Reality TV and the Distortion of the Term "Celebrity"

“You are a non mothaf****n factor, b**ch!” – Evelyn Lozada, Basketball Wives

“Who gone check me, boo?” – Sheree Whitfield, Real Housewives of Atlanta

Two of the most famous lines in reality tv, quoted by two unlikely “celebrities.”

I put celebrities in quotation marks because although the word is defined as someone who is well known, I question the validity and longevity of this celebrity status.  Is it even warranted? 

Growing up, there were plenty of sitcoms to go around, arguably even one that premiered a new episode on each weeknight.  I remember watching Moesha, My Wife and Kids, among others, as they first premiered.  As horrid as the name Moesha is, it still depicted a teenage girl dealing with things teenagers go through, such as school, the temptation to experiment with sex and alcohol, and parents.  I’m not sure when the reality tv phenomenon hit full speed, but it has surely taken off with no signs of ending. 

Shows such as Basketball Wives and Real Housewives of Atlanta are nothing but pure entertainment to me.  Honestly, there is nothing about these franchises that screams “role model;” instead, there is a bunch of screaming, belittling of other women and otherwise unknown people that have been able to upgrade from Fords to Range Rovers, thanks to us, the viewers.  I can’t lie; I watch these shows.  I’m not glued to the television counting down the seconds to the premiere of a new episode, but I do know what is going on.  I find that it is a basis for judgment on my part as a viewer, from the style of dress to the type of things these ladies say and do.

What is my issue? I’m trying to figure out what a celebrity is, as well as this idea of fame.  For example, the premise of Basketball Wives is to showcase the women behind the NBA players, yet the problem is, these men have left the cast behind.  What does that mean? The women on the show are the former fiancés and girlfriends of NBA players.  Not to knock the hustle, but how many are currently in a relationship or marriage with an NBA player? I’ll wait.

The idea to talk about this topic stemmed from an article I read last week about Evelyn Lozada coming out with a book. 

Pump the brakes.

I’ll admit, my first reaction wasn’t one of excitement.  It was more like, “Did this chick even go to college?” and “What could she possibly have to say in a book?”  I also started thinking about what her true claim to fame is: dating professional athletes.  Is it a surprise that the book series about the same topic? 

There are some positive moments that have played out on these shows, such as the women giving back to charities and interacting with their children.  I only use Basketball Wives and Real Housewives of Atlanta as examples simply because I wonder if people see these shows and think all Black women are like that.  Again, these shows are for pure entertainment, but I think we should proceed with caution when giving out titles, such as celebrity and star.  While we are at it, let’s rethink this famous thing as well.