LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 26: (L-R) Designer Stephon Mendoza, TV personalities Eny Oh, Kamie Crawford and Savannah Lynx pose in the press room during the 2016 BET Awards at the Microsoft Theater on June 26, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images )
Recently, I have decided to stray away from the norms of black reality TV that included the stupidity of the saga called “Love and Hip Hop”. The BET awards did shed light on a new show that would be joining the network called “F in Fabulous”. I wasn’t entirely sure what the show was about which gave me even more of a reason to tune in. On another network, “E!”, EJ from “Rich Kids of Beverly Hills” received his own spin off series called “EJNYC”. I did not know much of EJ except from posts on his Insta or “The Shade Room”. So again I thought “why not” and tuned in. Am I disappointed with what the first seasons of each show has brought to the plate thus far? Somewhat.
The shows are very similar in the sense that they follow the lives of youn,g posh black adults from wealthy families who have a shopping fettish. It is interesting for me, as a young black woman, watching these upper class black men and women carry themselves to be as presumably snobby as their white counterparts. They did in no way, shape, or form grow up in a “hood” so, sadly, you have to expect them to not have any real sense of being down to earth. How could anyone be down to earth when anything you want is one card swipe away?
“F in Fabulous” is centered around four young adults who are gallivanting the streets of NYC trying to make a way for themselves. Now, from the outside looking in, most rich kids are always trying to “find themselves”. I guess when everything has been handed to you your entire life you don’t think about a career. Also, it seems from both of these shows that the fashion industry is the only field they feel like they can penetrate. As I watched more of “F in Fabulous” the more I realized that this show is borderline about nothing.
There are enough shows that follow the lives of the rich and unfortunately famous. Although the young adults in “F in Fabulous” are the offspring of wealthy individuals … that is all they are. I do not work and go to school to come home and watch the lives of people who do nothing but frivolously spend THEIR PARENTS money. There is no way they can relate to me or I can relate to them.
However, “EJNYC” blows “F in Fabulous” out the water in terms of ridiculousness. The show is completely absurd. I never knew EJ from anywhere else other than Instagram and I wish I could rewind time back to when that was the case. First off, EJ has the typical rich, spoiled personality. In one episode he and his sister went to go support the victims of the Flint Water Crisis (Magic Johnson, EJ’s father, hometown is Michigan). EJ went out on to the streets of Flint to hand out water in designer leggings and thought he was really contributing to the situation. He seemed awkward and displaced through his visit there but I got the vibe he’s the snobby family member that looks down on by everyone else.
Even though the show is called “EJNYC” it follows the lives of EJ’s friends as well. The individuals who compromise his inner circle also lack this down to earth component which I feel is important to being a genuine human being. There are materialistic brats who have no real sense of the real world is like. They do not grasp the concept of what it is to struggle and work hard to get to where you want in life. EJ wants to desperately make it in the fashion industry, as a designer (I assume), but he cannot infiltrate those doors based upon who he is or how much he spends at Barneys.
It is sad how most of these networks are trying to have their own “Kardashians”. When did following the lives of rich social media celebrities become a thing? I think overnight. Is the majority of the world that disturbed and dazzled by what they do not have that they have fetishized a lifestyle? It seem so. It is nauseating how unhealthy that is for the human psyche. Just as I have realized this so has the majority of the population but they will knowingly still tune in faithfully on whatever weeknight the show is broadcasted or binge watch marathons on their day off.
I love seeing my brothers and sisters prospering on television however I would just prefer the people on reality tv be actual relatable people from reality. Black America is in an extremely sensitive state right now and reality shows such as “F in Fabulous” and “EJNYC” should be replaced by following the lives of people very active in the black community and inspiring the movement. But, that cannot occur for a multiple limitations constructed by white america in Black America. Why uplift a people when you can dilute their brains?
Reality Television is On a Downhill Spiral for Black People Recently, I have decided to stray away from the norms of black reality TV that included the stupidity of the saga called "Love and Hip Hop".
