Catfish: The TV Show (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 9 - Jamey and Ari - full transcript
After falling for a fellow Texan online, a man will do anything to meet his love.
>> Wow, a lot of quiet in this
car.
>> Tension.
>> You can cut it with a knife.
>> Oh, I see somebody.
>> You ready?
>> I'm ready.
[suspenseful music]
*
>> Now remember, she's probably
pretty nervous.
>> Yeah.
>> Hey, Ari.
I have no idea what this secret
is.
Today's a special day for
Catfish Production...
because it's this guy's
birthday!
>> all: Yay!
[overlapping chatter, clapping]
>> High five.
>> Happy birthday!
>> We've spent the last four
years with him...watching him
grow up.
>> We remember when you turned
40.
>> That's right.
>> And now you're 40...
>> 43. Way out of the demo.
>> All right, more important,
someone's out there needing our
help.
>> Yes. Neving.
Someone Nevs us.
[David laughs]
You guys ready?
Let's get into this.
"Hi, Nev and Max, my name is
Jamey.
I'm writing you from Houston,
Texas."
>> Oh, Texas.
Another notch in the Texas belt.
>> There you go.
"I recently moved here from
Michigan.
It was a big move for me, but I
wanted a change.
Once I settled into Texas life,
I signed up for the dating site,
Plenty of Fish."
>> Plenty of Fish.
>> Should be Plenty of...
Catfish.
I gotta go.
[laughter]
Uh, all right.
"I had fairly high hopes for the
site, because this is where my
mom met her husband, but I
didn't expect to find someone so
quickly on it.
Almost right away, a girl named
Arista, or Ari, contacted me and
we quickly began texting and
talking on the phone.
I think she's very beautiful,
funny, and kind."
>> * The garden was blessed
* By the gods of me and you
* We headed West for
* To find ourself some truth
>> "Ari's from Houston as well,
but we haven't even met yet.
Neither of us have cars, and I
work a lot, so transportation
and schedules have made it
really difficult to meet up."
So he's the one...who's kind of
hard to--
>> He's equally hard to get--
yeah.
>> "I feel like I've known her a
long time.
I can talk to her about...
>> both: Anything.
I'm very open with her.
>> Our conversations last for
hours."
>> * What you waitin' for *
* No, what you waitin' for *
>> "But the biggest issue I have
right now is that Ari told me
she thinks it would be good for
us to meet on Catfish."
>> That's the biggest red flag
you could--you could send up.
>> Something could be amiss.
"I've tried even harder to meet
with her in person since she
brought that up, but she refuses
and says she can't tell me her
secret."
Okay, so she has a secret.
"I now feel like I have no
choice but to reach out to you
guys and see if you can help.
I think it's the only way I will
find out what she isn't telling
me, and if we can take it to the
next level.
Thanks, Jamey."
This is the first time that two
people are talking online, and
one of them says, "Hey, let's
meet on Catfish."
It's definitely...a bold move.
>> Right.
>> All right, here we go.
Let's hit him up.
[line ringing]
Yo!
>> Yo!
>> What's up, dude?
How you doing?
>> Oh, pretty good.
How are you guys?
>> Don't be nervous.
>> Yeah, you can relax.
Tale a deep breath.
[both inhaling]
Brrrrrr. Shake it out, Jamey.
There!
>> Yeah!
>> All right.
What are you doing now in Texas?
>> I'm, uh, in an apprenticeship
to be a meet cutter, actually.
>> Is a meat cutter a butcher or
is that something different?
>> A meat cutter is its own
trade.
You actually get certified to do
it.
>> Can you filet a catfish?
>> [laughs]
>> So you watch the show.
>> Oh, yeah, yep.
>> And have you talked about it
with Ari, your lady friend?
>> Yeah.
>> And then at some point she's
like, "Hey, if you want to meet
me, we should go on the show"
or...
>> Yeah. At first I was kind of
against this, you know, like...
>> Right.
>> How long has it been exactly?
>> Five months or so.
>> So you do video chat with
her.
>> But I am assuming she doesn't
have her webcam working or
doesn't turn it on or...
That's crazy.
So you've seen her face.
It's just, like, only her face.
>> Like this?
Does she look like she looks in
her pictures?
And do you guys talk about,
like, insecurities that she
might have?
>> Maybe she's heavier than--
than she's led you to believe.
In which case, you don't seem to
feel like that's a deal-breaker.
Right. So I don't know what
secret this could be, but I'm
definitely curious.
You're ready--you wanna do this.
This could turn out to just be
an amazing on-air love
connection.
Maybe she just wanted to make a
big gesture to show you how she
feels about you.
We could jump on a plane and be
there tomorrow and take the next
step.
>> All right, bye, Jamey.
>> Later.
The best thing we can do right
now is help Jamey find out some
piece of information or
something he doesn't already
know so that he's not walking
into some kind of trap and that
we can save him from some
humiliation.
>> Let's go to Houston.
>> * Seems like nowadays
* Everybody lacks patience
* Want it right now
* Always sick of this waiting
* Right there's got *
* A lot of potential
* So never give up
* Just sharpen your pencil
>> We made it.
"House-ton."
>> "Hews-ton."
>> House-town.
>> Yeah. We made it.
>> Weren't we just here?
>> We're going to the chop shop.
>> I don't really know that much
about meat cutting.
Well, part of the cow is the New
York strip, and the rib-eye...
it's not the eye.
And it's not the rib.
>> Well, this is all things we
can ask.
>> You ready?
I spot meat.
Boom.
>> There's our guy.
Good to meet you, man.
>> Hey, dude.
>> You got--he's like bloodied
up.
>> Oh, my God.
>> Well, gotta eat.
>> Yep.
>> It's the ugly truth.
>> [laughs] Nev.
Oh, my God.
I'm never eating steak again.
[laughter]
>> All right, so let's sit down
for a minute...
>> Yeah, yeah.
>> And chat.
>> How you feeling? Good?
>> Oh, man, I'm nervous.
>> Nervous?
>> Don't be nervous.
>> It's a surreal scene--
I'm from a little small town in
Michigan.
>> Had you visited Houston
before?
>> No.
>> So just, like, decided, I'm
ready for a change...Houston,
here I come.
>> I got family here that I want
to get to know a little better.
>> Are you staying with your
family?
>> Staying with my cousin, and
then my aunt and uncle live real
close.
>> Have you, like, hit up the
single bar scene down here?
Or is Plenty of Fish like a
better dating option?
>> Oh, I've been to the bar,
but after I started talking to
Ari, I don't really even use
that, so you know...
>> So you're like really "off
the market" for the moment.
>> Yeah.
>> Right.
>> What attracted you to her?
>> Just real easy to get along
with, you know?
She's someone who's easy to talk
to and it's nice just to have
kind of that companion, you
know?
Someone that you can talk to
and not just keep everything
bottled up and...makes me feel
good.
I feel like we been--both kind
of had a rough life at times,
you know.
And, uh...I feel for her on
that, so...
Sorry I'm not answering these
questions--
>> No, no, I mean, so you guys
have talked about your history?
>> Yeah, we've--
>> Personal?
>> We've shared personal stories
and things that have happened
and...kinda don't just do that
with anybody, you know?
>> You obviously feel a physical
attraction.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Is that reciprocated?
Does she talk to you--like, is
it clear that...
>> Tells me I'm handsome and
all that stuff, so...
>> Well, that's nice.
>> Yeah.
>> This is way out of your
comfort zone.
>> I'm in deep here.
>> Yeah. I mean, your actions
are telling me that you really
care about this girl and that
you really want to know who she
is because...
>> Otherwise I wouldn't be here.
I'm ready to settle down and
she's...yeah.
Someone I can be with...for...
possibly forever, you know?
>> Before she mentioned coming
on the show, was there ever any
doubt that she wasn't who you
thought--who you think she is?
>> No, um, we started talking on
that site, pretty much started
texting right away and then
calling each other and then
Skyping right away.
>> And it's just her like this?
>> Yeah, it's always just her
face.
>> What does she say when you
ask her, like, "Hey, can you..."
>> Like, hey, just prop--prop
that up.
>> Right. 'Cause that's what you
do.
>> She's like, "No. I'll just
hold it here."
>> Could it be her weight?
>> That's the only thing I could
ever...really think of.
>> The only thing that just
occurred to me is maybe she's
pregnant?
>> You thought about that?
>> She says she's a virgin,
though, so...
