Daphne Agten received daily death threats during her record-breaking run on “De slimste mens,” Nieuwsblad reported.
The actress participated in 19 episodes of “De slimste mens” two years ago, shattering the record. Her appearance was described as a revelation, but Agten revealed the dark side of her newfound fame in an interview with Humo.
19 Episodes and a Tide of Hostility
Agten’s streak on “De slimste mens” made her a public favorite. But the attention came with a severe cost. "I got death threats every day," she told the magazine, recounting specific messages like, "You're ruining the entire TV landscape!" Why do I have to look at your ugly face every night?! Die!!!”
This level of harassment starkly contrasted with her pre-show experience. “For ‘De slimste mens,’ I was maybe approached on the street five times in total,” she said. “Afterward, it happened daily.”
The Nature of Quiz Show Fame
Agten observed that the show has increasingly become a platform for chasing celebrity rather than intellectual competition. “In recent years, you see it more and more: people who use ‘De slimste mens’ as a springboard to fame,” she stated. “I just wanted to quiz, as the clueless nerd that I am!”
Her record-breaking run did not result in a win in the show’s 22nd season. However, her achievement of 19 episodes remains a notable benchmark. Despite the negative attention, Agten demonstrated sportsmanship by sending a bouquet of flowers to contestant Amber Piddington, who was performing well this season.
“When you’re in the game for that long, a huge amount comes at you,” Agten explained, “so I wanted to give Amber a bit of encouragement. Just to say, ‘You’ll be fine, girl!'”
Fame vs. Importance
Agten highlighted the absurdity of how public perception of fame can distort reality. She recounted an experience at her best friend’s wedding. The mayor welcomed the couple, then added, “We welcome two beautiful people today…
And there is also a very important guest present.” The mayor then gestured in Agten’s direction. “The worst part for me was that ‘famous’ was too often confused with ‘important’,” she said, admitting she strongly considered throwing the mayor out of a window.
Agten also noted the difference in how different types of celebrities are treated in public. She cited the film “Coward” by director Lukas Dhont as an example of high-quality art. “I think ‘Coward’ is a fantastic movie,” she said, “but I believe the lead actors can still stroll through Brussels undisturbed. ‘De slimste mens’ candidates cannot. That’s strange, isn’t it?”
