Discovery Networks International has committed to a new documentary special on the controversial Ashley Madison hacking scandal, “Sex, Lies and Online Affairs,” slated for a late September release.
The special is being produced by Mentorn Productions and will take an in-depth look at the late summer hacking of adult website AshleyMadison.com. As a result of that breach, the names of more than 30 million users of the online hookup service – mostly married men looking for adulterous affairs, including prominent figures like disgraced former 19 Kids and Counting star Josh Duggar and reality starsJionni Lavalle and Josh Taekman -- were leaked to the general public.
According to DNI, “Sex, Lies and Online Affairs,” investigates how the Internet is changing the modern relationship and seeks to understand and explain the driving forces leading to infidelity. The documentary will use personal stories showing people on their journey of unfaithfulness facilitated by Internet sites and celebrity accounts on their experience with privacy disruption, the special strives to inform the public about Internet hacks, the reasoning and motivations behind adultery, and the affects an invasion of privacy may take on any one person.
“Infidelity and its exposure are acts that long existed before the Internet but this a particularly modern take on a perennial tale,” said Discovery Networks International vice president of production and development, factual entertainment Sarah Thornton in a statement. “This timely special explores an online phenomenon that has gripped the world because, ultimately, it’s about human drama and emotions: love, loss and betrayal. It’s a reflection of classic human behavior through a truly modern lens.”
The special features real people with different takes on why they explored sexual and emotional territory outside of their partner, this documentary will allow the audience to completely put themselves in these people’s shoes and learn how and why they decided to explore adultery in the relationships.
“Sex, Lies and Online Affairs” is commissioned by Sarah Thornton and executive produced by Mark Procter. Phil Craig is the executive vice president and chief creative officer for Discovery Networks International. The documentary is produced by Mentorn Productions, and David Emerson serves as the executive producer.