>> All right.
You trust her?
>> I do, I trust her.
I opened up to her, yeah.
Think of her as one of my best
friends, you know, talk to her
about anything, and I am a
little freaked out by all this,
but...she's that person for me,
so that's why I'm here.
>> You agreed to--to come on a
television show, which is a big
deal.
>> I let her know...[ahem], if
you want to meet up, we don't
gotta go this route, you know.
She said, oh, you're gonna be
mad at me, but there's something
I need to tell you.
If it's something that's not
terrible and unforgiveable,
definitely be down to see where
it goes.
>> You talked about that.
>> Yeah. She wants the same
thing.
>> Can we see a picture?
>> Yeah, show us, uh, show us
the...[murmurs].
Here we go, hold on.
"Saving myself for love or
marriage."
>> No sex.
>> No sex.
>> So she wears that right on
her sleeve.
>> No sex, though.
"Profession, beautician.
Very kind, generous, and loving
girl.
I recently had my heart broken.
I'm a Scorpio and very
emotional.
I tend to put my all into
everything that I do."
Oh, she's got, uh, cheek
piercings.
Are you into that?
>> Yeah, it's cool.
>> That looks very different,
but same cheek piercing.
>> Just much darker hair.
I think that's what--
>> But also she looks bigger in
that picture.
>> So is this sort of like the
view that you usually get,
like...
>> Yeah.
>> And is there a cheek piercing
too?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> We'd like to at least prepare
you so you're not going in
blind.
Ari initiated the Catfish TV
discussion and convinced you to
do it.
So she's got what she wants.
Maybe you both need our help,
but we're here to help you
first.
So, yeah, we can do what we do.
>> We're gonna dig.
What is she hiding?
What's the secret?
>> We'll definitely do whatever
we can.
>> Okay.
>> All right, dude, this was
great.
Get back to work.
>> I'll see you guys.
>> Later, Jamey.
He's a tough nut to crack.
He doesn't open up to many
people, you can imagine.
>> Clearly, the situation is
stressing him out.
>> He has opened up a lot to
this girl, so much so that he's
willing to go onto a TV show,
which is probably his worst
nightmare.
What is this secret?
>> * Well, now, I'm retracin' *
>> Welcome home, Max.
Here's your notepad.
All right.
Look at the cute girl co-host
handwriting.
>> Can't believe you made this
show with other people.
Other people were sitting next
to you like this?
Catfish cheat.
[romantic music]
>> You wanna bring this up now,
Max, really?
>> It makes me feel replaceable.
>> You did it, Nev!
You got him!
>> You were out cheating on me!
Directing a big Hollywood movie
with all your other friends and
crew and cast.
>> New page, plain...
>> You know what they say...
>> Blank slate.
>> All right, here's what we
got.
We got Jamey.
And he's talking to Arista,
AKA Ari.
We've got a guy who met a girl
on a proper dating website,
quickly started talking, then
immediately, the "Catfish" in
question offered her Skype
handle and...
>> Showed him...
>> Showed her face!
>> Her face.
>> Right. Like we rarely see
that.
What's crazy is that Ari has
said she has some..."secret"
and thinks that coming on this
show is the most appropriate way
to tell Jamey whatever it is she
needs to tell him.
What are the chances it could
work out based on this big
secret she's been hiding?
Okay, we got her cell phone
number.
>> Let's look for her on
Facebook.
>> Here we go.
Here's a picture we've seen.
>> She's from Houston, Texas.
>> Started working at Beauty by
Ari.
And she's got 300 and something
friends.
Most are from Texas.
>> Yeah, well, that's a good
sign.
A lot of them are from Houston.
This is very convincing.
>> Yeah, and that's great.
>> All right, should we reach
out to these friends?
>> I think we should.
>> Sophia's made a bunch of
comments on Ari's pictures.
>> There's a good chance she may
know something.
So let's send her a message.
>> Yeah.
>> Hey, Sophia, this is Nev
from the MTV show Catfish.
We are shooting an episode now
and could really use your help.
Send!
>> Why don't we run some of
those photos and run the
phone number?
>> Here we go.
Searching some of her profile
pictures.
And...
>> Wha--one came up.
>> "I'm Ari, and I'm a fun,
caring, loving chick.
Very down to earth, and beauty
is my passion."
Here's her YouTube page.
Here we go. Videos...
>> No videos posted.
>> Oh, man!
>> But that seems to be her real
name.
Her story checks out.
Let's run the phone number.
Boom!
>> Irma [bleep].
Same last name.
Let's go to Ari's friends and
look up...
>> Irma.
>> Irma.
>> There!
That's the mom.
Looks just like her.
>> It does.
So far, she hasn't lied about
anything.
>> Which is troubling, because
we know that there's a secret.
And the harder it is to find
that secret, the more sinister
that secret seems.
>> Let's keep looking down Ari's
wall here and see if there's
anything else.
Here we go, here's a post from
December 24th, Christmas Eve.
"Had the best time with my
in-laws!
Seen a different side to my
man I've never seen before."
Wait a second.
>> What?
>> This is--
>> Did you just find the--the
mother lode?
>> This is a big deal.
>> The in-laws?
>> Family. She's married!
>> Who's her man?
>> Let's go through some more
photos.
[suspenseful music]
*
Who's this guy?
That could be her husband.
>> Is he tagged?
>> Yes. Caz.
But everything is private.
>> That's all we can see, 'cause
it's private.
>> Oh...
Now we've got just as much
mystery, except we've added into
the mix a husband and his
family.
>> Is she married, or does she
have a serious boyfriend?
I mean, that's a pretty big
question.
>> Let's call it a night...
>> Let's call it.
>> And pick up where we left
off tomorrow.
>> All right.
[phone buzzing]
>> Hello?
Hi. Who's this?
Oh, hi, Sophia.
It's Nev and Max.
How you doing?
We're trying to help a young guy
named Jamey meet a friend of
yours, Arista, AKA Ari.
We were just wondering if you
could offer a little sort of
back-story about her and your
friendship and how you guys know
each other.
Does she have a boyfriend?
Is she in a relationship?
Does she--but you don't know if
she's married.
Is--is--
[beep beep]
She hung up.
What is this--what--
Everything about what she says
is exactly true except for this
one thing no one wants to say.
>> She's married!
>> Well, this is...concerning.
>> According to Sophia, it
sounds like Ari's been in a
relationship.
>> Is she married?
I mean, that's a pretty big
question.
>> How you doing?
So if we come over there, we can
hang with you?
[rock music playing]
*
[Max laughs]
*
>> What's up, guys?
>> Wow.
If I had a bra on, I would throw
it at you.
>> Hey, hell, yeah!
>> So I just have a couple
questions.
[laughter]
First question is...I know you
know a little bit about Arista
or Ari.
What do you think about Jamey
and Ari and the potential of
this relationship?
You think that would be a good
thing for him?
>> As long as she doesn't hurt
him in any way, physically,
mentally, or emotionally, I'm
good with it.
>> Does it surprise you how
involved Jamey's become with
her?
>> She seemed like a nice girl.
I don't really know her.
I'd like to meet her sometime.
>> Love'll make you do crazy
things, so that's the way I see
it.
>> You think he's in love?
>> Well, just based off of the
actions I've seen already, yeah.
>> It would be awesome if it
worked out with Ari, obviously.
We've got some talking we need
to do with him.
Good meeting you guys.
>> Very nice to meet you, sir.
>> Bob's Burger.
>> Hey, what's up?
You must have been thinking
about this a lot the last 48
hours.
What are you walking into, what
could this be, what's this big
secret, why am I going on this
TV show, what the hell is wrong
with me?
>> How big is the secret?
>> Yeah.
>> We'll see if we can figure
this out.
This is a real head scratcher.
>> I agree.
>> Okay, so basically we just
confirmed everything's she told
you.
Is she the girl in the pictures,
does she live in Houston, does
her story check out in terms of
her beauty stuff?
Phone number checks out.
Like, everything checked out.
[phone buzzing]
So...
>> She keeps blowing my phone
up.
>> Oh, she does?
>> Bbbbbbbbb!
>> Let's see.
>> What is she saying?
>> Is it text or is she calling
you or--
>> I don't know, I didn't--
>> Can we see 'em?
>> I don't care.
>> Wow. So this is just from
today.
>> Yeah.
>> So you said, "Hey," this
morning.
She said, "What?"
That's not a very nice response
to a "hey."
