In an interview Ariel Schulman related that some viewers believe
Catfish to be a fake documentary, a
hoax:
Morgan Spurlock, director/star of the documentary
Super Size Me, walked up to the producers of the film during one of its initial screenings and told them "it was the best fake documentary he had ever seen". Comedian
Zach Galifianakis also has stated that he does not believe the events in the film to be true.
[7]
The Schulman brothers and Joost stand behind their original statements: the film is "100% true"
[7] and it tells the story exactly how it happened. They also chalk up the perfect timing of every narrative element in the movie to just coincidence and sheer luck. Ariel Schulman has stated that
"It felt [too perfect] to us also, as we were making it. We're very lucky. We look back at our experience and everything leads to [the moment we discovered things were not what they seemed]. As filmmakers we were ready; we felt like we spent our lives preparing to be ready, and it just happened to be me who shares the office with my brother and my producing partner."
[7]