‘Buckwild’ Shuts Down Production Following Shain Gandee’s Death

MTV has halted production on the second season of its reality series Buckwild in the wake of cast member Shain Gandee’s death.

The 21-year-old was found dead inside a vehicle in Sissonville, West Virginia, Monday morning. Two other bodies, including that of Gandee’s uncle, 48-year-old David Gandee, were found in the vehicle as well. Gandee and his uncle had been reported missing late Sunday evening and were last seen at a local bar around 3 am, but the identity of the third body has not yet been released.

“We are shocked and saddened by the terrible news about Shain Gandee, and those involved in this tragic incident. We are waiting for more information but at this time, our main concern is for the Gandee family and their friends,” MTV said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Shain had a magnetic personality, with a passion for life that touched everyone he met and we will miss him dearly.”

The network declined to say whether the production shutdown was permanent, and it is unclear if the series will go forward and if Gandee will be featured in the second season if it does air.

Buckwild was renewed for a second season on February 6, just a day before the season one finale. The season one premiere drew nearly 2.5 million, and viewership remained fairly consistent for all 12 episodes. Episodes 4 through 6 drew only 1.77 to 2.17 million viewers, but viewership rebounded for the remaining episodes, which drew between 2.33 and 2.71 million viewers.

But the series has had its share of controversy, even before the premiere. West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin III demanded that MTV cancel the reality series, calling it a “travesty” and saying that it played to “ugly, inaccurate stereotypes about the people of West Virginia.” Executive producer John Stevens said the series “might change people’s perspectives” about West Virginians. In February, cast members Salwa Amin and Michael Burford were arrested for felony charges of possession and aggravated DUI, respectively.

We here at The Inquisitr extend our condolences to the families of Shain and David Gandee, and the third victim.