What?
"How you doing today?" you
asked, and she said, "What do
you want?"
Wow, that's a little angry.
You said, "Nothing special, just
to say hi."
She responded, "[bleep] you.
I'm not doing this, if that's
what you texted me."
You said, "That's not why, but
okay.
Thanks for being cool."
She said, "Then you have no
reason to contact me."
She said, "If you want to talk,
then call my mom's phone.
If not, [bleep] you.
I have nothing to say to you."
Like if you're not gonna respond
to my "don't text me anymore..."
>> She said "[bleep] you, don't
[bleep] text me anymore."
Hello!
Why would you wanna be with
someone like this?
>> Yeah.
>> Um...because she's not
usually like that.
Leading up to this, this is how
it's been every day.
>> So she asked you to go on the
show--
>> She really goes hot and cold.
>> She initiated it all, and
then ever since, I been trying
to, like, get on the same page
and be cool, and this is what I
get.
>> She's about to go on
television and meet you, both of
which things are probably very
frightening.
>> Like, I'm here.
I'm way outside my comfort zone.
>> Yeah. You're doing this for
her.
>> Yeah.
>> But this sort of begs the
question, well, then, what...
>> What--yeah.
>> Isn't she telling us the
truth about, or what isn't she
telling us?
Or you?
On one hand, everything checked
out, but the bad news is, on
Ari's Facebook page, here--
on December 24th she wrote,
"Had the best time with my
in-laws!
Seen a different side to my man
I've never seen before."
>> I've never...
I don't use Facebook and stuff
much.
I never even read that or seen
that.
I know for a little bit there
she was kinda messing around
with some other dude.
>> Okay.
>> What was his name?
>> Chaz or something like that.
I don't know.
>> Caz.
>> Caz, Chaz--I don't know.
>> We heard about him.
We reached out to this girl
Sophia, and she called us this
morning.
We asked Sophia if Ari's
married.
She got very--"I don't want to
talk about this anymore."
>> Defensive a little bit?
>> Yeah.
>> It seemed like we were
starting to hit a nerve.
>> Yeah.
>> Maybe she's married.
Maybe that's what it is.
Maybe she's just married.
You know?
Maybe she wants to tell me that
she can't talk to me to be with
him or...psssh.
I don't know.
>> So that's right now the
biggest question mark.
>> Yeah.
>> Who's this guy?
Is he still in the picture?
>> Is she married?
>> Were they married before?
We don't know anything for sure.
But there's a lot of arrows
pointing to...
>> Something to do with another
guy, maybe, something like that.
>> Right. Right.
>> * Can't decide *
* Should I win her
* Should I take her love
>> If she's still wrapped up in
what's been a long relationship
and asks you, like, to please
give her some time, is that
something you'd be okay with?
>> I'm not gonna sit on the back
burner and be a, you know...
I'm not gonna do that.
*
* Love is the answer
>> We got a phone call to make.
>> Whew!
We just need to be careful,
because Jamey definitely went
all-in.
>> So let's stop beating around
the bush, and let's call her.
>> Here goes nothin'.
[line ringing]
Yes, hi, is this Ari?
Hey, Ari, this is Nev.
>> Uh-huh.
>> As you know, we are here
in Houston, and we spent the
past day and a half with Jamey.
So I was just calling to check
in because we wanna just
introduce ourselves and also see
how you're feeling about all
this and find out where you're
at.
You know, I'm sure this is not
a big surprise, but, like,
Jamey's also super-nervous.
But he's come this far.
He's very serious about meeting
you and...seems to believe that
there's a real potential and a
real possible future for you
guys.
Obviously, our help is something
that you were interested in
having because, you know, you--
you...brought us into this
situation and involved us and
the show.
Well, do you want to talk a
little bit about what you're
worried about?
Okay, I understand.
We're just here to help
in whatever way that we can
for--
[beep beep]
Oh, come on.
She's definitely freaking out.
We don't know what the big deal,
secret surprise is.
>> Whatever it is, it's
obviously very important to her,
and it's at the core of a
bigger problem.
>> All right, well, let's give
her some time, see what she
says.
>> All we can do is wait and
see.
>> Hopefully, she'll reach back
out tomorrow.
Let's get some sleep.
[knock at door]
Oh, someone's at the do'!
>> Someone's at the do'!
>> Oh...
>> both: Ooh...
>> Lenses to lenses to lenses--
>> Lens to lens.
>> Hey, guys.
>> Well, at last you guys are
here.
Hopefully, she's had some time
to think about what we talked
about.
I'm gonna call her.
[line ringing]
Good morning. Ari?
Hey, it's Nev and Max.
>> Hey.
>> Oh, nothing to be sorry
about.
Yeah, totally cool.
We're gonna come, obviously, me
and Max.
All right, thank you.
Bye-bye.
>> I don't know what to expect
from her, frankly.
She can hang up at the drop of a
hat.
>> Right.
>> I'll get my jacket.
>> Come on, guys--we've got a
date with destiny.
>> Let's go find out what this
secret is.
>> We are on our way to meet
Ari.
>> The crux of the whole issue
is that she demanded that Jamey
come on the show, 'cause that
was the only way she would meet
him in person.
>> She says she has something
she needs to tell him, and she's
afraid he'll--he'll be mad.
>> It could be anything that
we've talked about.
It could be something totally
out of the blue.
>> I think that's gotta be her.
>> That's her.
>> All right, moment of truth.
Hi.
>> Hey, what's up?
>> It's nice to meet you.
>> It's nice to meet you also.
>> Thanks for meeting us.
>> No problem.
>> All right.
>> So is this weird?
>> It's very weird, very weird.
>> What's going on?
>> Very strange.
>> What's going on in your life
right now?
>> My concerns are that he'll
flip out, 'cause obviously,
there's something I didn't tell
him.
When I first met Jamey, I wasn't
planning on perusing him.
I just wanted to be friends,
you know, someone I could talk
to.
Guys tend to stray from people
like me, so I thought that by
not telling him, he would just
be a real sincere friend to me.
And I felt like if I didn't tell
him, it would give him a chance
to get to know me.
I...
I'm transgender.
So...
that's kinda what I haven't told
him.
Kinda what I need to tell him.
>> Right.
>> You know, so...
>> We did not know that.
>> No?
>> We thought maybe you were
married.
>> [laughs] No.
>> When you...
are transgender,
I mean, to you what does that
mean?
>> Um, it basically means that
I'm going through a process as
to where I can be a real girl,
full girl.
I have to, like, take hormones
and therapy sessions.
>> Have you been taking
hormones?
>> Yes, I have.
That's kind of what the hormones
are for...to help with the
physical changes.
Um, and then of course the
surgery kinda completes the
whole thing.
>> And it's expensive.
>> It is expensive, but I mean,
there's no price for happiness.
>> Well, that's exciting.
And you have no doubt about
that.
>> Oh, yeah, I'm going through
it, yeah, 100 and 50,000%.
[laughter]
I've known since I was very
little.
My parents have known since I
was very little.
I believe I was about five, and
we were at Walmart in the
Barbie aisle.
My mom grabbed a Barbie, and
then she grabbed a wrestler and
she asked me which one I wanted,
and I picked the Barbie.
So she said from that moment she
knew that I was a little
different than others, so they
just became very accepting of
me.
>> Have they been very
supportive?
>> Very supportive.
>> You mentioned something on
your Facebook about you're going
to meet your man's...family.
>> both: The in-laws.
>> Yeah, I've known them for
years, that's why.
I was hanging out with an
ex-boyfriend.
It was nothing too serious.
I told Jamey about it.
Jamey knows.
>> So you are single.
>> Yeah, of course.
>> Okay.
>> And your previous
relationship with Caz--was he a
guy who had previously not been
interested or considered dating
a transgender or--
>> No, when I met Caz, I told
him right off the bat.
He was fine with it.
He was okay with it, and he
still wanted to keep talking, so
we did, and we became really
good friends.
>> But also...lovers.
>> Lovers, yes.
>> You were having sex with each
other or no?
>> Um...no, no.
>> Okay. 'Cause you said you're
a virgin.
>> Yeah.
>> We weren't sure.
>> I'm not comfortable enough
with my body to feel the need
or--or want to...
be that intimate with someone.
>> So the whole time that you've
been talking to Jamey, this has
never come up?
>> Um...
>> You've never come close to
mentioning this to him?
>> Um...no.
