A Lithuanian television show was the target of an elaborate hoax orchestrated by a YouTube prank channel. The creators of the “nešvankiai” channel successfully convinced the producers of “TV pagalba,” a program dedicated to helping people with real-life problems, that they were a couple in crisis.
Prank Channel Fools TV Show with Fake Relationship Drama
The “nešvankiai” YouTube channel pulled off a complex ruse, fooling a Lithuanian television program into believing a fabricated story of relationship woes.
- The “TV pagalba” show focuses on providing assistance to individuals facing genuine hardships.
- The prank involved actors posing as a couple struggling with infidelity and alcohol abuse.
- The creators of the “nešvankiai” channel documented the entire process in a YouTube video titled “Kaip apgavome „TV pagalbą“.”
- The show’s producers confirmed this was the first time they had been intentionally misled.
- The pranksters donated the 150 euro support payment they received from the show to a charitable cause.
Justė Razbadauskytė, Head of Communications for TV3, responded to the situation. “TV pagalba” is a project dedicated to social assistance and resolving real problems. The show does not employ actors, and the stories presented are genuine.
The primary goal of the show is to provide help, as seen in this instance. Unfortunately, the show’s team was consciously and systematically misled this time, according to producers. This marks the first instance in the show’s history where individuals approached the program not with a legitimate issue, but with the intention of exploiting the team’s willingness to help.
What steps will “TV pagalba” take to prevent similar incidents in the future? The show’s producers stated that the time dedicated to this fabricated story could have been used to assist individuals with genuine needs. They will implement additional preventative measures when evaluating stories in the future, according to a statement.
The scandal began after Nerijus and Vilma, purportedly experiencing a relationship crisis, appeared on “TV pagalba.” However, after the episode aired, it was revealed that Nerijus and Vilma were fictional characters portrayed by actors. The elaborate prank was carried out by the creators of the “nešvankiai” YouTube channel, known for their previous stunts.
The creators detailed the deception and the entire process in a YouTube video, “Kaip apgavome „TV pagalbą“.” “This was truly one of the most difficult videos – it required a long wait, a lot of stress, and we didn’t even know if it would work until the end. We invite you to watch how it all turned out,” the creators said in the video.
According to their plan, the character Nerijus is a man living with a woman struggling with alcohol abuse and fearing her infidelity. The video shows him calling the “TV pagalba” phone line, recounting his story, and discussing filming details. “Vilma has started abusing alcohol, and I think she’s going around on other men. I need you to come and knock some sense into her,” said Gytis, the actor portraying Nerijus.
The creators stated they received a call from “TV pagalba” two weeks later, with Lina, the actress playing Vilma, answering the phone. The “nešvankiai” team invited the “TV pagalba” crew to what they presented as their home, a location specifically chosen for the deception. “We found probably the worst house in Plekaičių village, but unfortunately, we lost our advantage because the show’s team didn’t want to come there,” they explained.
Ultimately, Gytis and Lina, as Nerijus and Vilma, traveled to the “TV pagalba” studio for filming, where they had to convincingly recount their story. The actors admitted to feeling anxious before the filming and fearing exposure, but ultimately acknowledged the success of the hoax.
The video revealed that the fictional couple even received support from TV3 – 150 euros intended for a new phone. However, they did not keep the money and donated it to “Išsipildymo Akcija,” a charity supported by TV3.
