Video After The Jump
Shawty Lo is getting support from an unlikely source today after the Oxygen network decided to pull the plug on his reality show All My Babies' Mamas before it even aired.
Oxygen had given the show the green light initially to air this spring. It was going to focus on Shawty's relationships with his 10 babies' moms and his 11 children.
After the show's trailer appeared online last month a petition was started by Sabrina Lamb of ColorOfChange.org to get the show cancelled. She argued that the show was a stereotypical representation of African Americans. Their petition had gained more than 40'000 signatures by the Oxygen decided not to air the show.
Sabrina Lamb
"As part of our development process, we have reviewed casting and decided not to move forward with the special," a network spokesperson told MTV News on Tuesday (January 15). "We will continue to develop compelling content that resonates with our young female viewers and drives the cultural conversation."
After receiving news of the cancellation, ColorOfChange.org issued a statement.
After multiple conversations with Oxygen Media executives, the company informed us via email that a decision was made to cancel "All My Babies' Mamas" late this afternoon. We thank Oxygen Media for taking this important step. The tremendous response from over 40,000 ColorOfChange.org members, coupled with national outrage from Black folks, sent a clear message that exploitative television shows like "All My Babies' Mamas" are unacceptable.
The airing of a reality show like All My Babies' Mamas would have reinforced many of the stereotypes about Black men and women that have power to influence public policy. Research shows that exploiting persistent racial stereotypes that marginalize Black Americans have real world consequences.
Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh came to the show's defense. He argued that "the morality police" had made the decision to get the show cancelled for the American people without giving them the chance to view it first.
“The morality police, the old fuddy-duddies got in gear. The show was simply gonna say what it is in terms of this lifestyle and just gonna tell everybody what it is,” Rush said on his show Wednesday (January 16), according to AllHipHop. “Is it any wonder that the star of a show that happens to be black and has the show pulled out from under him? Well, I know none of those kids are more important than the president’s kids, but they’re important to Shawty.”
Shawty appeared on Atlanta radio station Hot 107.9 yesterday to talk with Emperor Searcy and Mz Shyneka about the show's cancellation.
"I feel like [my fans] didn't get a chance to see what was really going on," Shawty said. "[Sabrina Lamb] made her assumptions off of the trailer. Basically what I'm doing is telling my story showing how Shawty Lo turned a negative into a positive.The show wasn't about, we finna be fighting. Like I said a lot of fathers don't take care of one child, don't even be there for one child. But me, I be there with my children. My kids love their father."
A counter-petition on Change.org has been started in an effort to get Oxygen to give the show another chance. Shawty thanked his fans for initiating it and urged people to sign it.
"At least give the show a chance," said Shawty. "They making their assumptions off a 13-minute trailer and this like the biggest news around the world right now and it's unbelievable."
If you want Oxygen to bring back Shawty's show go to Change.org to sign the petition.
Follow Me
 |
}
Comments