Like I said, it was never my
intention to have feelings for
one another and not tell him,
but it kinda just happened.
And so before you know it, we
were just really close, and I
kinda got stuck in a hard place.
I just came to a point where
I felt the need that he had to
know, and I couldn't do it by
myself.
>> You really like this guy?
>> I more than like him.
I love him very much.
>> What are you...hoping for?
>> What everybody's hoping for
on this show.
Love.
I don't want my feelings hurt on
TV, you know?
>> I don't think he--he would
want to hurt your feelings.
>> I don't think he would want
to either.
>> I guess the next order of
business would be for us to meet
with Jamey so he can make the
decision that's best for him.
>> Okay.
>> Well, it was nice to meet
you.
>> It was nice to meet you also.
>> Now we've gotta go get our
guy Jamey.
What he's gonna be upset about
is how could you not have told
me after, like, all this time.
Okay, you didn't plan on
catching feelings for me, you
just wanted to meet somebody,
but you did it on a dating
website.
>> There's really no telling
what he's going to do when we
tell him the news.
>> What's up?
>> How's it going, man?
Nice to see you.
>> You too, dude.
Is there a place to sit...
somewhere nice, we can chill
out?
>> Yeah.
>> We met Ari and...had a
really nice talk.
>> She was really cool.
We found out what--what it was.
>> Right, so that--that was the
big discussion with her, but...
long story short...
Ari is a transgender female.
>> Wow.
So...
was she born with both...
>> No.
>> Or just one and felt the--
>> No, just one.
>> Okay.
>> But always knew that she
was...a woman.
>> You know, uh, just pretty
[bleep] shocking, but...
>> When she met you, she was not
looking for anything more than a
friendship and was sort of very
caught off-guard when she
started to feel things for you.
>> Yeah.
It is what it is, you know?
>> Being deceived at all...is
always a big shock.
>> * Don't have to ever know *
* Is what it is
* Is it's that kind of life *
>> The sort of request that Ari
had was in meeting us to tell
us, obviously, what she did.
To have us, then, communicate
that to you in the hopes that
you would still want to meet
her.
>> I have--you have to give me a
minute to think about something
like that.
>> Yeah, no, of course.
>> [bleep bleep] me up a little
bit, you know, so...
>> * Needed to have
* Will it happen
>> Think it over.
>> [bleep, mutters]
>> I do think that meeting her
might take the sting out a
little.
>> I don't even know what to
say.
Honestly, I don't.
[clears throat]
[sighs, swears]
>> This episode of Catfish: The
TV show continues now.
[buzzing]
[doorbell rings]
>> Hey.
>> How's it going, guys?
>> What's up?
If you're feeling good about
meeting up, we should definitely
do that.
>> Yeah.
>> Wow, a lot of quiet in this
car.
>> Mm-hmm.
Tension.
[exhales]
>> You ready?
>> I'm ready.
[suspenseful music]
*
>> Now remember, she's probably
pretty nervous.
>> Yeah.
>> Hey, Ari.
Come on over.
How you doing?
>> I'm fine, how are you?
>> Good to see you.
>> How are you?
>> Fine.
>> Good to see you.
>> It's nice to see you too.
>> Yeah.
>> Thanks for meeting up with
us.
How you doing?
>> Nervous.
>> What are you nervous about?
>> I--I don't know.
Judgment?
>> How is it just for you guys
to sort of be standing in front
of each other finally?
>> Surreal.
>> Surreal.
>> Very surreal.
>> We've talked for so long
that, you know, it's kinda...
now here we are.
>> Yeah.
>> I'm definitely a little
upset.
It was all real except for this.
We both told each other things
that...[ahem]...probably usually
don't...share with other people.
You don't need to be ashamed
or...I'm not passing judgment on
you.
You don't gotta be too nervous.
It's all right.
You're fine.
>> And you're feelings for Jamey
are...still very real.
>> Is that a question?
>> Well, you seem to be
communicating that you still
feel very strongly for him.
>> Of course I do.
>> Right.
>> Yeah. We bonded in a way,
so...
>> I--I don't know what to say
except for sorry.
>> I don't think you
intentionally meant to hurt me,
so I can't be that too upset
with you but, you know...
I was hoping I'd get here and...
potentially be able to move
forward with you, but...
There's something we can, like,
talk in private, or do we have
to do it--
>> Yeah, sure, if you guys
are...okay with it, we're happy
to give you some time to chat, I
mean...
It certainly won't be as sort
of...awkward as--
>> We're very awkward right now.
>> Then we'll leave you to chat
for a minute.
>> All right, cool.
So...have you done this with
other people?
Am I the only one?
>> No.
>> The only one?
When did all this start for you?
>> When I was young.
>> Really young?
>> I don't want to do this.
>> It's--it's fine.
You know you can talk to me.
We been talking for how long?
I'm just trying to talk to you.
>> I'd rather not.
>> You don't want to talk?
It'd help me tremendously.
If that means anything.
I'm not trying to make you
uncomfortable.
You don't have to say anything
you don't want to.
>> I don't.
>> We're here.
Have the time to do it.
No?
If you don't want to talk to me,
we don't have to.
Okay.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you for coming to meet
me.
>> You're welcome.
>> See you later.
>> * Aching in my chest
* Trying to forget
* All these memories
* Aching haunting me
>> So what happened?
Is everything--
Are you just upset or--
>> I'm sorry--I don't wanna
talk.
>> * There's this feeling *
* It's the real thing *
* We don't have to *
* Let it go
[end chords]
>> So no go?
>> Something to remember is that
for Ari, this was a really big
deal for her to come on TV, to
tell you the truth and just
really put herself out there for
lots of people.
>> Hopefully, it helps her in a
way.
And people can be a little more
understanding and not so
judgmental towards her.
>> You guys both did something
that was very difficult.
>> [sighs]
[line ringing]
>> Yo!
>> Yo. What up?
>> How's it going?
>> What's going on, man?
>> Got myself a car.
>> Nice! What'd you get?
>> Old Malibu.
>> Sweet!
>> So what's going on with Ari?
>> We talk a little bit here and
there.
Not like we used to or anything
like that, but...I'm starting to
sense friendship.
>> That's cool, man.
>> What do you think is sort of
your take-away from all this?
>> Think a lot of people like
Ari feel like they need to put a
mask on to meet people or make
friends, and hopefully I can
show a little bit that...
not everyone's so judgmental.
There's good people out there
that accept and understand,
so...
>> All right, dude, take care.
We will hopefully see you soon.
>> For sure.
>> * I heard him calling out
* Your name
* I heard him screaming
* Desperate
* You
[line ringing]
>> Hey, Ari!
>> Hey.
>> You look beautiful.
>> Thank you.
>> How is everything?
>> Everything is really good.
A lot better than before, and
I also want to apologize to you
before for being so rude.
>> Look, you were under a crazy
amount of stress, and it took a
lot of courage to do what you
did anyway.
And we were really impressed
that you came and were a part of
this to begin with.
How is your heart feeling?
Are you still in the heartbreak
phase?
>> Just more coping with the
decision that he made, getting
used to being friends.
>> And you're okay with that?
>> At first I wasn't, you know,
dealing with--with the whole
heartbreak situation.
But now that we're friends,
I feel like there's not really a
loss.
It's more of a gain but in a
different perspective.
>> * I hope you get to see
* The light
* Light
>> What would you say to someone
who maybe is in a situation like
you?
>> Just to be truthful, to be
honest.
At the end of the day, you're
not just lying to someone else.
You're also lying to yourself
about a relationship.
>> I hope that the heartbreak
fades off pretty soon.
>> It's nice to see you guys
again.
>> Okay, bye, Ari.
>> Bye, Ari.
>> Bye.
>> Transgender women like Ari
are real women and are not
deceiving anyone when they state
this.
Telling people you're
transgender is a decision you
have to make for yourself, and
it isn't something that all
transgender people can or have
to do.
Ari chose to tell Jamey on her
own terms on our show.
>> While we know that plenty of
guys have great relationships
with transgender women, too
often transgender women find
themselves in dangerous or
violent situations just because
of how people react when they
discover that they're
transgender.
>> "I met an amazing girl,
Markie, on Instagram.
Problem is, about a week before
I was supposed to meet her,
she got kidnapped.
>> Whoa!
>> We need to figure this out.
We can take to the streets and
and do an old-fashioned...
>> Stakeout.
That's the red truck.
It's coming home!
