The Hills concluded its run fifteen years ago on July 13, 2010, leaving fans buzzing after the series finale revealed a shocking twist. In a move that left many questioning the authenticity of the show, the final scene pulled back the curtain on the Paramount lot, showcasing a backdrop of the Hollywood sign, prompting speculation about whether the journey had been genuine all along.
Reflecting on the ending, Kristin Cavallari shared insights with Us Weekly, highlighting that Adam DiVello, the show’s creator, had devised this “genius” twist, designed to elicit disbelief among viewers. Kristin expressed, “I remember thinking, this is going to make you be like, ‘Wait, what just happened?’ It was one of the most amazing jaw-dropping moments. I thought it was absolutely brilliant.”
Lauren Conrad echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the unpredictability of their non-scripted reality. “It’s cool they took a chance and did something unexpected. This wasn’t a scripted series, so it’s hard to tie everyone’s lives up nicely with a bow. We were all young and just going to go on living the next day,” she remarked.
Audrina Patridge added another layer to the discussion, acknowledging how the lines between reality and construct blurred not just for viewers but also for the cast. “There was, and still is, so much controversy about whether the show was real or fake. Even for us, the lines between real emotions and storylines created by producers got pretty blurry at times,” she stated, highlighting the complexities of their experience.
Kristin explained that the finale’s reveal served as a nod to the audience’s skepticism about the show’s authenticity. “It wasn’t The Hills saying everything was fake. I took it more as a little nod to the audience — like we know what you’ve been saying and we’re still not going to confirm or deny,” she clarified.
Despite this, Audrina candidly admitted that while some storylines were indeed manipulated, the core of their experiences felt authentic. “At the end of the day, the heart of the show was still real, even if some situations were shaped or manipulated to help move the story along,” she said.
Lauren recalled mixed reactions from the viewer base regarding the finale, stating, “It was clearly a nod to the question of ‘is it real?’ that had always followed the show. They waited until the final moment to literally break the fourth wall.” Audrina further weighed in, saying the shocking ending prompted debates among fans, many of whom were left pondering the validity of everything they had watched.
She noted, “So many people were like, ‘Wait … was the whole thing fake?’ It sparked a ton of questions and curiosity, making people rethink everything they had watched.” The finale not only sparked discussions but also cemented The Hills as a cultural phenomenon that blurred the lines between authenticity and fiction.
Kristin candidly admitted that The Hills was “70 percent fake,” while Lauren argued it still captured many genuine moments. “Things needed to be re-shot and restaged. Cameras weren’t always with us, so if they missed something important, we understood we would be reliving it in the near future,” Lauren shared. Audrina recalled an emotional moment that, though real, had to be staged for filming, saying, “That moment was real, sad, and honestly heartbreaking. We would’ve handled it differently off-camera.”
The finale of The Hills wasn’t just an ending; it was a commentary on the very nature of reality television itself. It opened discussions around authenticity in media, where even reality TV stars grapple with the question of what’s real. As the years have gone by, it remains compelling that fans and cast alike still find themselves debating the show’s authenticity, underscoring how reality can be crafted and curated by production. This captivating dynamic keeps the cultural conversation alive, resonating long after the cameras stopped rolling.
Source: Us Weekly