Some perfect news, Network 10 has unveiled the fresh crop of television that we’ll be receiving for Pilot Week 2019, and we’re getting an Australian version of Catfish. It gets better though, Catfish Australia will be hosted by none other than Australian Idol royalty, and catfish victim, Casey Donovan.
If you weren’t aware, Casey Donovan was a victim of catfishing for six whole years. She detailed the experience in her memoir, Big, Beautiful and Sexier. So it goes, Donovan believed she was in a relationship with a man named Campbell, when in fact she’d been tricked by her own friend, Olga. It’s a pretty nuts story. You can read an excerpt of the memoir below.
I gripped the steering wheel and took a massive breath before I caught myself blurting out the words I never wanted to say out loud.
“I’ve never seen him.”
I caught Jason off-guard. He looked at me, confused, not quite sure what I was talking about. “I’ve never seen him. Campbell, I mean. I’ve never met him, have never actually been with him. I’ve only ever spoken to him on the phone.” I put one hand over my mouth like I was trying to put the words back in. It tasted horrible and gritty, finally admitting it to someone.
Jason put his hand to his forehead. “Wait. What? Are you serious?”
My stomach turned. I felt sick. “Yes, I’m serious.” I paused. “Olga is the only one who knows that I’ve never met him,” I say, referring to my best friend. “The only one who knows the truth.”
Jason sat there, stunned. “Okay, let me get this straight. You have never met or seen this guy in person?”
In my head, I kept repeating to myself that I had to be honest. “No. No, I haven’t.”
“So Olga is the only one who has ever met him? Have you tried to see him? Wait a second. You’ve told me before that you’d met him.”
I was confused thinking about it – and I was the one who had lived it. Of course Jason would be confused. I started getting angry. Not at Jason, but at myself for being so stupid. I broke down, sobbing, the kind of sobbing that steals your breath away.
“I’ve lived this every day for the last six years. I know it sounds crazy. And now I don’t know what to do. I’m hanging on by a thread.”
Watch: Casey Donovan discuss her Catfish experience
Pilot Week 2019 is coming soon to Network 10.