>> This is really happening.
>> Can you see in that window?
>> Oh...my God.
1497
00:41:03.
car.
>> Tension.
>> You can cut it with a knife.
>> Oh, I see somebody.
>> You ready?
>> I'm ready.
[suspenseful music]
*
>> Now remember, she's probably
pretty nervous.
>> Yeah.
>> Hey, Ari.
I have no idea what this secret
is.
Today's a special day for
Catfish Production...
because it's this guy's
birthday!
>> all: Yay!
[overlapping chatter, clapping]
>> High five.
>> Happy birthday!
>> We've spent the last four
years with him...watching him
grow up.
>> We remember when you turned
40.
>> That's right.
>> And now you're 40...
>> 43. Way out of the demo.
>> All right, more important,
someone's out there needing our
help.
>> Yes. Neving.
Someone Nevs us.
[David laughs]
You guys ready?
Let's get into this.
"Hi, Nev and Max, my name is
Jamey.
I'm writing you from Houston,
Texas."
>> Oh, Texas.
Another notch in the Texas belt.
>> There you go.
"I recently moved here from
Michigan.
It was a big move for me, but I
wanted a change.
Once I settled into Texas life,
I signed up for the dating site,
Plenty of Fish."
>> Plenty of Fish.
>> Should be Plenty of...
Catfish.
I gotta go.
[laughter]
Uh, all right.
"I had fairly high hopes for the
site, because this is where my
mom met her husband, but I
didn't expect to find someone so
quickly on it.
Almost right away, a girl named
Arista, or Ari, contacted me and
we quickly began texting and
talking on the phone.
I think she's very beautiful,
funny, and kind."
>> * The garden was blessed
* By the gods of me and you
* We headed West for
* To find ourself some truth
>> "Ari's from Houston as well,
but we haven't even met yet.
Neither of us have cars, and I
work a lot, so transportation
and schedules have made it
really difficult to meet up."
So he's the one...who's kind of
hard to--
>> He's equally hard to get--
yeah.
>> "I feel like I've known her a
long time.
I can talk to her about...
>> both: Anything.
I'm very open with her.
>> Our conversations last for
hours."
>> * What you waitin' for *
* No, what you waitin' for *
>> "But the biggest issue I have
right now is that Ari told me
she thinks it would be good for
us to meet on Catfish."
>> That's the biggest red flag
you could--you could send up.
>> Something could be amiss.
"I've tried even harder to meet
with her in person since she
brought that up, but she refuses
and says she can't tell me her
secret."
Okay, so she has a secret.
"I now feel like I have no
choice but to reach out to you
guys and see if you can help.
I think it's the only way I will
find out what she isn't telling
me, and if we can take it to the
next level.
Thanks, Jamey."
This is the first time that two
people are talking online, and
one of them says, "Hey, let's
meet on Catfish."
It's definitely...a bold move.
>> Right.
>> All right, here we go.
Let's hit him up.
[line ringing]
Yo!
>> Yo!
>> What's up, dude?
How you doing?
>> Oh, pretty good.
How are you guys?
>> Don't be nervous.
>> Yeah, you can relax.
Tale a deep breath.
[both inhaling]
Brrrrrr. Shake it out, Jamey.
There!
>> Yeah!
>> All right.
What are you doing now in Texas?
>> I'm, uh, in an apprenticeship
to be a meet cutter, actually.
>> Is a meat cutter a butcher or
is that something different?
>> A meat cutter is its own
trade.
You actually get certified to do
it.
>> Can you filet a catfish?
>> [laughs]
>> So you watch the show.
>> Oh, yeah, yep.
>> And have you talked about it
with Ari, your lady friend?
>> Yeah.
>> And then at some point she's
like, "Hey, if you want to meet
me, we should go on the show"
or...
>> Yeah. At first I was kind of
against this, you know, like...
>> Right.
>> How long has it been exactly?
>> Five months or so.
>> So you do video chat with
her.
>> But I am assuming she doesn't
have her webcam working or
doesn't turn it on or...
That's crazy.
So you've seen her face.
It's just, like, only her face.
>> Like this?
Does she look like she looks in
her pictures?
And do you guys talk about,
like, insecurities that she
might have?
>> Maybe she's heavier than--
than she's led you to believe.
In which case, you don't seem to
feel like that's a deal-breaker.
Right. So I don't know what
secret this could be, but I'm
definitely curious.
You're ready--you wanna do this.
This could turn out to just be
an amazing on-air love
connection.
Maybe she just wanted to make a
big gesture to show you how she
feels about you.
We could jump on a plane and be
there tomorrow and take the next
step.
>> All right, bye, Jamey.
>> Later.
The best thing we can do right
now is help Jamey find out some
piece of information or
something he doesn't already
know so that he's not walking
into some kind of trap and that
we can save him from some
humiliation.
>> Let's go to Houston.
>> * Seems like nowadays
* Everybody lacks patience
* Want it right now
* Always sick of this waiting
* Right there's got *
* A lot of potential
* So never give up
* Just sharpen your pencil
>> We made it.
"House-ton."
>> "Hews-ton."
>> House-town.
>> Yeah. We made it.
>> Weren't we just here?
>> We're going to the chop shop.
>> I don't really know that much
about meat cutting.
Well, part of the cow is the New
York strip, and the rib-eye...
it's not the eye.
And it's not the rib.
>> Well, this is all things we
can ask.
>> You ready?
I spot meat.
Boom.
>> There's our guy.
Good to meet you, man.
>> Hey, dude.
>> You got--he's like bloodied
up.
>> Oh, my God.
>> Well, gotta eat.
>> Yep.
>> It's the ugly truth.
>> [laughs] Nev.
Oh, my God.
I'm never eating steak again.
[laughter]
>> All right, so let's sit down
for a minute...
>> Yeah, yeah.
>> And chat.
>> How you feeling? Good?
>> Oh, man, I'm nervous.
>> Nervous?
>> Don't be nervous.
>> It's a surreal scene--
I'm from a little small town in
Michigan.
>> Had you visited Houston
before?
>> No.
>> So just, like, decided, I'm
ready for a change...Houston,
here I come.
>> I got family here that I want
to get to know a little better.
>> Are you staying with your
family?
>> Staying with my cousin, and
then my aunt and uncle live real
close.
>> Have you, like, hit up the
single bar scene down here?
Or is Plenty of Fish like a
better dating option?
>> Oh, I've been to the bar,
but after I started talking to
Ari, I don't really even use
that, so you know...
>> So you're like really "off
the market" for the moment.
>> Yeah.
>> Right.
>> What attracted you to her?
>> Just real easy to get along
with, you know?
She's someone who's easy to talk
to and it's nice just to have
kind of that companion, you
know?
Someone that you can talk to
and not just keep everything
bottled up and...makes me feel
good.
I feel like we been--both kind
of had a rough life at times,
you know.
And, uh...I feel for her on
that, so...
Sorry I'm not answering these
questions--
>> No, no, I mean, so you guys
have talked about your history?
>> Yeah, we've--
>> Personal?
>> We've shared personal stories
and things that have happened
and...kinda don't just do that
with anybody, you know?
>> You obviously feel a physical
attraction.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Is that reciprocated?
Does she talk to you--like, is
it clear that...
>> Tells me I'm handsome and
all that stuff, so...
>> Well, that's nice.
>> Yeah.
>> This is way out of your
comfort zone.
>> I'm in deep here.
>> Yeah. I mean, your actions
are telling me that you really
care about this girl and that
you really want to know who she
is because...
>> Otherwise I wouldn't be here.
I'm ready to settle down and
she's...yeah.
Someone I can be with...for...
possibly forever, you know?
>> Before she mentioned coming
on the show, was there ever any
doubt that she wasn't who you
thought--who you think she is?
>> No, um, we started talking on
that site, pretty much started
texting right away and then
calling each other and then
Skyping right away.
>> And it's just her like this?
>> Yeah, it's always just her
face.
>> What does she say when you
ask her, like, "Hey, can you..."
>> Like, hey, just prop--prop
that up.
>> Right. 'Cause that's what you
do.
>> She's like, "No. I'll just
hold it here."
>> Could it be her weight?
>> That's the only thing I could
ever...really think of.
>> The only thing that just
occurred to me is maybe she's
pregnant?
>> You thought about that?
>> She says she's a virgin,
though, so...
>> All right.
You trust her?
>> I do, I trust her.
I opened up to her, yeah.
