**They WARNED Us About Tickle From Moonshiners… We Didn’t Listen**
Fans of the Discovery Channel’s hit show Moonshiners have been left reeling after new revelations about Steven Ray “Tickle” Tickle, one of the show’s most notorious stars.
For years, viewers were cautioned about Tickle’s wild ways, but few could have predicted the controversies and consequences that would unfold. What began as a series about backwoods whiskey-making has evolved into a cautionary tale about fame, choices, and the true cost of living on the edge.
Moonshiners is a docudrama that captivated audiences with its dramatized depiction of people producing illegal moonshine in the Appalachian Mountains. The show’s allure came from its secretive and risky nature, drawing viewers into the lives of colorful characters like Tim Smith and Tickle. But with fame came scrutiny.
Local officials, including the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, claimed the show was not as real as it seemed, insisting that no illegal liquor was actually produced and requesting a disclaimer to clarify its dramatic nature. Producers ignored these requests, maintaining the show’s authenticity and fueling further speculation.
Tickle quickly became the show’s standout troublemaker, drawing headlines for his antics both on and off screen. His reputation for courting chaos was well-earned, and it wasn’t long before real-life legal issues caught up with him.
In a shocking turn, Tickle was sentenced to a three-year suspended penitentiary sentence after being caught with a sawed-off shotgun—an offense that sent shockwaves through the Moonshiners fanbase. The court proceedings revealed a complicated man: Tickle claimed the gun was a keepsake from a friend, and his defense argued for leniency due to his role as a single father and his work promoting legal distilleries.
Yet, Tickle’s troubles didn’t end there. He was later arrested for violating probation after admitting to substance use, citing stress from family health issues as the cause of his relapse.
The judge ultimately ordered him to serve five months in jail, followed by probation and a mandate for good behavior. Throughout his trials, Tickle expressed remorse, acknowledging the impact of his actions on his daughter, his family, and the Moonshiners team. “I have not only hurt my daughter and my family,” he said, “but also the people I work for. I have possibly hurt their livelihood.”
The controversies surrounding Moonshiners and its cast didn’t stop at Tickle’s legal woes. The show’s production company, Magilla Entertainment, faced criticism for misleading content and recycling scenes across different reality series.
Questions about the authenticity of Moonshiners grew louder, especially after Special Agent Jesse Tate, featured in the first season, revealed he had been misled about the nature of the program. Viewers began to wonder if the show would have survived if its illegal activities were truly real, given the risks of prosecution.
Despite these issues, Moonshiners continued to thrive, spawning spin-offs like Tickle and Moonshiners: Whiskey Business. The drama, arrests, and personal struggles only seemed to fuel public interest. Tickle’s journey—from moonshine maker to reality TV star to convicted felon—served as a stark reminder of the dangers that come with living outside the law, especially under the harsh glare of the spotlight.
In the end, the warnings about Tickle were not just about his wild personality, but about the risks and realities behind reality TV fame. His story stands as a real-life lesson in accountability, resilience, and the unpredictable consequences of chasing notoriety. For fans, Moonshiners remains a window into a world of rebellion and risk—but Tickle’s tale is a sobering reminder that the line between entertainment and reality can be perilously thin.
