Yeah OK: Mona Scott-Young Says “Love & Hip-Hop” Isn’t Scripted Nor Detrimental To All Black Women

July 19th, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

Source:loveandhiphopatlanta.net

Looking at “Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta,” it’s hard to believe anyone’s life could really be that ignorant, which is why many believe the show is heavily—if not totally—scripted. But producer Mona Scott-Young and the most-hated man on VH1, Stevie J, are going to defend the drama portrayed on the show as real life to the death.

In an interview with Rap Fix Live, Mona tried to get deep with it and say to claim that the show is scripted negates the reality of these women’s lives. She told Sway:

“People see what they want to see. At it’s core, this show is set in a very specific world and dealing with the struggles these women are facing…they have every right to tell their stories.”

When Sway asked Mona if she felt any sort of responsibility to not portray such “ratchetry” so to speak, Mona said the show was never meant to be the encyclopedia of black women and added that the only responsibility she feels is to tell truthful stories.

“We don’t feed you information. It’s not scripted. That’s the most ridiculous thing that I hear all the time. There are like 40-something people on set. Do you think I can get them all to keep the secret? What do they do with script afterwards, eat it? This is their lives! What we do is string it together so that it tells a scripted story cohesively. Maybe people just aren’t used to seeing reality TV done well.”

I’ll let you all handle that statement in the comments section.

In a roundabout way, “Love & Hip-Hop” does have the potential to teach lessons and serve as a cautionary tale for women who think sticking by the side of a man who shows you he doesn’t value you is a worthwhile effort. But Mona has to know there’s a reason only people from a certain demographic sign up for these shows and why from a production perspective, they only choose to depict this specific world. She has her PR game tight though, I’m almost inclined to think she really believes what she’s saying.

Check out a couple interview clips here. Thoughts?

Get More: RapFix Live, Full Episodes

Get More: Music News

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

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  • http://twitter.com/PhoenixRose360 PhoenixRose360

    Saying “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” isn’t detrimental to Black Women, is like saying smoking cigarettes is good for you. Come on Mona, really?? As it is, there are not too many shows with black characters, let alone black women, so why promote the nonsense? But then again, if people weren’t watching, it wouldn’t be on the air, nor would there be a NYC and Atlanta version.

  • Lawwwwwddd

    She a LIE!!! I worked on a separate vh1 show because one of my friends was a cast member and producers allowed me to be in scenes… And my friend TOLD ME that vh1 shows are HEAVILY SCRIPTED! That writers literally sit with cast members and help them scheme up believable stories about their life..that they can play during the show and can make seem as believable as possible. Mostly compete fabrication is seen on television… However they try and portray it as reality because supposedly it happens in SOMONES LIFE…. But not theirs…. I heard this from the horses mouth!!!

  • sheane

    Okay let me be the one to clarify what Mona said cause I’m seeing that ya’ll are missing the point. When she says that the “script the story so you get a cohesive story line” she doesn’t mean they write anything down or “feed lines” to the people on the show. They film and the people give them what they give them. Then they sit down in the editing room and they look at all the raw footage that they’re given and when they see story lines that coincide they edit those story lines together so they flow as you watch the show. Some story lines go through the whole series like the Stevie J, Mimi, and Jos, fiasco and some pop up once or twice, Rasheeda, K Michelle, Erica, etc. It’s not scripted. BUT it is woven together so that you the viewer get a story arc that’ll pull you in every week.

  • Watchuneet

    People are missing the point. This is THEIR reality! What they are showing are things that most women go through but do not have a large stage like VH-1 to display it. How many women do you know that are trashed by men they love? How many men do you know that have kids outside of their wife or long time woman? How many women do you know were abused and battered by their men? Like I said this is their reality and someone else’s reality as well. I thought it was scripted but until you sit and talk to women who have been through this you will have no idea why this is even relevant.

    • Lawwwwwddd

      I think Im missing YOUR point… I think we are teeming it scripted
      Because its not actually these people living this life…. Just because they hired some ratchet nobodies to play the roles don’t mean it’s ok… We all know people who live this life right…. So why the need to ply
      It out badly on television what exactly is the purpose… And it is SCRIPTED like I said above ALL VH1 shows are.

