9 wild details from Hulu's 'Candy' and whether they really happened or not
Libby Torres
- Hulu's drama series "Candy" is based on the real-life story of Candy Montgomery, a Texas housewife.
- Montgomery was accused of murdering her friend Betty Gore with an ax in 1980, but later acquitted.
On the show, Candy Montgomery is seen showering in the Gores' bathroom after the brutal and bloody death of Betty Gore. But according to reports, she went to her own home to clean up.
On the show, Montgomery's bloody shower (after, it's implied, being somehow involved in Gore's death) takes place in the Gore family home.
However, one of the Texas Monthly articles published in 1984 after Montgomery's trial reported that the housewife returned to her own home before showering, washing her clothes, and otherwise cleaning herself up — and that she left the Gore home soon after Gore's death.
Gore is portrayed as being cold and borderline cruel to her foster child Davey, but Gore's family says she wasn't like that at all.
As a recent BuzzFeed News article noted, Gore is characterized as being "dour" and needy in both "Candy" and the two Texas Monthly articles that largely inspired the Hulu adaptation. But while Gore did reportedly struggle with her mental health, BuzzFeed reported that they weren't able to find any accounts of the real-life Gore actually mistreating a foster child (as shown on one episode of the Hulu drama).
The article also included quotes from a surviving family member of Gore's, who said that she provided a cheerful home for her children and was popular amongst students during her teaching career.
Montgomery did, in fact, flat-out ask Allan Gore if he'd like to have an affair with her one night after volleyball practice.
Montgomery's abrupt offer may seem surprising (and very unrealistic) to some viewers, but as Texas Monthly reported, the housewife was known for her directness.
And according to Texas Monthly, she did flat-out ask Allan Gore one night after volleyball practice if he'd like to have an affair. However, in real life, the two had a few flirtatious moments — including Montgomery confessing her attraction to Gore on a separate occasion — before Montgomery's bold proposition.
Montgomery is shown telling her pastor and friend, Jackie, that she wants to have an affair, but there's no evidence she spoke about her affair plans to anyone.
Montgomery is shown confiding in her pastor and friend Jackie that she wants desperately to spice up her sex life and have an affair, but Jackie advises against it, telling Montgomery that infidelity makes things "messy" in a marriage.
However, neither one of the Texas Monthly articles make any mention of Montgomery's friendship with her pastor, nor Montgomery telling anyone about her desire to have an affair.
Montgomery and Gore really did make a pros and cons list of potentially sleeping together.
Another odd detail that seems too bizarre to be true is the "whys" and "why-nots" list that Montgomery and Gore make on episode three of the Hulu drama. But according to Texas Monthly, the two really did spend a significant amount of time planning the affair — including meticulously weighing the downsides and potential benefits.
The real-life Gore and Montgomery also came up with a set of rules for the affair, one of which was not developing any romantic feelings for the other.
It took several weeks of planning before the two actually began to have sexual encounters, Texas Monthly reported.
In one episode, Montgomery confides in her friend that she's been having sex with Gore without either of their spouses knowing.
In one scene, Montgomery teases to her friend Sherry that she's "taken a lover," but during Betty Gore's baby shower at the Montgomery home, Candy quietly confides that it's Allan Gore she's been sleeping with.
While it's difficult to know for sure whether or not the real-life Montgomery ever alluded to her infidelity, neither of the Texas Monthly articles about the case mention Montgomery telling any of her friends about it.
Marriage Encounter, the hippy-dippy retreat the Gores go to in episode three, was real.
The Gores' experience at Marriage Encounter was thoroughly recounted by Texas Monthly, and seemed to be as emotionally intense as Hulu's adaptation makes it out to be. Couples were reportedly encouraged to be open with each other, and, as shown on "Candy," the Gores returned from their weekend rejuvenated and more in love than ever (although in reality, it was Allan Gore who first suggested the retreat, not Betty Gore).
As mentioned on the show and in Texas Monthly's reporting, the Montgomerys also tried Marriage Encounter, but didn't have the same success that the Gores had.
Montgomery really did throw a baby shower for the real-life Gore during her second pregnancy.
Texas Monthly reported that in real-life, Montgomery had arranged a "sit-down Chinese dinner" for her church choir, of which Gore was a member, that actually turned out to be a surprise baby shower for Gore.
Unlike the tense, high-stress affair shown on episode three of Hulu's "Candy," however, everyone at the real-life event reportedly enjoyed themselves — even Montgomery, who, according to the article, didn't feel at all uncomfortable celebrating the wife and baby of the man she was secretly sleeping with.
And yes, Montgomery actually was acquitted of Gore's murder following a highly-publicized trial.
While it might seem hard to believe, the real-life Montgomery was, in fact, acquitted by a jury after being charged with Gore's murder. The finale of the Hulu drama shows Montgomery and her husband getting divorced, and Montgomery becoming a therapist under a different name, although the real-life Montgomery's current whereabouts remain largely unknown.
However, the Texas Monthly article on Montgomery trial doesn't mention whether or not she admitted to having another affair while on the stand, as was depicted in the show.
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