Think of her as one of my best
friends, you know, talk to her
about anything, and I am a
little freaked out by all this,
but...she's that person for me,
so that's why I'm here.
>> You agreed to--to come on a
television show, which is a big
deal.
>> I let her know...[ahem], if
you want to meet up, we don't
gotta go this route, you know.
She said, oh, you're gonna be
mad at me, but there's something
I need to tell you.
If it's something that's not
terrible and unforgiveable,
definitely be down to see where
it goes.
>> You talked about that.
>> Yeah. She wants the same
thing.
>> Can we see a picture?
>> Yeah, show us, uh, show us
the...[murmurs].
Here we go, hold on.
"Saving myself for love or
marriage."
>> No sex.
>> No sex.
>> So she wears that right on
her sleeve.
>> No sex, though.
"Profession, beautician.
Very kind, generous, and loving
girl.
I recently had my heart broken.
I'm a Scorpio and very
emotional.
I tend to put my all into
everything that I do."
Oh, she's got, uh, cheek
piercings.
Are you into that?
>> Yeah, it's cool.
>> That looks very different,
but same cheek piercing.
>> Just much darker hair.
I think that's what--
>> But also she looks bigger in
that picture.
>> So is this sort of like the
view that you usually get,
like...
>> Yeah.
>> And is there a cheek piercing
too?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> We'd like to at least prepare
you so you're not going in
blind.
Ari initiated the Catfish TV
discussion and convinced you to
do it.
So she's got what she wants.
Maybe you both need our help,
but we're here to help you
first.
So, yeah, we can do what we do.
>> We're gonna dig.
What is she hiding?
What's the secret?
>> We'll definitely do whatever
we can.
>> Okay.
>> All right, dude, this was
great.
Get back to work.
>> I'll see you guys.
>> Later, Jamey.
He's a tough nut to crack.
He doesn't open up to many
people, you can imagine.
>> Clearly, the situation is
stressing him out.
>> He has opened up a lot to
this girl, so much so that he's
willing to go onto a TV show,
which is probably his worst
nightmare.
What is this secret?
>> * Well, now, I'm retracin' *
>> Welcome home, Max.
Here's your notepad.
All right.
Look at the cute girl co-host
handwriting.
>> Can't believe you made this
show with other people.
Other people were sitting next
to you like this?
Catfish cheat.
[romantic music]
>> You wanna bring this up now,
Max, really?
>> It makes me feel replaceable.
>> You did it, Nev!
You got him!
>> You were out cheating on me!
Directing a big Hollywood movie
with all your other friends and
crew and cast.
>> New page, plain...
>> You know what they say...
>> Blank slate.
>> All right, here's what we
got.
We got Jamey.
And he's talking to Arista,
AKA Ari.
We've got a guy who met a girl
on a proper dating website,
quickly started talking, then
immediately, the "Catfish" in
question offered her Skype
handle and...
>> Showed him...
>> Showed her face!
>> Her face.
>> Right. Like we rarely see
that.
What's crazy is that Ari has
said she has some..."secret"
and thinks that coming on this
show is the most appropriate way
to tell Jamey whatever it is she
needs to tell him.
What are the chances it could
work out based on this big
secret she's been hiding?
Okay, we got her cell phone
number.
>> Let's look for her on
Facebook.
>> Here we go.
Here's a picture we've seen.
>> She's from Houston, Texas.
>> Started working at Beauty by
Ari.
And she's got 300 and something
friends.
Most are from Texas.
>> Yeah, well, that's a good
sign.
A lot of them are from Houston.
This is very convincing.
>> Yeah, and that's great.
>> All right, should we reach
out to these friends?
>> I think we should.
>> Sophia's made a bunch of
comments on Ari's pictures.
>> There's a good chance she may
know something.
So let's send her a message.
>> Yeah.
>> Hey, Sophia, this is Nev
from the MTV show Catfish.
We are shooting an episode now
and could really use your help.
Send!
>> Why don't we run some of
those photos and run the
phone number?
>> Here we go.
Searching some of her profile
pictures.
And...
>> Wha--one came up.
>> "I'm Ari, and I'm a fun,
caring, loving chick.
Very down to earth, and beauty
is my passion."
Here's her YouTube page.
Here we go. Videos...
>> No videos posted.
>> Oh, man!
>> But that seems to be her real
name.
Her story checks out.
Let's run the phone number.
Boom!
>> Irma [bleep].
Same last name.
Let's go to Ari's friends and
look up...
>> Irma.
>> Irma.
>> There!
That's the mom.
Looks just like her.
>> It does.
So far, she hasn't lied about
anything.
>> Which is troubling, because
we know that there's a secret.
And the harder it is to find
that secret, the more sinister
that secret seems.
>> Let's keep looking down Ari's
wall here and see if there's
anything else.
Here we go, here's a post from
December 24th, Christmas Eve.
"Had the best time with my
in-laws!
Seen a different side to my
man I've never seen before."
Wait a second.
>> What?
>> This is--
>> Did you just find the--the
mother lode?
>> This is a big deal.
>> The in-laws?
>> Family. She's married!
>> Who's her man?
>> Let's go through some more
photos.
[suspenseful music]
*
Who's this guy?
That could be her husband.
>> Is he tagged?
>> Yes. Caz.
But everything is private.
>> That's all we can see, 'cause
it's private.
>> Oh...
Now we've got just as much
mystery, except we've added into
the mix a husband and his
family.
>> Is she married, or does she
have a serious boyfriend?
I mean, that's a pretty big
question.
>> Let's call it a night...
>> Let's call it.
>> And pick up where we left
off tomorrow.
>> All right.
[phone buzzing]
>> Hello?
Hi. Who's this?
Oh, hi, Sophia.
It's Nev and Max.
How you doing?
We're trying to help a young guy
named Jamey meet a friend of
yours, Arista, AKA Ari.
We were just wondering if you
could offer a little sort of
back-story about her and your
friendship and how you guys know
each other.
Does she have a boyfriend?
Is she in a relationship?
Does she--but you don't know if
she's married.
Is--is--
[beep beep]
She hung up.
What is this--what--
Everything about what she says
is exactly true except for this
one thing no one wants to say.
>> She's married!
>> Well, this is...concerning.
>> According to Sophia, it
sounds like Ari's been in a
relationship.
>> Is she married?
I mean, that's a pretty big
question.
>> How you doing?
So if we come over there, we can
hang with you?
[rock music playing]
*
[Max laughs]
*
>> What's up, guys?
>> Wow.
If I had a bra on, I would throw
it at you.
>> Hey, hell, yeah!
>> So I just have a couple
questions.
[laughter]
First question is...I know you
know a little bit about Arista
or Ari.
What do you think about Jamey
and Ari and the potential of
this relationship?
You think that would be a good
thing for him?
>> As long as she doesn't hurt
him in any way, physically,
mentally, or emotionally, I'm
good with it.
>> Does it surprise you how
involved Jamey's become with
her?
>> She seemed like a nice girl.
I don't really know her.
I'd like to meet her sometime.
>> Love'll make you do crazy
things, so that's the way I see
it.
>> You think he's in love?
>> Well, just based off of the
actions I've seen already, yeah.
>> It would be awesome if it
worked out with Ari, obviously.
We've got some talking we need
to do with him.
Good meeting you guys.
>> Very nice to meet you, sir.
>> Bob's Burger.
>> Hey, what's up?
You must have been thinking
about this a lot the last 48
hours.
What are you walking into, what
could this be, what's this big
secret, why am I going on this
TV show, what the hell is wrong
with me?
>> How big is the secret?
>> Yeah.
>> We'll see if we can figure
this out.
This is a real head scratcher.
>> I agree.
>> Okay, so basically we just
confirmed everything's she told
you.
Is she the girl in the pictures,
does she live in Houston, does
her story check out in terms of
her beauty stuff?
Phone number checks out.
Like, everything checked out.
[phone buzzing]
So...
>> She keeps blowing my phone
up.
>> Oh, she does?
>> Bbbbbbbbb!
>> Let's see.
>> What is she saying?
>> Is it text or is she calling
you or--
>> I don't know, I didn't--
>> Can we see 'em?
>> I don't care.
>> Wow. So this is just from
today.
>> Yeah.
>> So you said, "Hey," this
morning.
She said, "What?"
That's not a very nice response
to a "hey."
What?
"How you doing today?" you
asked, and she said, "What do
you want?"
