Does Russian Reality Series Really Allow Murder and Rape?

Earlier this week, an upcoming Russian reality competition series made headlines with its controversial stance on crimes potentially committed by its contestants. Those headlines claimed that the producer of the show had written rules that explicitly allowed contestants to commit acts such as murder and rape during the competition.

Then there were countering headlines claiming that the initial headlines were misleading. What's the truth?

The truth is that, according to an ad for the upcoming Game 2: Winter series, those crimes are on the table.

"Everything is allowed. Fighting, alcohol, murder, rape, smoking, anything," the ad says.

In addition to the mind-bending conflation of smoking and murder as acts of trangression, the statement is shocking in its directness.

If contestants want to rape or murder their fellow contestants, the show's producers are apparently cool with that, and if those murders and rapes result in a contestant's victory, the perpetrator will, presumably, receive the show's $1.6-million cash prize. There seems to be no question that the series' rules are condoning and incentivizing rape and murder.

The show's promotion points out, however, that Russian laws still apply, and anyone who rapes or murders will be subject to arrest, if applicable. However, the rules also offer the helpful reminder that authorities would need at least half an hour to reach the contestants by helicopter.