Erica Mena’s time on “Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta” has reached its expiration after utilizing a racist slur on the most recent episode of the hit collection. But, the choice to air the scene within the first place, and proceed to movie the remainder of the season with Mena, has left followers puzzled.
On the most recent episode of “Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta,” Mena and Spice obtained right into a heated confrontation after coming collectively to work via their points, because the Los Angeles Instances reported. Alongside Shekinah Jo, who invited the 2 to hash out their issues, Spice and Mena solely made it up to now earlier than buying and selling jabs at one another, arguing particularly over the dynamics and optics surrounding Mena’s divorce from Safaree Samuels, with whom she shares two kids.
The argument escalates after Spice tells Mena she acts like “she is the primary lady to be divorced” and that her son “doesn’t like” her. After Mena flips the desk, manufacturing instantly will get concerned within the clip, separating the 2 as they proceed to argue with each other.
The crew ushers Mena exterior, who then begins to repeatedly seek advice from Spice as a “blue monkey,” whereas additionally saying that she “ought to have died,” referring to a well being scare she had. As they information Mena to her automotive, she as soon as once more makes use of the slur.
“Erica, I can’t imagine you,” Jo says in an interview throughout the episode. “You simply referred to as this lady a monkey after which stated she ought to have died.” She then ponders how Mena would really feel if somebody referred to her kids, who’re Jamaican, as “monkeys.”
Days after the airing of the episode, VH1 launched an announcement to their Instagram account asserting Mena’s firing.
“‘The ‘Love & Hip Hop’ franchise has by no means shied away from exhausting conversations in our neighborhood. Working hand-in-hand with our companions, viewers will see the influence of Erica Mena’s remarks play out within the last three episodes of the season,” the assertion reads. VH1 says “efficient instantly,” Mena won’t seem on the subsequent season of the collection.
The assertion was instantly picked aside by followers, lots of whom query the community’s determination to announce this after airing the battle within the first place. One consumer wrote in a put up on X (previously generally known as Twitter) that has over 9,000 likes that the community appears to solely be making the choice “out of concern/backlash.”
“The irony is, VH1/Viacom/Mona Scott noticed this clip months in the past and nonetheless determined to air it. It ought to’ve by no means seen the sunshine of day and Erica Mena ought to’ve been let go instantly when it occurred. They’re solely doing this due to the outrage/backlash.”
One other consumer, Jerome Trammel, shared comparable sentiments, writing “Love & Hip Hop filmed Erica Mena utilizing the slur MONTHS in the past, did inexperienced screens about it after.. Nonetheless determined to air it on nationwide TV.. However, simply fired her.” They added that the community left the slur in “for promotion & viewership.”
Because the assertion referenced, the “influence” of her remarks are set to play out within the remaining episodes.
New episodes of “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on MTV.
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