surreal Life.
