Imagine being on a reality show on national television and asked whether or not you would rather be with your ex-boyfriend or your husband. Would you risk the end of your marriage just to win thousands of dollars?

Contestant Lauren Cleri was one of the many tricked into believing that they would win a total of $500,000 as a grand prize by answering simple questions on the reality show, “Moment of Truth.”



Cleri admitted that she had slept with another man while being married to her husband, Frank Cleri and that she was still in love with her ex on her wedding day.

So did “Moment of Truth” really kill a marriage? Some may say yes it did. Are the contestants there to tell the truth or win thousands of dollars?

Many of the contestants that are brought onto the show appear to be people with secrets from their families, friends, and even coworkers. But the truth itself can either break or make the contestant depending on its value.

The series is based on the original Columbian edition, which is aired in at least 23 different countries including Spain, Brazil, Germany and the UK. Despite its high ratings and international success, the Columbian edition was temporarily cancelled after one contestant won $25,000 while admitting that she hired a hit man to kill her husband.

One would think that after admitting such a daring statement, the madwoman would have been arrested or at least investigated instead of being rewarded with money for attempted murder.

Before the show contestants are hooked up to a polygraph and are asked 75 highly personal questions. The contestants are then asked 21 of the previous questions again on national television, but they are not shown the results of the polygraph.

If the answers indeed match the result of the polygraph, the contestant is allowed to move onto the next round, increasing their chances of winning the grand prize.

But the polygraph itself can sometimes be misleading due to the contestant’s nervousness.

However, as each correct answer is matched, not only do the questions grow to be harder but owning up to the truth while your friends and family are watching also becomes difficult.

A few questions that were asked on previous shows dealt with whether or not the contestant ever lied to get a job or if the contestant liked their mother in law. Others included whether or not the contestant stole from work or cheated on their spouse.

Is the show “Moment of truth,” really bringing out the “truth” for the better? Or is it boosting ratings?