Hollywood loves a scandal. It lives for it. For years, rumors swirled about a show called The Real Side Chicks of Los Angeles, a title so inflammatory it practically guaranteed a viral explosion. You've probably seen the grainy "leaked" trailers or the social media posts claiming the show was "too hot for TV" or "banned by the networks."
It wasn't.
The truth is a lot more complicated than a simple cancellation. This wasn't a case of a major network like Bravo or VH1 getting cold feet because the content was too scandalous. Instead, it was a masterclass in independent production, digital marketing, and the messy intersection of reality TV tropes and actual L.A. culture. When we talk about this specific project, we aren't talking about a mainstream hit. We are talking about a very specific era of "urban reality" content that attempted to bypass the gatekeepers and go straight to the audience.
Why Everyone Thought The Real Side Chicks of Los Angeles Was a Real Show
Let’s be real. If you saw a flyer for a show with that name, you’d click. The creators knew that. Around 2013 and 2014, the "Real Housewives" and "Love & Hip Hop" formulas were at their absolute peak. Producers were looking for the next "shock" factor.
The project was primarily the brainchild of independent producers who understood that in Los Angeles, the "side chick" persona wasn't just a tabloid headline—it was a lifestyle brand some people were actually willing to claim for the sake of fame. It sounds wild. It is wild. But in an industry built on clout, being the "other woman" to someone famous was seen by some as a legitimate foot in the door.
The "trailers" that circulated weren't actually for a greenlit series. Most were "sizzle reels." In the TV world, a sizzle reel is a 2-3 minute hype video used to pitch a concept to networks like OWN, BET, or Zeus. Most of these reels never turn into shows. They are filmed in rented mansions with casts who are often told they are already stars.
People saw these clips on YouTube and WorldStarHipHop and assumed the show was airing next Tuesday. It never was. The disconnect between "internet viral" and "television broadcast" is where the myth of the show being "banned" comes from.
✨ Don't miss: Cuba Gooding Jr OJ: Why the Performance Everyone Hated Was Actually Genius
The Cast and the Viral Fallout
Who were these women? Mostly, they were aspiring models, actresses, and socialites trying to make a name in a crowded market. Some, like Adiz "Bambi" Benson, actually went on to find real success in the reality TV ecosystem. Bambi eventually became a staple on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, proving that while the "Side Chicks" brand was toxic, it served as a brutal audition for the bigger leagues.
Others didn't fare as well. When you attach your name to a project titled The Real Side Chicks of Los Angeles, you are making a pact with the devil of public opinion.
L.A. is a small town in a big city. Word travels.
The backlash was immediate. Local community leaders and social media commentators slammed the concept for "degrading" women and promoting infidelity as a career path. This is likely why no major network touched it. It wasn't because it was "too real." It was because the advertisers—the companies that buy commercials for soap and cars—don't want their products associated with a show that celebrates the breakdown of marriages. It’s bad for the bottom line.
The "Banned" Narrative vs. Reality
I’ve heard people say the show was filmed and then seized by lawyers. That’s mostly nonsense. Reality TV contracts are ironclad. If a show doesn't air, it's usually for one of three boring reasons:
- The footage was boring. You can have a provocative title, but if the girls are just sitting around eating salads and talking about their hair, there's no show.
- The money ran out. Independent pilots are expensive. Lighting, sound, and permit fees in L.A. will drain a bank account in forty-eight hours.
- Legal threats. While the show wasn't "banned," individual celebrities who were allegedly involved with the cast members likely sent "cease and desist" letters. If a cast member claims she’s dating a married NBA star and that star’s legal team threatens a multi-million dollar defamation suit, a small production company will fold instantly.
The project eventually morphed and fragmented. Bits of it showed up in other web series. Some of the cast members tried to rebrand. But the original, raw vision of The Real Side Chicks of Los Angeles remains a ghost of the internet—a reminder of how far people were willing to go for a 15-minute window of fame in the mid-2010s.
🔗 Read more: Greatest Rock and Roll Singers of All Time: Why the Legends Still Own the Mic
The Cultural Legacy of the "Side Chick" Brand in L.A.
We can't ignore the impact this had on how we talk about L.A. culture. The city has always had a reputation for being a place where "everything is for sale," and this show concept leaned into that stereotype with a sledgehammer.
It also highlighted the "clout chasing" era before that term was even popular.
Today, we see this everywhere. Influencers stage fake paparazzi shoots. They rent private jets that never leave the tarmac. The Real Side Chicks of Los Angeles was just an early, aggressive version of that same hustle. It was a search for legitimacy through infamy.
Interestingly, the "Real Side Chicks" moniker didn't die with the show. It became a recurring theme in music videos and Instagram captions. It’s a trope. A character type.
What Actually Happened to the Footage?
Most of it is sitting on old hard drives in North Hollywood or Encino. Some leaked scenes still exist in the dark corners of video hosting sites, usually titled something like "LA Side Chicks UNCUT."
If you watch them now, they feel dated. The fashion is different. The "drama" feels forced. It’s a time capsule of a specific moment when "shock TV" was transitioning from cable to the wild west of the internet.
💡 You might also like: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
The producers did eventually release some content under different names or via subscription-based "urban" streaming apps that cater to niche audiences. But the dream of being the next Real Housewives ended when the first trailer dropped and the world realized it was more sad than scandalous.
Navigating the Reality TV Industry Today
If you're looking at the history of The Real Side Chicks of Los Angeles as a cautionary tale or a curiosity, there are a few things to keep in mind about how the industry actually works.
- Sizzle reels aren't shows. Never assume a 2-minute clip means a series is coming. Anyone with an iPhone and a nice Airbnb can film a "reality pilot."
- The "Banned" label is usually a marketing tactic. If someone says a show was "too hot for TV," they are usually trying to sell you a subscription to a platform with fewer regulations.
- Digital footprints are permanent. Many women involved in these early "scandal" shows found it incredibly difficult to get "clean" corporate work or mainstream acting roles later because their names were forever linked to the "side chick" brand.
The real story isn't about the show itself, but about the desperation of the L.A. fame machine. It’s about how easily we are tricked by a provocative title and a well-edited trailer.
If you’re interested in the "real" side of this world, look toward the rise of platforms like Zeus Network or NowThatstv. These are the spiritual successors to the "Side Chicks" era. They operate without the "moral" filters of traditional cable networks, showing exactly what those early 2014 producers were trying to capture—for better or worse.
To understand the current state of independent reality TV, start by researching the "Zeus Network business model." It explains how creators finally bypassed the "banned" problem by building their own playgrounds. You can also look into the history of "Mona Scott-Young" and how she structured Love & Hip Hop to see the difference between a professional production and an amateur "side chick" project. Finally, check the "Wayback Machine" for old casting calls from 2013 to see the original requirements for these types of shows; it’s a fascinating look at how these projects were marketed to the people actually living the lifestyle.
---