MTV reality television cast contract contains controversial sexual health stipulations

Media reports of the contract that potential cast members of the MTV reality television program The Real World had been required to sign have provoked significant attention. According to Mother Jones, the 30-page contract contains several stipulations pertaining to the potential pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease (STD) infection of its prospective female cast.

Within the text of the document, under the section entitled "Assumption of Risk and Acknowledgments," the possibility of consensual - and non-consensual - sexual contact that could result in the contraction of STDs is noted.

Cast members are required to acknowledge this, and affirm that the show's producers do not have to require any other participants to be STD-free or shoulder any responsibility. Additionally, the producers state that they will not necessarily conduct background checks on other cast members for concerning criminal behavior.

If female cast members were to become pregnant during the production of the program, the producers reserved the right to fire them immediately.

The contract was initially unveiled to the public by The Village Voice in the first week of August. No dates are specified in the copy of this document, making it unclear whether the contract is current or pertaining to past seasons.