Imagine spending four months believing you are making the film of your dreams, only to discover that 149 people have been secretly playing along with an elaborate television prank. Danish comedian Rasmus Wallbridge found himself at the centre of an extraordinary hoax that has now left a national broadcaster apologising and viewers questioning when a joke goes too far.
Wallbridge thought he was finally getting the chance to make a feature film with his longtime creative partner Martin Johannes Larsen. Instead, the project turned out to be a real life Truman show style hidden-camera television experiment that has caused a major controversy in Denmark.
149 people help create the elaborate hoax
For four months, Rasmus Wallbridge believed he was developing a Danish horror-comedy with Larsen. In reality, the entire project had been organised by Danish broadcaster TV 2 and production company Drive Studios.
A total of 149 people were involved in the deception, including Danish celebrities and people pretending to be actors, film professionals and other industry contacts.
Hidden cameras were cleverly disguised behind mirrors, inside coffee cups and USB sticks, and even sewn into Wallbridge’s clothing to capture his reactions without his knowledge.
The six-part series was called Alle elsker Rasmus, translated as Everyone Loves Rasmus, and was inspired by the idea behind the 1998 film The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey.
Viewers turn against the television prank
The programme premiered on TV 2’s platforms on October 26, but the reaction was far from what its creators had hoped for.
Rather than finding the deception funny, many viewers accused the production of bullying and psychologically manipulating the comedian. Critics questioned whether it was fair to convince somebody that their biggest professional ambition was becoming reality, only to reveal that the entire project had been staged.
Wallbridge was told about the prank before the programme was broadcast and was given the opportunity to prevent its release. However, critics argued that this placed him in an uncomfortable position after months of deception and with so many influential people involved.
The comedian himself acknowledged that he could understand the humour behind the concept, but admitted he had thrown himself completely into the film project because making a movie was a huge dream of his.
Broadcaster apologises and pulls the series
Just five days after its premiere, TV 2 removed the series from its streaming platform and cancelled its planned television transmission.
On October 31, programme director Dorthe Thirstrup issued an unconditional apology to Wallbridge and the other participants. She admitted that her judgement had failed and said the broadcaster had not looked after the comedian properly, either during filming or when he was asked to decide whether the programme could be released.
Drive Studios also apologised. Chief executive Kasper Fredshavn acknowledged that the production had gone too far.
Wallbridge’s friend and creative partner Larsen also expressed regret, explaining that the programme had been intended as a tribute to the comedian rather than an attempt to ridicule him.
Reused laughter adds to the controversy
Just when the situation seemed difficult enough for the broadcaster, another uncomfortable detail came to light.
TV 2 admitted that a recording of Wallbridge laughing had been reused in the final episode, making it appear that he was laughing again during a later part of the reveal. The admission raised further questions about how the programme had been edited and whether viewers had been given a fair impression of his reaction.
TV 2 subsequently announced an internal investigation into how the series was commissioned, produced and approved for broadcast.
Wallbridge has largely kept out of the public debate, although he thanked supporters for their messages and made clear that his closest family and friends, including his girlfriend and manager, had not known about the deception.
Meanwhile, the broadcaster also reported that some people involved in the production and their families had received abusive messages and threats following the backlash.
For now, Everyone Loves Rasmus has disappeared from Danish television, but the controversy has left an interesting question for broadcasters everywhere: how far should television go in the name of entertainment?
After all, a practical joke is one thing. Convincing somebody that their lifelong dream is finally coming true, while 149 people secretly know otherwise, is quite another.
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