  • http://twitter.com/ubax1001 Ubax

    If this is not scripted, people!!!! We are doomed! Hide your children and shield your eyes from this hot mess. May our civilization move on from this era to a better direction!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZT7DUTY3EKGYIY3ROH5VJXCMUU Sasha

    sigh I would really like to see someone beat mona’s behind and then someone else film it so THEN we could see a non scripted show…mona is a disgrace to black woman….she sold her soul for filming rights

  • Yvette

    Stop double talking Shaunie…oops I mean Mona……lol. If we have heard it once, I guess we will hear it again that the show is not scripted blah blah blah. If this show is not scripted, that means that Mimi really does have no self respect or esteem. She KNOWS that Stevie J steps out on her with any woman that will give him the time of day and STILL deals with him. He already said he has 5 baby mamas (and counting cause yall know he lying about the number). What’s even worse is that she is teaching her daughter that it is OKAY to be treated like a piece of trash all because a dude throws some cash and designer duds your way and says he loves you. Dear Mimi, learn how to love yourself and focus on your daughter. SHE is the most important thing in your life. Not this show and especially not that darn Stevie J!

  • sabrina

    Listen Mona, as a person who works in the tv biz and who’s done a mock package for a reality show, you and I both know this show is scripted to some degree. Maybe some storylines end up happening randomly, but you know there’s some scripted-ness to it! You can’t just film a bunch of people and hope something interesting comes up because that’s a waste of time and money. Girl, stop frontin’!

  • gracie

    I blame the women who sign up for this shows……

  • Jafolmaoay

    “We don’t feed you information. It’s not scripted. … What we do is string it together so
    that it tells a scripted story cohesively.

    Which is it? Unscripted or scripted? I’m confused by the whole statement

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tiffanie-MadameGigglez-Thomas/665285721 Tiffanie MadameGigglez Thomas

      its unscripted, scripted television… that influences tacky behavior and also causes erratic behavior when it comes down to making those on the show. i.e. Josline and how she talks ‘You cant make me go bak Ste-bbieee!’

    • Yvette

      This is now what is known as Shaunie talk…lol!

  • JustMe

    Yeah its not supposed to be the Black woman’s encyclopedia. I will give her that. However, why continually feed into that negative stereotype of Black women? It’s hard enough for us without this ignorant representation. As a young, Black professional woman, you wouldnt believe many of the misconceptions and negative statements I hear regularly from others about Black women. These type of shows only support those misconceptions.
    I will never understand the need to celebrate, compensate, and glorify this type of behavior by my sistas, especially when there are so many of us doing positive things. It sets a bad example for our younger girls/ladies.
    Do better….period….

    • JustMe

      Not to be confused with “justme” that posted below before I did. LOL. Need to change my screenname. hahahhhahahah

      • sabrina

        LOL! girl, i know the feeling.

  • Dana

    Shoutout to Mrs. Scott for thinking we the ppl have “DAMN FOOL” written on our foreheads. Stevie Wonder can tell this show is scripted. Yu jus found a few ppl that didnt mind being shown in a negative light for the sake of $$$…. Sure some of these issues go on in the world but it’s not carried to the 9th power like this show.

  • CA Pullen

    Mona needs to quit. I understand that women do go through some things in their everyday lives. But, I still feel that these reality show, demonized and exploit black women. I don’t watch any of these shows. But it is amazing how these women willing to put themselves out there and act ignorant and foolish. Since everything is all about money and to get it quick and in a hurry people will do almost anything to get into these lifestyles. Flash a couple of $$$ in their faces and they are on reality television.

  • Na Na

    “reality TV done well”…..you’re pushing it here Mona.

  • StuckInDaMatrix

    This is nothing more than double-talk! Just like Shaunie of BBW.

  • Justme

    she just said they string it together so that it tells a scripted story cohesively..YEA OKAY MONA….so yall dont write it down on paper..doesnt mean yall dont tell them what to say and how to act…thats still scripted in my opinion

    • Lawwwwwddd

      That’s exactly what they do… They actually have a script to be quite honest… Half of the stuff we see is not going on in thier lives… That’s why we see such a difference with how they interact off camera… It’s like night and day.

  • realadulttalk

    If that show is not scripted then I am neither black nor female. Come on Mona…stop talking like the world is full of fools…you already put all the fools on your shows!!!!

    • Miss Anonymous

      Lol! I know, right. Like how many men do anyone knows carries the pregnancy stick test of his mistress/side chick in his pocket?

  • IllyPhilly

    Not scripted my a$$!