Max Joseph Leaves Catfish to Focus on Filmmaking

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In the initial seven seasons of “Catfish: The TV Show,” Nev Schulman and Max Joseph took turns as the hosts. However, one might wonder why Max decided to part ways with the show. This reality television program revolved around the intriguing concept known as catfishing, where an individual falsely represents themselves online, often leading another person into a romantic entanglement or financial exploitation. The series was inspired by the 2010 movie “Catfish,” which recounted Nev Schulman’s own experience of being victimized by a catfish he encountered on Facebook.

In the captivating TV series, I’ve been a devoted follower of Nev Schulman’s work. He assists individuals who suspect they’re victims of catfishing, helping them encounter the genuine people behind the deception. This encounter often leads to reconciliation or gives the victim the courage to confront their tormentor. As a dedicated partner, Max Joseph collaborated with Schulman as co-host and cameraman throughout the show’s first seven seasons. Eventually, he seized the opportunity to direct his debut feature film, “We Are Your Friends,” starring Zac Efron. However, after the seventh season, Max Joseph decided to part ways with the Catfish series in 2018.

Max Joseph Left Catfish To Pursue His Filmmaking Career

Max Made His First Movie During Catfish Season 4

Max Joseph initially teamed up with Nev Schulman to co-host the MTV show “Catfish” since its debut in 2012. The duo received emails from individuals across the nation who suspected they were being deceived (catfished), and they chose specific cases to explore and uncover the facts behind their suspicions. Throughout the entire run of the series, Max was a constant presence until part of the fourth season when he took a brief hiatus due to his directorial debut in 2015, titled “We Are Your Friends“.

Max Joseph departed Catfish after its seventh season in 2018 for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there were production issues with the MTV series due to sexual misconduct allegations against Schulman. However, these accusations were eventually deemed baseless by the network (as reported by Deadline). It’s believed that Joseph was considering leaving even before the controversy surfaced, but another reason for his decision to exit the show was a desire to pursue other opportunities.

Hello everyone, it’s time for me to bid farewell from Catfish, which fills me with a mix of sadness and excitement. Balancing two careers as a TV host and filmmaker has been an incredible opportunity, but I must admit that maintaining both has become too much for my current lifestyle. Despite the heavy heart I carry, I am eagerly looking forward to what the future holds – for me, for Nev, our dedicated crew, and Catfish itself. Thank you for your support and for being part of this journey with us.

Joseph’s final appearance as a host occurred in season 7, episode 18 titled “Nick & Jasmine.” Yet, he resurfaced in season eight episodes “Ivy and Dante” and “Making Waves: Ten Years of Catfish.” Max departed from Catfish because he felt it was the right moment to venture into directing. Nevertheless, he’s primarily been involved with documentaries since his first movie, We Are Your Friends, was released.

What Max Has Been Up To Since His Catfish Exit?

Max’s Filmmaking Career Has Been Slow Going

After wrapping up “Catfish” in 2016, I’ve been busy directing projects – two short films, a documentary titled “A15 Minutes of Shame,” and four episodes of a miniseries called “Happiness.”

The HBO Max original documentary, “A15 Minutes of Shame,” dives deep into the topic of Internet shaming, zeroing in on instances where women are targeted. Monica Lewinsky served as an executive producer for this insightful piece.

On a lighter note, “Happiness” is a four-part documentary miniseries I released on my YouTube channel. This series explores the fascinating science behind what truly makes us happy.

In simpler terms, Max hadn’t quite wrapped up his involvement with the show “Catfish”. Although he stepped away after the seventh season, he mentioned that he would be available whenever Nev Schulman required him. He reappeared in season nine, specifically episode S9E4 titled “Zahhra & T”, to host. Max himself announced this on Instagram saying, “Exciting news! I’m returning to host an episode of Catfish this season.” Even though it was only one episode, fans of “Catfish” got another opportunity to witness Max Joseph handling catfishing cases.

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2025-04-21 02:57