VH1′s “Basketball Wives” has been getting a lot of backlash, is being boycotted, and has had advertisers withdraw their support, following all of the drama and fighting this season. Producer and creator of the show, Shaunie O’Neal, spoke out on the issue during the taping of the reunion special. Also, a cast member, Shaunie was present for the now infamous Jennifer Williams face slap from Evelyn Lozada’s assistant, Nia Crooks. She was also there as Tami Roman cursed out Keyshia Nichols. The bottle tossing and physical violence has portrayed the show in a way O’Neal knows needs to change and hopes changes for Season 5.
O’Neal and Shed Media are pledging that they will bring viewers a less violent version of “BBW” from here on out. At the taping, O’Neal said the show has become a “mirror” to the women and that many of them don’t always like what they see.
I feel that all of them take responsibility for what their actions are. After talking and seeing ourselves this season, this season was bananas. It definitely was a lot more bad than good. Even when we did have the good, the bad seemed to outweigh it. I’ve really tried to preach the whole ‘Let’s get some balance’ and now I think my voice is resonating.”
Watch her statement below:
Shaunie also got some more off of her chest while she had the floor.
This has definitely been a heated season. “Basketball Wives” is filled with a lot of strong personalities with months, weeks, days and hours condensed into about 45 minutes each episode. Unfortunately, a lot of these personalities have clashed and let their opinions and emotions overwhelm them which has at times gotten the best of them, escalating into physical confrontations.
As this group has been blessed with strong, smart, independent, sassy women with as much passion as vocabulary, there’s NO excuse for physical violence. So the cast, SHED Media and Vh1 have done a gut check to stop allowing physical violence demoralize the show and impose a no-physical violence policy.
Personally, I almost didn’t come back to the show but I thought it was important for this to be said as some of the past actions this season I have not agreed with, it’s not what I stand for and never have. So moving forward, we have agreed to better the show, still with plenty of drama and fun (how can we help that?!) but with a more responsible attitude all around. This is important for me specifically as an executive and what I do and don’t attach my name to, as a grown woman, and as a positive role model to my kids.”
In the past, Shaunie has said she wants the producers to show the more positive moments in the episodes, and not fully focus on the negative. Shed Media is said to be “fully committed to telling the compelling stories of the Basketball Wives in a balanced way.”
The production company added,
Our producing partner Shaunie O’Neal feels strongly about this, and we fully agree with this stance. We support her as she encourages the cast members to work out issues in a non-violent fashion”
VH1 is also working in unison to portray a more peaceful show.
We at VH1 agree with and support Shaunie and the show producers’ “no excessive physical confrontations” policy on the series moving forward. Shaunie has been a strong advocate for a more balanced approach to the show and we, along with our producing partners at Shed Media, are all in agreement about moving forward with that goal.”
I do agree that the violence has escalated on BBW, and it is not a good image for anyone to portray, especially in front of their children, but on the other hand, though people claim it’s too much drama, they continue to watch. If all of that is gone, will the viewers leave also??
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by: Kristen
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