He used charm, others’ personal tragedies and fake celebrity endorsements. How Christopher LaVoie cast his reality show and reeled in successful entrepreneurs
Christopher LaVoie didn’t just walk into a TV studio one Monday, look at the camera and tell an actress about his family’s struggles.
Yes, he did – but for the first time, it was in a way that looked familiar.
His story sounded a lot like the ones he told. They all followed a similar formula: He would come up with a very specific solution to a big problem. The solution came out of his deep knowledge of the market, his knowledge of the business itself and his ability to attract and build relationships.
And his solution was almost always a way to make life better for other people who were struggling. And then, it looked like they were going to fall for it.
LaVoie was trying to sell his idea, and he came in talking a huge game. He would build relationships with all different kinds of actors. The actors were all going to fall for it. He would build them into his network.
But those actors and actresses weren’t just going to fall for his pitch. They were going to fall for something they didn’t even know they were looking for.
Instead, Christopher LaVoie was setting up a massive deception. He was making it look like he was trying to help troubled celebrities. But the truth was, he was trying to get them to like him so he could control them.
LaVoie, 33, is a former lawyer, a former college basketball player and now is the creator and executive producer of the Bravo series, “Life on an Unusual Diet,” which is currently airing its third season.
In his life, he says that has helped him connect with people — not just actors or entertainers, but all kinds of people — from all walks of life. But he knows he has the ability to use his personal and professional connections to hurt someone he cares about.
Here’s how he did it.
LaVoie was struggling
LaVoie