Wow, that's a little angry.
You said, "Nothing special, just
to say hi."
She responded, "[bleep] you.
I'm not doing this, if that's
what you texted me."
You said, "That's not why, but
okay.
Thanks for being cool."
She said, "Then you have no
reason to contact me."
She said, "If you want to talk,
then call my mom's phone.
If not, [bleep] you.
I have nothing to say to you."
Like if you're not gonna respond
to my "don't text me anymore..."
>> She said "[bleep] you, don't
[bleep] text me anymore."
Hello!
Why would you wanna be with
someone like this?
>> Yeah.
>> Um...because she's not
usually like that.
Leading up to this, this is how
it's been every day.
>> So she asked you to go on the
show--
>> She really goes hot and cold.
>> She initiated it all, and
then ever since, I been trying
to, like, get on the same page
and be cool, and this is what I
get.
>> She's about to go on
television and meet you, both of
which things are probably very
frightening.
>> Like, I'm here.
I'm way outside my comfort zone.
>> Yeah. You're doing this for
her.
>> Yeah.
>> But this sort of begs the
question, well, then, what...
>> What--yeah.
>> Isn't she telling us the
truth about, or what isn't she
telling us?
Or you?
On one hand, everything checked
out, but the bad news is, on
Ari's Facebook page, here--
on December 24th she wrote,
"Had the best time with my
in-laws!
Seen a different side to my man
I've never seen before."
>> I've never...
I don't use Facebook and stuff
much.
I never even read that or seen
that.
I know for a little bit there
she was kinda messing around
with some other dude.
>> Okay.
>> What was his name?
>> Chaz or something like that.
I don't know.
>> Caz.
>> Caz, Chaz--I don't know.
>> We heard about him.
We reached out to this girl
Sophia, and she called us this
morning.
We asked Sophia if Ari's
married.
She got very--"I don't want to
talk about this anymore."
>> Defensive a little bit?
>> Yeah.
>> It seemed like we were
starting to hit a nerve.
>> Yeah.
>> Maybe she's married.
Maybe that's what it is.
Maybe she's just married.
You know?
Maybe she wants to tell me that
she can't talk to me to be with
him or...psssh.
I don't know.
>> So that's right now the
biggest question mark.
>> Yeah.
>> Who's this guy?
Is he still in the picture?
>> Is she married?
>> Were they married before?
We don't know anything for sure.
But there's a lot of arrows
pointing to...
>> Something to do with another
guy, maybe, something like that.
>> Right. Right.
>> * Can't decide *
* Should I win her
* Should I take her love
>> If she's still wrapped up in
what's been a long relationship
and asks you, like, to please
give her some time, is that
something you'd be okay with?
>> I'm not gonna sit on the back
burner and be a, you know...
I'm not gonna do that.
*
* Love is the answer
>> We got a phone call to make.
>> Whew!
We just need to be careful,
because Jamey definitely went
all-in.
>> So let's stop beating around
the bush, and let's call her.
>> Here goes nothin'.
[line ringing]
Yes, hi, is this Ari?
Hey, Ari, this is Nev.
>> Uh-huh.
>> As you know, we are here
in Houston, and we spent the
past day and a half with Jamey.
So I was just calling to check
in because we wanna just
introduce ourselves and also see
how you're feeling about all
this and find out where you're
at.
You know, I'm sure this is not
a big surprise, but, like,
Jamey's also super-nervous.
But he's come this far.
He's very serious about meeting
you and...seems to believe that
there's a real potential and a
real possible future for you
guys.
Obviously, our help is something
that you were interested in
having because, you know, you--
you...brought us into this
situation and involved us and
the show.
Well, do you want to talk a
little bit about what you're
worried about?
Okay, I understand.
We're just here to help
in whatever way that we can
for--
[beep beep]
Oh, come on.
She's definitely freaking out.
We don't know what the big deal,
secret surprise is.
>> Whatever it is, it's
obviously very important to her,
and it's at the core of a
bigger problem.
>> All right, well, let's give
her some time, see what she
says.
>> All we can do is wait and
see.
>> Hopefully, she'll reach back
out tomorrow.
Let's get some sleep.
[knock at door]
Oh, someone's at the do'!
>> Someone's at the do'!
>> Oh...
>> both: Ooh...
>> Lenses to lenses to lenses--
>> Lens to lens.
>> Hey, guys.
>> Well, at last you guys are
here.
Hopefully, she's had some time
to think about what we talked
about.
I'm gonna call her.
[line ringing]
Good morning. Ari?
Hey, it's Nev and Max.
>> Hey.
>> Oh, nothing to be sorry
about.
Yeah, totally cool.
We're gonna come, obviously, me
and Max.
All right, thank you.
Bye-bye.
>> I don't know what to expect
from her, frankly.
She can hang up at the drop of a
hat.
>> Right.
>> I'll get my jacket.
>> Come on, guys--we've got a
date with destiny.
>> Let's go find out what this
secret is.
>> We are on our way to meet
Ari.
>> The crux of the whole issue
is that she demanded that Jamey
come on the show, 'cause that
was the only way she would meet
him in person.
>> She says she has something
she needs to tell him, and she's
afraid he'll--he'll be mad.
>> It could be anything that
we've talked about.
It could be something totally
out of the blue.
>> I think that's gotta be her.
>> That's her.
>> All right, moment of truth.
Hi.
>> Hey, what's up?
>> It's nice to meet you.
>> It's nice to meet you also.
>> Thanks for meeting us.
>> No problem.
>> All right.
>> So is this weird?
>> It's very weird, very weird.
>> What's going on?
>> Very strange.
>> What's going on in your life
right now?
>> My concerns are that he'll
flip out, 'cause obviously,
there's something I didn't tell
him.
When I first met Jamey, I wasn't
planning on perusing him.
I just wanted to be friends,
you know, someone I could talk
to.
Guys tend to stray from people
like me, so I thought that by
not telling him, he would just
be a real sincere friend to me.
And I felt like if I didn't tell
him, it would give him a chance
to get to know me.
I...
I'm transgender.
So...
that's kinda what I haven't told
him.
Kinda what I need to tell him.
>> Right.
>> You know, so...
>> We did not know that.
>> No?
>> We thought maybe you were
married.
>> [laughs] No.
>> When you...
are transgender,
I mean, to you what does that
mean?
>> Um, it basically means that
I'm going through a process as
to where I can be a real girl,
full girl.
I have to, like, take hormones
and therapy sessions.
>> Have you been taking
hormones?
>> Yes, I have.
That's kind of what the hormones
are for...to help with the
physical changes.
Um, and then of course the
surgery kinda completes the
whole thing.
>> And it's expensive.
>> It is expensive, but I mean,
there's no price for happiness.
>> Well, that's exciting.
And you have no doubt about
that.
>> Oh, yeah, I'm going through
it, yeah, 100 and 50,000%.
[laughter]
I've known since I was very
little.
My parents have known since I
was very little.
I believe I was about five, and
we were at Walmart in the
Barbie aisle.
My mom grabbed a Barbie, and
then she grabbed a wrestler and
she asked me which one I wanted,
and I picked the Barbie.
So she said from that moment she
knew that I was a little
different than others, so they
just became very accepting of
me.
>> Have they been very
supportive?
>> Very supportive.
>> You mentioned something on
your Facebook about you're going
to meet your man's...family.
>> both: The in-laws.
>> Yeah, I've known them for
years, that's why.
I was hanging out with an
ex-boyfriend.
It was nothing too serious.
I told Jamey about it.
Jamey knows.
>> So you are single.
>> Yeah, of course.
>> Okay.
>> And your previous
relationship with Caz--was he a
guy who had previously not been
interested or considered dating
a transgender or--
>> No, when I met Caz, I told
him right off the bat.
He was fine with it.
He was okay with it, and he
still wanted to keep talking, so
we did, and we became really
good friends.
>> But also...lovers.
>> Lovers, yes.
>> You were having sex with each
other or no?
>> Um...no, no.
>> Okay. 'Cause you said you're
a virgin.
>> Yeah.
>> We weren't sure.
>> I'm not comfortable enough
with my body to feel the need
or--or want to...
be that intimate with someone.
>> So the whole time that you've
been talking to Jamey, this has
never come up?
>> Um...
>> You've never come close to
mentioning this to him?
>> Um...no.
Like I said, it was never my
intention to have feelings for
one another and not tell him,
but it kinda just happened.
