Following the tragic death of its breakout star, Shain Gandee, MTV has chosen to cancel the network's hit reality series "Buckwild," believing it would be in poor taste to continue.
Gandee, a fan favorite on "Buckwild," died from carbon monoxide poisoning likely as a result of his truck's tail pipe becoming submerged in mud while going four-wheeling on a rural road late at night. MTV had recently begun shooting a second season of the popular show, but put filming on hold in light of Gandee's passing.
Now, sources close to MTV speaking to The Hollywood Reporter say executives realized it would be best to end the program, to the relief of many - except the program's producer J.P. Williams.
Reportedly already in the middle of filming the second season, Williams was incensed by MTV's decision, and wasn't shy about letting them know it.
"This is the network that has shows about teen pregnancy. They'll stick by a show that allows you to abandon a child, but a kid dies by accident doing what he does for a living [mudding] and they cancel the show?" Williams told The Hollywood Reporter.
"There's something that smells of s*** here on every level. There was no explanation," Williams said, seemingly oblivious of Gandee's death.
Williams claims he will continue with the TV show regardless of MTV's ruling to cancel the series, and says he will also film a "Buckwild" movie.
"My job is to protect these kids," Williams insisted. "This will get ugly."
A native of West Virginia, 21-year-old Gandee was discovered dead early the morning of April 1 by a man on a four-wheeler, along with his uncle, 48-year-old David Gandee, and 27-year-old Donald Robert Myers, another Sissonville area local, 31-hours after the men were reported missing the day before.
Kanawha County Commission Cpl. B.D. Humphreys said the muffler of Shain's red-and-white 1984 Ford Bronco was beneath the surface, and that mud was covering the passenger side of the vehicle. The three men died from carbon monoxide poisoning, and their deaths have been ruled as accidental, Humphreys added.
In a missing person's report filed March 31, authorities said Gandee had last been seen with his uncle the late night before at 3 a.m. as they were leaving a Sissonville watering hole, Larry's Bar, according to The Washington Post. The uncle and nephew reportedly told people at the bar they were about to go four-wheeling in Shain's 1984 Ford Bronco as they left, but neither of the men said exactly where they planned to drive off-road. The pair were reported missing late Sunday evening when their family and friends tried unsuccessfully to locate them during the day. Shain Gandee's red-and-white truck was last seen leaving the bar's parking lot.
Gandee's family had said they were having a difficult time raising funds for Shain's funeral, but the producers behind the series have decided to cover the costs.