A former Hollywood producer has laid bare the dark side of the industry, confessing that she became a master at ‘exploiting’ pain and suffering for views.
Beth Bigler, 44, spent 20 years working as a Hollywood development executive, writer, and producer.
She famously worked on reality TV shows like the Real Housewives of Atlanta, as well as ‘fast-paced game shows, heartfelt competition series, and gripping investigative documentaries.’
Part of her job was finding people who had gone through something traumatic and were willing to talk about it on camera.
She quickly learned that ‘authentic pain’ is what would bring in the most ratings – but she admitted that turning ‘someone’s most raw moments into compelling television’ eventually started ‘eating away’ at her.
After two decades working in TV, she left it all behind to do something she felt was more fulfilling: pet grief counseling.
Now, she has opened up about her journey and the things she witnessed while working Hollywood exclusively with the Daily Mail.
‘Here’s what I learned [during my years in Hollywood]: sometimes Hollywood exploits raw emotion for ratings,’ she explained.
A former Hollywood producer has laid bare the downsides to the industry, confessing that she became a master at ‘exploiting’ pain and suffering for views
Beth Bigler, 44, spent 20 years working as a Hollywood development executive, writer, and producer and worked on reality TV shows like the Real Housewives of Atlanta
‘I became skilled at spotting authentic pain and understanding what makes must-watch television.
‘I always gravitated toward stories others dismissed or overlooked. I spent decades shining a spotlight on underrepresented narratives.’
While Beth admitted that she ‘excelled at her job,’ she said sitting back and watching people discuss their trauma started to become a ‘challenge’ for her.
‘Unscripted TV requires you to turn someone’s most raw moments into compelling television,’ she continued.
‘You’re balancing what people want to share with what viewers want to see.’
She said she often felt torn, wanting to help the subject while also thinking about how she could ‘craft’ their story for ‘maximum impact.’
Beth dished, ‘When someone breaks down on camera when they’re talking about an estranged parent, a mistake they made, or a devastating divorce, you’re simultaneously thinking, “this person is in real pain” and “this is powerful content, how do we craft this for maximum impact?”
‘You develop this split awareness where you can witness genuine suffering while calculating its entertainment value.
She quickly learned that ‘authentic pain’ is what would bring in the most ratings – and she was often tasked with turning ‘someone’s most raw moments into compelling television’
She said she often felt torn, wanting to help the subject while also thinking about how she could ‘craft’ their story for ‘maximum impact’
‘I got exceptional at that dance, but it started eating at me. Reading people’s grief became second nature.
‘I understood what they needed emotionally, but my job was to serve the story, not serve them.’
Of course, working in TV was also incredibly exciting and came with a slew of benefits.
‘One day I’m in a rehearsal for a new quiz show, the next I’m on set with A-listers,’ dished Beth.
‘You get this backstage pass to everything: celebrities, network executives, the whole glamorous circus.
‘There’s nothing like the rush when a show you championed gets picked up. I remember getting calls at midnight about talent drama or being in boardrooms where million-dollar decisions were made in seconds. The adrenaline was intoxicating.’
But while it was an ‘amazing ride,’ she often craved something more ‘meaningful.’
In December 2017, Beth said she had an ‘awakening’ after her ‘soulmate cat’ Arnie was diagnosed with aggressive cancer.
In December 2017, Beth said she had an ‘awakening’ after her ‘soulmate cat’ Arnie was diagnosed with aggressive cancer
Arnie sadly passed away soon after, and she decided it was time to leave her Hollywood job behind and start a new endeavor: pet grief counseling
She said it ‘felt like her whole world was collapsing’ so she turned to a pet loss grief counselor to help her prepare for the loss.
Then, during one vet visit she bonded with a woman in the waiting room whose cat was dying, and she used what the pet loss grief counselor had taught her to help the woman.
‘Sitting with her through that heartbreaking goodbye, something clicked. This was the work I was meant to do,’ she said.
Arnie sadly passed away soon after, and she decided it was time to leave her Hollywood job behind and start a new endeavor.
She launched Honoring Animals, where she ‘works with individuals and families before, during, and after the loss of their beloved animal companion.’
She has also released a book on the topic, entitled Honoring Our Animals: 365 Meditations for Healing After Pet Loss, and is a regular contributor to podcasts, articles, and other media.
And she believes her years in TV helped make her so good at her new job.
‘It’s that same ability to see [people’s] truth, but now I’m thinking, “How can I support them through this?” not, “How can we use this for ratings?”‘ she explained.
She launched Honoring Animals, where she ‘works with individuals and families before, during, and after the loss of their beloved animal companion’
‘I now have the tools, space, and perspective to be present and make a real difference instead of only capturing their pain.
‘The same skills, different purpose: bringing unheard truths into the light, whether that’s on screen or in someone’s grief.’
She described her work now as ‘much more intuitive and sacred’ than before.
‘Everything feels aligned now. In Hollywood, the whole industry runs on external validation: will the network pick it up? Will audiences connect? Will it get renewed? Whether something was a hit or not was completely out of my hands,’ she concluded.
‘But in grief work, success looks like someone finally sleeping through the night after months of insomnia, or realizing their beloved’s love didn’t disappear with their transition.
‘These aren’t metrics anyone else can measure. They’re soul-deep shifts that matter. The intimacy is profound.
‘Most importantly, this work touches something universal and timeless. When someone learns to honor their grief for their beloved instead of hiding from it, they’re not just surviving this loss, they’re becoming more equipped for all the sorrow life will bring. Our culture is grief-illiterate. This helps change that, one person at a time.’
