Real-life 'Truman Show' pulled from TV as it's branded 'psychological torture'

A Danish comedian is taking legal action against a TV company over a Truman Show-style show in which he claims to have been tricked for months.

Rasmus Wallbridge had believed that he was working on a film project with a friend for four months, when in fact, the whole time he was being secretly filmed as part of the elaborate prank.

The show was called Alle elsker Rasmus - which translates to 'Everyone Loves Rasmus' in English - and lasted for four months where TV 2, Drive Studios, and Nordisk Film convinced Rasmus that his dream of directing a film was coming true, but this was a lie.

The show has been compared to the 1997 film The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey in the title role of a man who was adopted by a corporation as a baby, and whose entire life has been inside a 10-mile-wide dome containing a purpose-built set where everyone he has ever known, including his colleagues, best friend, and even his wife are all colluding in the deception.

Rasmus Wallbridge has said he cannot participate in the discussion for the moment (Instagram/@rasmuswallbridge)

After it was released in October, the show has been met with severe criticism, and Rasmus himself has shared a short statement to his Instagram page, saying that he is 'not currently in a place where I can actively participate in that conversation', and that he is working on an upcoming show.

Nonetheless, the comedian did share some bits of information to offer some clarity on what has happened.

This including confirming that none of the people closest to him 'including my manager and my girlfriend', knew what was happening while it was being filmed.

"Like me, they believed we were making a feature film for Nordisk Film," he wrote in Danish, adding: "I am not actually making a feature film."

Rasmus' story has been compared to The Truman Show (Paramount)

He went on to say that 'after the revelation' he and his friend were offered a deal to develop a film with Nordisk Film.

"This does not mean that we have been given the green light to make a film," he explained. "There is a significant difference, and for obvious reasons, I have chosen not to pursue that collaboration further."

He also explained that he is not 'double-pranking' TV 2 after saying that he had seen a manager from the station said 'she cannot rule out the possibility'.

Rasmus went on to say that he had heard that TV 2 could not rule out pursuing a similar concept in the future, saying: "I would strongly urge them not to do so."

Comedians, viewers, and TV presenters have gone on to slam it as bullying, with one presenter even calling it 'psychological torture'.

The comedian clarified that his girlfriend and his manager were not aware of what was happening (Instagram/@rasmuswallbridge)

Viewers also took to social media to share their outrage, with one writing: “Why would anyone react positively to being Truman Show’d? They had to know it was going to backfire and they risked real harm to the target and possibly cast."

A second wrote: “That’s just mean. Seriously, who would think this was a funny prank? I am Danish, and I don’t understand it at all."

Meanwhile, a third pointed out the things that Rasmus had put on hold in his life to pursue what he thought was his dream project, writing: “He was gasligted and lied to for – not 4 hours, not 4 days – but 4 months 24/7. He had a newly born child, at girlfriend, and bills to pay.. he put everything on hold for what … nothing.”

The TV stations have since apologised to the comedian over the programme, though they claimed that Rasmus was given the chance to say no to the show being broadcast after finding out what had happened.