I Love Money: A Conspiracy Theory Debunked
Earlier this week, messageboards (like this one and this one) started buzzing over what seemed to be a fatal, credibility-destroying stray shot in this week’s I Love Money Aftershow. In it, you can clearly see that the check that host Craig Jackson stamps void doesn’t in fact belong to this week’s eliminated contestant, 12 Pack.
And, since 12 Pack never landed in the Bottom 2 before, this footage could come from no other episode. And that means that the voided check belonged to the guy on the chopping block with 12 Pack, Whiteboy. Because this didn’t make it to air, people assumed that this meant that the show was fixed, that Toasteee had eliminated Whiteboy and Craig had stamped his check and it was all redone per the orders of disapproving powers that be. “If that isn’t the sign of some sort of major manipulation on the part of the producers, I don’t know what is,” wrote TWOP’s dreamofcaramel. In response to speculation that Craig had made an error, MustBeThursday said, “I don’t think Craig voided the wrong check on accident. They would’ve just admitted that or laughed about it. This clearly seems like a manipulation.”
Well, we’re here to tell you that that’s exactly what happened. Craig stamped the wrong check, the shot had to be retaken and a continuity error in the editing of the Aftershow is how the eagle-eyed extras viewers got the fodder for their conspiracy theory. But don’t take our word for it: we asked 51 Minds, the company that produces I Love Money, to cough up the raw footage of Craig’s mistake. And so they did. And so we have it for you to watch:
Below, C.J. gives us a little insight on the show’s shooting process and how he could make such a mistake in the first place:
“For blocking purposes, the Paymaster has to tell the producer each week who they’re voting off. That’s so they get the right shot,” C.J. told us when reached by phone. “But I don’t like to know that information because it sort of helps with authenticity — this way my reaction is real. The way that everything was going and the way Toasteee was talking, I just assumed that Whiteboy was going to go. That was the smart choice. Why wouldn’t she get rid of Whiteboy? As soon as she said, ‘12 Pack, you’re gone,’ boom. I stamped Whiteboy’s check. It was me being ahead of myself.
As I’m hosting the show, I feel like I’m watching it. I’m into it. I can’t wait to get back the next day to see what’s going to happen. So that’s what happened here — I was so into watching it that I forgot I was hosting.”
Since the scene needed to be reshot, Craig says the art department immediately created another check for Whiteboy. And so, while the mistake was real, the legal tender is not. You got us there.
Related content
I Love Money show page
I Love Money videos and extras
August 27th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Heather, it looks like u have to find some friends girl! Entertainer has too many enemies. When u saw your alliance getting smaller, you should have formed another one. Hoopz, it looks like your only enemie is entertainer, i hope he does not become paymaster.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
i am gay! because i think whiteboy is so hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! forget megan!!!!!!!!!!!! come and be my boyfriend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!honey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the bed’s ready already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i just bought a new bikini so you can lick and do me up and down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 27th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Uh, hmmmm.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Oh happy day!! I am so glad this was addressed and cleared up (with additional hilarious footage as a bonus). The most hilarious part is Whiteboy’s reaction…he acted like it meant something that Craig voided his check….like he would actually have to leave the show…because of that mistake. Like that is a magic check or a magic void stamp instead of just props for effect at the elimination ceremony.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Have you debunked the missing back to back episode conspiracy yet? Yeah, drop me a line when that happens.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:27 am
Entertainer you have no chance of staying you should justget out now.
meow
August 28th, 2008 at 6:58 am
I was playing the I love Money game on Faffarazi and they sent me an email saying that there would be two new episodes of I love Money last Sunday (8-24-08) there was indeed only one as usual. I don`t have a problem with this I am just curious what that was about. Why would vh1 say that there will be two shows when there wasn`t? Just curious.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:04 am
ya VH1 What was up with saying their was gonna be 2 episodes back-to back, I was all excited and then let down. Write us back and tell us what was up with that fluke as well
August 28th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Ya vh1 what was up with the fluke!! telling us theirs gonna be 2 back to back episodes,and getting our hopes up!! I was excited and then let down. write us back and let us know what the deal was.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
that was not right stampin white boy check but the only reason it happen is because he is a big target in th house and whit boy might win if he don’t Real or hoopz going to win ~!**@)*%#)%`_*#* every body els
August 29th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
OMG!!!!whiteboy u off da chain!! entertainer u need to go bak home and keep *&%$#*$ yo momma kuz u aint gettin destiney bak..what a loser!!!!! hoopz u my gurl datz on my momma u gone win dis thang!!!!! stallionaires ya’ll da rillest!!!!! oh yeah n 12-pack u annoying ( but not as bad as the entertainer) so i’m glad u went home!!!!!!!!!!! megan u cool!!!!! and u need to hook up wit whiteboy kuz im tired of waitin on to happen, u da best!!!!!!! da rest of ya’ll strait!!!!!!! L8TR!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
wutz up wit the 2 episodes that were suppose to come on datz wuz mest up man how ya’ll just set us up like dat but it’z strait!!!!!!!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
WATEVER THIS SHOW IS #*)$(_~~&)`+!_%% IN FAKE!!!
August 30th, 2008 at 9:25 am
the fake ~)@+*~(!^`~&(&&*% es there is here pumpkin,megan,toastee,brandic they are some nasty asz women too i bet you put too of them together of two parts ofn dat girlz i bet two of them in each is gay cuz they love sittin by each other like pumpkin fake asz spit self puttin her damnz hands on brandic i saw but no knows what the name of dat damn asz epidoe..
August 30th, 2008 at 9:26 am
i believe in u
August 30th, 2008 at 9:29 am
ok i believe in u still what about in everyday thats a serects alliance i kinda like u like hoopz
August 30th, 2008 at 11:42 am
The Host is WACK….they should have picked someone who was more exciting this guy is boring and hard to take serious as a HOST…peep up your game too!!!
August 30th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Well I was pissed off when I seen the last episode. I don’t understand why toastie sent 12 pack home that was pretty messed up. Just from me watching season after season of The Real World/Road Rules Challenges, this cast doesn’t even know what the hell they are doing. The paymaster keeps making stupid choices. And how is the Stallionaire alliance so strong when they never ever win anything. I would rather watch something else.
August 30th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I think John McCain would do a better job as a host? Yeah after he loses in November VH1 should do a reality TV show about a guy who just can’t win at anything! This show barely seems more interesting that that other piece of DOG CRAP Brooke nows nothing?
Nice try running it on MTV, iT AIN’T GONNA DO JACK SHE IS A MAN HER FATHER IS IN LOVE WITH HER THE MOM IS A TRANNY AND LITTLE BRO IN THE CLINK TAKING IT LIKE A GIRL.
Why don’t you do a show on the Marine who’s life is ruined by the family who know best? What a laugh!
August 30th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
After reading Mr Jackson’s comments It seems that race really played into this? He hates Whiteboy!
Maybe he loved 12 pack just like he did Chance & Heat who where as GAY as the &^)*&%`%&&&~_^* Not that there is anyhting wrong with that?
August 30th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Ok obviouslythe show is kind of real…. I saw the raw footage and mistakes do happen. As the clip is ending it sounds like Whiteboy is about to snap because his check was accidentally voided. So there is no way he would he was meant to go home instead of 12 Pack. so bloggers find another conspiracy theory to blog about.
August 30th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
he got served man.Snap!i love i love money got yellow team!
August 30th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
i think that heather is next
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
OK, so this was a mistake. I’m still certain Megan slept with a producer since every episode tiresomely focuses on her.
At this point I’m just reading recaps. It’s not worth my time to watch the Megan Show over and over again.