MTV fans know The Real World as the first modern reality TV show in America, as the show premiered in 1992 and ran until 2016. Sadly, cast member Sarah Becker from season 5 died by suicide in June 2024. And her fellow castmates are now speaking out on the experience they had on the show alongside her. Here’s what one of her castmates said about the “traumatic” season.
Sarah Becker’s castmate on ‘The Real World’ called the show ‘intense’ and ‘traumatic’
Sarah Becker was cast for The Real World: Miami in 1996 along with six strangers: Cynthia Robert, Melissa Padron, Flora Alekseyeva, Dan Renzi, Joe Patane, and Mike Lambert. Unfortunately, Becker died by suicide in June 2024 at 52 years old in her home in Illinois.
A family member told TMZ that she dealt with mental health difficulties in the time leading up to her death, and her struggles were compounded by a skateboarding accident. She reportedly lived in Illinois to care for her mother and sister, but she planned to return to California.
Becker joined The Real World cast as a 25-year-old comic book editor from La Jolla, California. She described herself as a “19-year-old trapped in a 25-year-old body” and a “tomboy” who “doesn’t deal well with pettiness” during the season. In season 5, the seven cast members were given the task of starting a business with $50,000, but they failed.
Becker’s castmates posted tributes to her online after her death. Renzi posted on Instagram and referenced the “traumatic” experience he and his six castmates had on the show.
“Sarah and I had not spoken since the end of our show, so I don’t know anything about her struggles,” he wrote on Instagram. “The seven of us in that cast went through a bizarre, intense, and sometimes traumatic experience together, and that creates a connection between people, even when they choose to not associate with each other. I can only say it’s very sad.”
Renzi posted a photo with the cast on June 24, 2024. “We were very happy that day,” he captioned the photo. “Today, not so much. Today is very sad. Life is short. Keep your loved ones close.”
Alekseyeun also posted a tribute to Becker. “I am beyond myself and sad to just hear that my roommate Sarah died,” she captioned an Instagram post. “I can’t believe this. She was the most selfless person I knew. She was always kind and helpful to everyone. I haven’t spoken to her in years and never knew she was troubled. My prayers go out to her family. RIP my roommate, my friend. May you skate with angels and never feel pain again.”
Sarah Becker called ‘The Real World’ a ‘6-month long vacation’ from life
Sarah Becker spoke to The Chicago Tribune in 1997 about her experience on The Real World. The publication noted that after six months of living with strangers, Becker felt more than ready to get back into the actual world, away from reality TV.
“For me, The Real World was a six-month-long vacation,” Becker said at the time. “I knew from the get-go that it couldn’t be a stepping stone to bigger and better things. I want my own magazine someday, and I don’t think Sarah from The Real World is going to have anything to do with that.”
Becker added that she was no longer walking through the world anonymously after her time on the series, and she initially didn’t want to be on the show. “I kind of liked being anonymous,” she added. “Now I go into a place, and people recognize me and say, ‘Hey, Real World girl!’ So when I go out, I sometimes wear a hood.”
That said, Becker had a great experience, though it’s unclear if she would do it again. “I did it for kicks,” she said. “I had reservations because I couldn’t see myself schmoozing people who’d do anything to get in front of a camera.” She noted that the show “was a blast” to film, and she “learned” that she’s “pretty happy” about who she is.
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