The 'Basketball Wives' petition made moves by getting ads dropped from the show (click Pink for more).
'Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta' season premiere <with 3.6 million people tuning in> has distrubed some viewers, because they are following suit by demanding a stop to the new spin off in Hotlanta...
A woman named Erin Harper from Atlanta, Georgia, is leading the petition called 'Stop Dealing Crack & Tell True Stories', she writes...
After we made a ruckus about Basketball Wives, sponsors began to pull ads. Well, it's that time again, folks.
While we should respect the perceptions and experiences of the men and women featured on "reality" television shows, networks are airing stories that could be very helpful for people to hear, but they are telling these stories in EXTREMELY dangerous ways.
We all know premium digital crack rock is 'slanged' in hoods other than VH1 (or TV for that matter); however, since VH1 has chosen to give us yet another beautifully blinged jewel of commercial exploitation (Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta), they might as well be the face of change.
Let's use mama Mama Dee, the ex-pimp on this new show as an example of VH1's exploitative practices. Mama Dee (who may not feel exploited at all) is, indeed, a victim because the network treats her sex trafficking story quite casually. In Atlanta, where sex trafficking is pervasive, the first episode could have provided her backstory in a way that didn't make it seem so "cool". Instead, they chose to hook folks on the digital crack of watching her shuck and jive while tipsy--which is inexcusable, particularly because "poor" people often turn to pimping/prostitution as a result of other social ills and inequities, while "wealthy" folks often get to play pimps and prostitutes for recreational purposes.
Folks need education, not further exploitation. And VH1 could "edutain" viewers in a way that would allow them to retain advertising dollars--but they must think outside the box. Everyone can win.
Until then, turn this stuff off and tell VH1/Viacom why you won't be watching or supporting their advertisers (a few are listed below).
Click Pink if you would like to sign the petition...
The BBW petition started a movement. Does LHHATL need to be worried?
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