Television thrives on the bizarre. But every so often, a story hits the airwaves that doesn't just feel weird—it feels fundamentally wrong. If you’ve ever fallen down a late-night rabbit hole of reality TV mysteries, you’ve probably stumbled across the kayla & courtney catfish case.
It wasn't your typical "I thought he was a model but he’s actually a 40-year-old in a basement" situation. No. This was something else. This was about a woman claiming to speak for the dead.
The Tragedy Behind the Screen
To understand why this episode of Catfish still haunts people, you have to look at Kayla’s past. It’s heavy. When Kayla was only two years old, her father, Frankie, murdered her pregnant mother. He then took his own life while in prison a few years later.
Basically, Kayla grew up in the shadow of a double tragedy. She had zero memories of her parents, just the stories.
Then comes Courtney.
Out of nowhere, this woman from Florida messages Kayla. She claims she’s a medium. She says Frankie—Kayla’s late father—is reaching out from the "other side" because he has a message for his daughter.
Honestly, it’s the kind of thing most people would block immediately. But Courtney knew things. Specific things. She knew Frankie liked his burgers with ketchup and no pickles. She knew about his favorite brand of cigarettes. She even knew about the "cellar"—a dark piece of family history where Frankie was allegedly locked as a child.
Kayla, desperate for some connection to the father she never knew, was hooked.
Why the Kayla & Courtney Catfish Episode Broke the Rules
Usually, Nev Schulman and his co-host (Max Joseph, at the time) are looking for scammers. They’re looking for people using fake photos to get money or attention.
Courtney wasn't using fake photos. She was who she said she was.
The "catfish" here wasn't the identity; it was the intent. Nev and Max were visibly out of their element. How do you investigate a ghost? You can't exactly run a reverse image search on a spirit.
When they finally met in Florida, things got weirder. Courtney started doing "readings" on the spot. She claimed Frankie was in the room. She called Kayla’s Aunt Shannon a "bossy bitch"—a phrase that apparently resonated with the family.
It was uncomfortable to watch. One minute it felt like a healing session, and the next, it felt like a predatory exploitation of a young woman’s trauma.
The "Fake" Allegations and the Psychic Connection
People on Reddit and Twitter haven't let this one go. Years later, the skeptics are still loud.
Some viewers pointed out that Courtney lived in the same area where some of Frankie's old associates might have been. Others dug into the "medium" community in Ohio, claiming Courtney was connected to other psychics who had previously encountered members of Kayla's extended family.
There's a theory that Courtney didn't get her info from the "other side," but from a Foster mother who had once been close to Frankie.
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If Courtney had access to someone who actually knew Frankie in real life, all those "impossible" details about burgers and cigarettes become very easy to explain.
What Happened After the Cameras Stopped?
You’d think after the episode aired, they’d go their separate ways.
Nope.
In a "Catch-Up" segment later on, it was revealed that Kayla and Courtney actually stayed close. Kayla even asked Courtney to be the godmother to her son. For a lot of fans, this was the most shocking part of the whole kayla & courtney catfish saga.
Nev himself has said this episode changed him. It was the first time the show had to acknowledge that some things can't be debunked by a MacBook and a Google search. Whether you believe Courtney is a gifted medium or a master manipulator, she gave Kayla something she had been looking for her whole life: a sense of peace.
Actionable Insights for Reality TV Sleuths
If you're watching episodes like this and trying to separate fact from fiction, here's how to look at them with a critical eye:
- Check the "Specifics": In cold reading, psychics often use "high-probability" guesses. However, when details like "no pickles" come up, look for a digital paper trail or a common acquaintance.
- Follow the Aftermath: Reality shows are edited for drama. The real story usually comes out in the months following the broadcast via social media or follow-up interviews.
- Understand Trauma: Victims of severe childhood trauma are often more susceptible to "messages" from lost loved ones. It’s a coping mechanism, not necessarily a sign of being "gullible."
The story of Kayla and Courtney remains one of the most divisive moments in reality history because it refuses to fit into a neat box. It's a reminder that on the internet, people aren't just faking their faces—sometimes, they're faking their souls.