Social media outrage over on-air brawl in Latvian reality show “Caur ērkšķiem uz...”
A dispute between three participants in the reality show “Caur ērkšķiem uz...” turned into a physical fight in its latest episode, sparking widespread online debate about whether such content should be broadcast on television.
A heated discussion has erupted on social media after the latest episode of the reality show “Caur ērkšķiem uz...” showed a conflict between three participants escalating into a physical altercation. The footage has provoked strong reactions from viewers questioning whether such scenes should be allowed on television at all.
An influencer known as Gromuls posted a clip from the episode on Threads, prompting an active exchange of opinions in the comments. Several users expressed disapproval that two women, reportedly around 40 and 50 years old, confronted a much younger, 20-year-old participant, with some expressing hope that both older women would be removed from the show.
Questions about the production team's responsibility
Some commenters focused not on the participants themselves but on the show's production team — the camera operator and director. One user tagged the State Police's account, asking whether deliberately not intervening in a violent situation could amount to a criminal offense on the part of the crew.
Opinions on the incident were divided. Some viewers argued that a reality show should reflect life as closely as possible, while others countered that verbal provocation can never justify physical violence and that resorting to it says more about a person's inability to manage emotions.
Broader criticism of the format
The debate also extended to criticism of the reality show format in general. Some commenters questioned why such participants are sought out, filmed and styled for the show in the first place, while others replied that the format draws viewers precisely because audiences enjoy this kind of content. Several users linked the show's popularity to what they described as a decline in society, while others noted that some participants have genuinely turned their lives around through the program.
