Nev Schulman and Kamie Crawford have seen it all, but Catfish Season 8 Episode 40 feels different because it hits on a specific type of vulnerability we don’t always see on MTV. Michael is a guy who just wants a partner. He’s been talking to "Julia" for a long time—two years, actually. In the world of online dating, two years is an eternity. It's enough time to build a house, have a kid, or in Michael's case, fall completely in love with a person he has never actually looked at through a screen.
The episode, titled "Michael & Julia," follows the classic blueprint but with a layer of genuine sadness. Michael isn't some naive teenager. He’s a grown man who genuinely believed he found his "person" in a girl from Florida who always had a convenient excuse for why her camera wouldn't work. We've heard it before. The "broken phone" trope is the oldest trick in the book, yet when you're in the thick of it, you want to believe the lie.
The Red Flags in Catfish Season 8 Episode 40 You Probably Missed
The investigation starts where they always do: the photos. When Kamie and Nev start digging, they realize the images Julia sent Michael were actually of a girl named "Cassie." Not just any girl, but a relatively well-known influencer. This is usually the "game over" moment for most viewers, but for Michael, the denial ran deep. It’s wild how the human brain protects itself from the truth.
One of the weirdest parts of this specific case was the location discrepancy. Julia claimed to be in Florida, but the digital footprint was pointing everywhere else. Michael had sent her money. Not thousands, but enough to hurt. This wasn't just a romantic scam; it was a slow-burn financial drain. When Nev finds a phone number linked to a woman named "Nicole" instead of Julia, the tension in the room (or the rented Airbnb) becomes palpable.
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Nicole wasn't even living in Florida. She was much closer than Michael realized.
Why This Episode Resonated With the "Catfish" Audience
Honestly, the "Julia" reveal was a gut punch because of how Nicole defended her actions. When they finally meet in that suburban park, Nicole doesn't come out swinging or acting like a villain. She looks tired. She explains that she used the photos because she didn't feel "worthy" of someone like Michael. It's the classic Catfish paradox: creating a fake life to find a real connection.
But here is the thing.
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Michael’s reaction was what made Catfish Season 8 Episode 40 stand out. Usually, people are furious. They scream. They walk away. Michael just looked defeated. He asked her why she couldn't just be herself. It’s a question that gets asked every week on MTV, but in this episode, the silence that followed spoke volumes. Nicole had been through her own trauma, including a bad breakup and self-esteem issues that made her feel invisible. She used "Julia" as a shield.
The Logistics of the Reveal
The tech used in this episode was standard for the 2021-2022 production cycle. They used reverse image searches on Yandex and Social Catfish—tools that anyone at home can use if they suspect they’re being played. What was interesting was how Nicole managed to keep the ruse going for 730 days. That’s a lot of texting. That’s a lot of "good morning" and "good night" messages.
It proves that catfishing isn't always about a "big score." Sometimes it's just about loneliness.
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- The photos belonged to a girl named "Cassie" who had no idea Michael existed.
- The phone number was registered to a relative of Nicole's, which is how Kamie tracked her down.
- Michael had actually spoken to "Julia's" friends on the phone, who turned out to be Nicole using different voices or her actual friends helping her lie.
The Aftermath: Where Are Michael and Nicole Now?
Two months after the cameras stopped rolling, the "catch-up" segment revealed the typical ending. They tried to talk. They really did. But you can't build a foundation on a two-year lie. Michael realized that while he liked the personality of the person he texted, he couldn't get past the deception.
Nicole claimed she was working on herself. She said she was going to stop using fake profiles. Whether she did or not is anyone's guess, as most of these participants scrub their social media as soon as the episode airs to avoid the inevitable wave of trolls. Michael, on the other hand, went back to the dating world, hopefully with a bit more skepticism and a requirement for a FaceTime call within the first 24 hours.
Protecting Yourself From a "Julia" Situation
If you find yourself in a situation like the one in Catfish Season 8 Episode 40, you have to be your own private investigator. Don't wait two years.
- Demand Video Proof: In 2026, there is zero excuse for a non-working camera. If they can text, they can video chat. Even a "broken" phone can use a laptop or a friend's device.
- Verify the Images: Use Google Lens. It takes three seconds. If the person's face shows up on a Pinterest board for "cute outfits," you're talking to a bot or a catfish.
- Check the Timeline: Nicole's stories often didn't add up. She’d be at work but then say she was at the store. Consistency is the enemy of the liar.
- Follow the Money: Never, under any circumstances, send money to someone you haven't met. It changes the dynamic from a romance to a transaction.
The biggest takeaway from this episode isn't that Nicole is a bad person. It’s that we often see what we want to see. Michael saw a future because he was lonely, and Nicole saw an escape because she was unhappy. It’s a sad, human cycle that keeps Nev and Kamie employed year after year.
To avoid the pitfalls Michael faced, start by doing a basic background check on any long-term online interest using public records or social media verification tools. If they refuse to meet in a public place after a month of talking, it is time to cut ties and move on to someone who is willing to show up as their authentic self.