Shark Tank Really Needs to Drop a Gimmick Entrepreneurs Use to Fool Everyone Except Kevin O’Leary for Funding

SUMMARY

• Shark Tank's sob story gimmick often sells drama, but Kevin O'Leary consistently calls out the theatrics and scripted acts.
• Over-the-top sob stories, like His & Her Bar's pitch, blur the line between heartfelt moments and pure secondhand embarrassment.
• Emotional pitches might sway audiences, but no-nonsense investors like Kevin O'Leary prioritize business value over scripted melodrama on Shark Tank.

Shark Tank has seen its share of wild pitches, savvy entrepreneurs, and, of course, gimmicks that push the boundaries of cleverness. But there was one trick that seemed to fool nearly every shark in the tank, except for Kevin O’Leary. This sneaky move turned heads, earned applause, and sometimes even secured deals, but it wasn’t foolproof. 

Kevin O’Leary in Shark Tank | Credits: Sony Pictures Television

Mr. Wonderful sniffed it out every time, making us all wonder why the show hasn’t axed it yet. If anyone’s calling it out, you know it’s serious — because O’Leary doesn’t sugarcoat, and this tactic was sugar-coated fluff at best.

Kevin O’Leary calls out the sob stories Shark Tank can’t seem to drop

Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank | Credits: Sony Pictures Television

Shark Tank really needs to drop a gimmick entrepreneurs use to fool everyone — except Kevin O’Leary. While the show thrives on drama and backstories, some contestants take it to the extreme, turning their pitches into soap operas. 

Take the infamous His & Her Bar pitch. 

It had everything: fake tears, a questionable sob story, and, let’s not forget, a gas-station rock with life-changing words scribbled on it. The entrepreneur claimed he couldn’t pursue firefighting due to a brain aneurysm (cue the world’s driest fake cry), but his earlier statement — being fired for not getting along with coworkers — contradicted it.

Even Lori Greiner’s parting words, “Good luck with your… health thing,” felt like a dig at the over-the-top act.

The cringe didn’t stop there. His wife whispered lines like “Tell the story,” and their opening rap was pure secondhand embarrassment. 

Mark Cuban’s reaction said it all. The pitch blurred the line between comedy and disaster, but what stood out most was how scripted it all felt. Viewers couldn’t help but notice that the backstory, emotional breakdowns, and random aphrodisiac claims were more fiction than fact.

Let’s be real: this kind of gimmick works on some sharks, but not Kevin O’Leary. His disgusted expressions during these performances are priceless. 

Maybe it’s time for the producers to scale back the melodrama. Because while sob stories might sell to the audience, they won’t fool a no-nonsense investor like Mr. Wonderful.

Fans weigh in on reality TV’s obsession with sob stories on Shark Tank

A still from Shark Tank | Credits: Sony Pictures Television

Fans swear reality TV wouldn’t survive without its signature sob stories. From America’s Got Talent to Shark Tank, emotional backstories reel in viewers and, yes, even drive product sales. But does every cutting board need a tear-filled origin story?

The crying about crying has become its own spectacle, and fans are fed up. While some heartfelt stories earn respect, most pitches feel like rehearsed theatrics. Emotional vulnerability might sell to customers, but for viewers, it’s just pure cringe, and not the good kind.

Shark Tank is available to watch on Hulu & Apple TV.

Written by Heena Singh

Articles Published: 696

Heena Singh is a writer at FandomWire, spent the last two years making waves in entertainment journalism. With a knack for digging up blockbuster celebrity scoops and an uncanny nose for the latest buzz, Heena’s articles bring a fresh and fun perspective to life. When she’s not conquering writing challenges, you’ll find her curled up in bed, peacefully sleeping.