And so before you know it, we
were just really close, and I
kinda got stuck in a hard place.
I just came to a point where
I felt the need that he had to
know, and I couldn't do it by
myself.
>> You really like this guy?
>> I more than like him.
I love him very much.
>> What are you...hoping for?
>> What everybody's hoping for
on this show.
Love.
I don't want my feelings hurt on
TV, you know?
>> I don't think he--he would
want to hurt your feelings.
>> I don't think he would want
to either.
>> I guess the next order of
business would be for us to meet
with Jamey so he can make the
decision that's best for him.
>> Okay.
>> Well, it was nice to meet
you.
>> It was nice to meet you also.
>> Now we've gotta go get our
guy Jamey.
What he's gonna be upset about
is how could you not have told
me after, like, all this time.
Okay, you didn't plan on
catching feelings for me, you
just wanted to meet somebody,
but you did it on a dating
website.
>> There's really no telling
what he's going to do when we
tell him the news.
>> What's up?
>> How's it going, man?
Nice to see you.
>> You too, dude.
Is there a place to sit...
somewhere nice, we can chill
out?
>> Yeah.
>> We met Ari and...had a
really nice talk.
>> She was really cool.
We found out what--what it was.
>> Right, so that--that was the
big discussion with her, but...
long story short...
Ari is a transgender female.
>> Wow.
So...
was she born with both...
>> No.
>> Or just one and felt the--
>> No, just one.
>> Okay.
>> But always knew that she
was...a woman.
>> You know, uh, just pretty
[bleep] shocking, but...
>> When she met you, she was not
looking for anything more than a
friendship and was sort of very
caught off-guard when she
started to feel things for you.
>> Yeah.
It is what it is, you know?
>> Being deceived at all...is
always a big shock.
>> * Don't have to ever know *
* Is what it is
* Is it's that kind of life *
>> The sort of request that Ari
had was in meeting us to tell
us, obviously, what she did.
To have us, then, communicate
that to you in the hopes that
you would still want to meet
her.
>> I have--you have to give me a
minute to think about something
like that.
>> Yeah, no, of course.
>> [bleep bleep] me up a little
bit, you know, so...
>> * Needed to have
* Will it happen
>> Think it over.
>> [bleep, mutters]
>> I do think that meeting her
might take the sting out a
little.
>> I don't even know what to
say.
Honestly, I don't.
[clears throat]
[sighs, swears]
>> This episode of Catfish: The
TV show continues now.
[buzzing]
[doorbell rings]
>> Hey.
>> How's it going, guys?
>> What's up?
If you're feeling good about
meeting up, we should definitely
do that.
>> Yeah.
>> Wow, a lot of quiet in this
car.
>> Mm-hmm.
Tension.
[exhales]
>> You ready?
>> I'm ready.
[suspenseful music]
*
>> Now remember, she's probably
pretty nervous.
>> Yeah.
>> Hey, Ari.
Come on over.
How you doing?
>> I'm fine, how are you?
>> Good to see you.
>> How are you?
>> Fine.
>> Good to see you.
>> It's nice to see you too.
>> Yeah.
>> Thanks for meeting up with
us.
How you doing?
>> Nervous.
>> What are you nervous about?
>> I--I don't know.
Judgment?
>> How is it just for you guys
to sort of be standing in front
of each other finally?
>> Surreal.
>> Surreal.
>> Very surreal.
>> We've talked for so long
that, you know, it's kinda...
now here we are.
>> Yeah.
>> I'm definitely a little
upset.
It was all real except for this.
We both told each other things
that...[ahem]...probably usually
don't...share with other people.
You don't need to be ashamed
or...I'm not passing judgment on
you.
You don't gotta be too nervous.
It's all right.
You're fine.
>> And you're feelings for Jamey
are...still very real.
>> Is that a question?
>> Well, you seem to be
communicating that you still
feel very strongly for him.
>> Of course I do.
>> Right.
>> Yeah. We bonded in a way,
so...
>> I--I don't know what to say
except for sorry.
>> I don't think you
intentionally meant to hurt me,
so I can't be that too upset
with you but, you know...
I was hoping I'd get here and...
potentially be able to move
forward with you, but...
There's something we can, like,
talk in private, or do we have
to do it--
>> Yeah, sure, if you guys
are...okay with it, we're happy
to give you some time to chat, I
mean...
It certainly won't be as sort
of...awkward as--
>> We're very awkward right now.
>> Then we'll leave you to chat
for a minute.
>> All right, cool.
So...have you done this with
other people?
Am I the only one?
>> No.
>> The only one?
When did all this start for you?
>> When I was young.
>> Really young?
>> I don't want to do this.
>> It's--it's fine.
You know you can talk to me.
We been talking for how long?
I'm just trying to talk to you.
>> I'd rather not.
>> You don't want to talk?
It'd help me tremendously.
If that means anything.
I'm not trying to make you
uncomfortable.
You don't have to say anything
you don't want to.
>> I don't.
>> We're here.
Have the time to do it.
No?
If you don't want to talk to me,
we don't have to.
Okay.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you for coming to meet
me.
>> You're welcome.
>> See you later.
>> * Aching in my chest
* Trying to forget
* All these memories
* Aching haunting me
>> So what happened?
Is everything--
Are you just upset or--
>> I'm sorry--I don't wanna
talk.
>> * There's this feeling *
* It's the real thing *
* We don't have to *
* Let it go
[end chords]
>> So no go?
>> Something to remember is that
for Ari, this was a really big
deal for her to come on TV, to
tell you the truth and just
really put herself out there for
lots of people.
>> Hopefully, it helps her in a
way.
And people can be a little more
understanding and not so
judgmental towards her.
>> You guys both did something
that was very difficult.
>> [sighs]
[line ringing]
>> Yo!
>> Yo. What up?
>> How's it going?
>> What's going on, man?
>> Got myself a car.
>> Nice! What'd you get?
>> Old Malibu.
>> Sweet!
>> So what's going on with Ari?
>> We talk a little bit here and
there.
Not like we used to or anything
like that, but...I'm starting to
sense friendship.
>> That's cool, man.
>> What do you think is sort of
your take-away from all this?
>> Think a lot of people like
Ari feel like they need to put a
mask on to meet people or make
friends, and hopefully I can
show a little bit that...
not everyone's so judgmental.
There's good people out there
that accept and understand,
so...
>> All right, dude, take care.
We will hopefully see you soon.
>> For sure.
>> * I heard him calling out
* Your name
* I heard him screaming
* Desperate
* You
[line ringing]
>> Hey, Ari!
>> Hey.
>> You look beautiful.
>> Thank you.
>> How is everything?
>> Everything is really good.
A lot better than before, and
I also want to apologize to you
before for being so rude.
>> Look, you were under a crazy
amount of stress, and it took a
lot of courage to do what you
did anyway.
And we were really impressed
that you came and were a part of
this to begin with.
How is your heart feeling?
Are you still in the heartbreak
phase?
>> Just more coping with the
decision that he made, getting
used to being friends.
>> And you're okay with that?
>> At first I wasn't, you know,
dealing with--with the whole
heartbreak situation.
But now that we're friends,
I feel like there's not really a
loss.
It's more of a gain but in a
different perspective.
>> * I hope you get to see
* The light
* Light
>> What would you say to someone
who maybe is in a situation like
you?
>> Just to be truthful, to be
honest.
At the end of the day, you're
not just lying to someone else.
You're also lying to yourself
about a relationship.
>> I hope that the heartbreak
fades off pretty soon.
>> It's nice to see you guys
again.
>> Okay, bye, Ari.
>> Bye, Ari.
>> Bye.
>> Transgender women like Ari
are real women and are not
deceiving anyone when they state
this.
Telling people you're
transgender is a decision you
have to make for yourself, and
it isn't something that all
transgender people can or have
to do.
Ari chose to tell Jamey on her
own terms on our show.
>> While we know that plenty of
guys have great relationships
with transgender women, too
often transgender women find
themselves in dangerous or
violent situations just because
of how people react when they
discover that they're
transgender.
>> "I met an amazing girl,
Markie, on Instagram.
Problem is, about a week before
I was supposed to meet her,
she got kidnapped.
>> Whoa!
>> We need to figure this out.
We can take to the streets and
and do an old-fashioned...
>> Stakeout.
That's the red truck.
It's coming home!
>> This is really happening.
>> Can you see in that window?
>> Oh...my God.
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00:41:03.