Ep 5. Sham & Phillip

Sham & Phillip are the focus of episode 5 of season 10 of the popular MTV series, Catfish: The TV Show. The episode opens with Nev and Kamie reading a message from Sham, who is seeking their help in uncovering the truth about his online boyfriend, Phillip. Sham reveals that he has been in a long-distance relationship with Phillip for almost a year, but they have never met in person. Despite this, Sham feels that the two are deeply in love and have even discussed getting married.

However, Sham has become increasingly suspicious of Phillip's behavior. He claims that Phillip always seems to have an excuse for why they can't meet in person and that he never answers his phone when Sham tries to call. Sham also suspects that Phillip may not be who he claims to be since he has never seen a current photo of him. The only images that Phillip has shared are heavily filtered and always seem to be from a distance.

With these red flags in mind, Nev and Kamie set out to help Sham uncover the truth about Phillip. The first step is to do a reverse image search of the pictures that Phillip has sent to Sham. This leads them down a rabbit hole of fake social media accounts, many of which seem to be connected to Phillip's ex-boyfriend.

As the investigation continues, Nev and Kamie begin to unravel a complex web of lies and deceit. They discover that Phillip is not who he claims to be and that he has been hiding behind a fake identity for years. In fact, the person that Sham has been talking to is actually a woman named Alex, who has been catfishing him from the beginning.

As Alex reveals her true identity to Sham, the emotions in the room run high. Sham is devastated to learn that the person he thought he was in love with doesn't even exist, while Alex struggles to come to terms with the hurt that she has caused. However, despite the initial shock, both Sham and Alex are able to find a sense of closure and even forgiveness by the end of the episode.

Overall, Sham & Phillip is a heartbreaking episode that reminds viewers of the importance of being honest and transparent in online relationships. While the concept of catfishing may seem harmless at first glance, the emotional toll it can take on those involved is not to be underestimated. Through the raw and emotional journey of Sham and Alex, the episode emphasizes the importance of authenticity and empathy in all our relationships, whether online or in person.